Page 9

EIGHT

Vlad

I don’t know if it’s bad or good luck that led me to Inessa. The chances of her picking up the one sick fuck I set in my sights are slim, but adding it to the exact night I was going to make my offer is a devious intervention. The robe she’s wrapped in feels the same as the towels I stole when Val was born, and it’s like I’m a dumbass teenager again with less blood on my hands, and the brutality in my veins hasn’t fully set in.

As though I’ve conjured him with my thoughts, Valentin’s name flashes on my phone. Answering before it cuts off, the child speaking has my full attention.

“Are you coming home now?”

Viktor never says hello or bye on a call. He just jumps right in and gets away with ordering everyone around. Telling him no, he cuts me off, trying to argue.

“But the monsters are going to come out with only Dad here. Tali can’t fight, and Dima isn’t here.”

I can’t help my laugh, knowing Val’s going to be pouting over the insult. Proving my thoughts right, he tries to defend himself by arguing with his own son over his ability.

“What the fuck? I can fight. Why are you making it sound like I’m some little bitch?”

This is why everything is so important. Those three Vartanovs are safe, and they fall under my responsibility. Without it, there are no childish laughs. A father won’t be free to playfully reprimand his son, showing he’s strong. He’ll become weak and force his child to bear proof of his power on his skin and in broken bones.

Their argument comes to an end, and Viktor’s eye roll is audible.

“Okay, you’re strong too. But Vlad is the strongest.”

He’s like a mini-me, always vying for my attention, and I agree easily.

“I’m the biggest monster there is. You’ll always be safe. Now go to sleep, and I’ll wake you up in the morning.”

Turning into his father, Viktor pouts and gives a subdued agreement, getting off the phone.

A strong voice comes from behind me, making me swerve as Inessa issues her threat.

“If anyone finds out about the bitch, I’ll kill her and you. I won’t tolerate you disrespecting me publicly.”

She needs to control her tongue. She flexes it too much, thinking there won’t be any repercussions, and I pick up on her wording.

“You want me to disrespect you privately?”

I’ve never been into power play dynamics. It’s too much headache when I spend my days doing that shit. I’d rather not hyper-focus when I’m fucking, but the thought of having the ice-cold facade crack while I fuck her is enticing. She abruptly sits up and pushes her head between the seats as her voice drops to deadly proportions.

“It’s not a fucking joke. You can fuck who you want, but you’ll be restricted from touching me for six months after each interaction.”

There’s barely enough time in the fucking day to get my dick sucked, never mind chasing whatever ass she thinks I am. Not giving her that bit of information, I spoil her mood, reminding us both of the agreement.

“I’ll fuck you until you give me an heir, and then I’m free to do what I want.”

Pushing her head further forward, her smile is off and there’s hesitance in her words.

“So will I.”

Her ploy is transparent as glass thinking I’ll be jealous.

“I’ll fuck who I want and even get married to an actual human being.”

Turning to give her the attention she’s craving, my laugh is dark, not giving a fuck what she does.

“You can die for all I care. It would save me time on the paperwork. As long as it’s after you’ve given me a child, feel free to stop breathing.”

Nostrils flaring, chest rapidly rising and falling, she lashes out physically and verbally.

“Fuck you. Gan don.”

I can’t catch both of her hands while driving and pull on her wrist as the other hits my chest. She flies forward as I slam on the brakes and gets trapped between the seats. The lucky fuck has me to stop her smashing her face off the dash.

Grabbing both of her arms, I pull her through the gap and push my seat back. She continues fighting me as I lock her legs between my knees. Her back is against my chest as I cage her in and cover her mouth. It doesn’t stop her anger and my lips brush her ear with every low word in my warning.

“You have a filthy fucking mouth. Control it.”

Pulling on the tie holding her robe together as she tries to bite my palm, I keep it closed for now.

“Or you can walk, and I’ll take away the kindness I’ve shown you so far.”

It’s halfway between an empty threat and a promise. I haven’t decided whether I’d be willing to allow her pain. She tests me and keeps trying to bite my hand. I dig my fingers into her cheeks, driving again. Getting deeper into our territory, I slow near the deserted lots and relax my hold, knowing she’ll take the opportunity.

As predicted, Inessa bites into my hand, and I drop her hands. I ignore how warm her skin is as I band my arm around her waist and push the door open, flooding the car with cold air. She hugs my arm as I pick her up and tries to stay as I drop her to her feet on the tarmac. There’s no one around, but I can’t move my hand to rip the robe from her and push against her shoulder blades, giving me enough room to close the door.

She turns at the sound. Her face falls in shock as I lower the window and throw her a knife. She looks small and afraid, making me hesitate to taunt her further. I don’t look at her again as I focus on the empty road, check the mirrors to make sure we’re truly alone, and press my foot to the accelerator. The image doesn’t leave as she gets smaller in the mirror. I’m not far enough away that she’s out of sight, and I slow down to keep her in sight.

Inessa doesn’t move as she stares at my retreat. Switching all the lights off, the low streetlight makes her glow, and I can feel her hurt. All she needs to do is take one step in any direction. But she doesn’t. She just stands there, and the knife is by her feet where it fell. Her shoulders hunch over, and she hugs her middle with one arm as she swipes at her face. I don’t turn the lights back on and turn back around. She’s fucking with me. I’ve never gone back on what I say, and I don’t owe anyone an explanation for what I do.

But this woman is getting under my skin because the thought of her being hurt makes me turn around. She can’t hear my approach after switching to the electric engine when I thought she was asleep. Her face sparkles as I get closer. Not because she’s happy, but there are tears slowly dripping down her cheeks, and she still hasn’t picked up the fucking knife. I slit a man’s throat over her body, and she was perfectly fucking fine, spitting fire with her tongue like there was no threat, but this has her breaking down when there’s a weapon beside her.All of her bravado is bullshit, and she’s disillusioned to think there is anyone in the vicinity more capable of harming her than me.

Her head swings wildly when she can hear the tires rolling, and I turn the lights back on. Stopping in front of her, I get out, and she finally fucking moves. It’s in the wrong direction, making me hurry up to grab her, and I extend my voice as alien remorse works through my body.

“Meelaya, stop.”

Reaching her in three steps, she doesn’t turn around and tries to stop her tears. My first instinct is to demand that she doesn’t fucking cry, that it’s no use, but I keep my mouth shut and lift her, making sure the robe stays closed.

After her earlier outburst, I expect the claws to come out, but Inessa buries her face in my neck and holds on to me. It’s awkward as fuck. I don’t know if I should pat her head or say I told you so. Walking back to the car, wet touches my skin, turning her burrow humid and uncomfortable with each step.

She twists her body to wrap her legs around my waist and holds on to me tighter, stopping me from putting her in the car. This woman never shuts the fuck up when I want her to. If her body wasn’t shaking in my arms, I’d think she was doing it purposefully. Holding her nape, I stroke down her back, getting ready to pull her away.

Her tear-filled voice stops me.

“She always used to do that. Just leave me places because they’d forget I exist and then scream when dedka found out, saying I lied.”

Blowing out a watery breath into the rainforest she’s created between her face and my neck, vulnerability fills her plea.

“Don’t do that again. You can scream at me or choke me like you did your mother. But not that.”

Now, it makes sense. She’s shutting down due to the special brand of haunting only a parent can provide. I nod and stroke her hair over the hood. She relaxes instantly and allows me to put her in the passenger seat. I wish I put her in the driver’s seat and said I’d fucking walk with how tense she is. It’s harder to ignore her when there are sniffles coming from my side as I drive, and she keeps wiping her face.

I’ve never had an unfair fight. My opponent has always been given an advantage and a weapon. Inessa’s refusal to pick it up fills me with unease. I’m not a weak fuck that needs to have the upper hand. I revel in being the underdog. She needs to be stronger and turn her pain into power.

The sniffles get further apart as I tap on my thigh, and her breathing evens out. She doesn’t stir until I pull up outside the house, and I recline her seat so she’s more comfortable, doing another lap until she’s in deep sleep. It takes four tries for her not to twitch when I try to move her. Pulling the hood over her head to protect her from the cold, I keep her robe secured as I lift her out of the car.

Dima has managed to make it back before me. He discreetly shakes his head, and I straighten my spine, steeling my features, knowing Len is going to be beside him as I turn the corner from the garage. The man was put on Earth to show people what not to be, and I feel violated by the way he stares at Inessa’s bundled form.My middle fingers twitch against her hip as he slowly assesses her. His eyes are creepy as fuck and violate her covered body as he stares at the small expanse of her skin on show.

Cupping her head, I press my palm into her ear, stopping any of his vile shit soaking into her brain. The violation doesn’t end there, as he allows it to be voiced.

“Now that you’ve broken her in, you should welcome her to the family fully.”

I keep my tone even, not letting him concoct some bullshit about me caring and bring out her shield.

“She is the granddaughter of my Pakhan. And the future wife of a Vor, don’t overstep the hospitality you’ve been shown.”

It’s the only thing that will keep her safe with either of the people who gave me their DNA. Without her ties to her grandfather, she would become their victim, and I hope she forges a bond with my brothers so she can extend it to them once I’m no longer here.

His anger doesn’t leave his lips, but it’s there, burning in his eyes. One thing the fucker has always wanted was to become a Vor. It was his favorite phrase growing up.

‘ I’ve given you the first letter, get the other two. ’

He was destined to be a fucking rat from birth, and the hierarchy of my family isn’t one he can assign any claim over. I’m not the son who he can proudly proclaim has gained favor where he continuously failed. I’ll be his fucking downfall as soon as I protect the only family I have. Then they’ll all burn, and I can get back to my life.

He steps aside, taking out one of his awful-smelling cigarettes as Dima cracks a smile to himself for once. Len is too stupid to know that each paper roll is filled with a mixture of rat shit and other chemicals he definitely shouldn’t be inhaling. Going up to my floor, there’s no sign of Viktor. His nightlight isn’t on as I pass his room. I keep walking into my own to lay Inessa under the covers without removing her robe. She’s beautiful, and I’m semi-surprised she doesn’t talk in her sleep, considering her penchant for talking as much as possible. I already know she snores, and it’s cute as she lets them free once she’s flat on her back.

Leaving her to sleep, I do my nightly routine, starting on Vitali’s floor. He’s knocked out from the drugs or pain. Stroking his hair back, I check his temperature is normal, and there’s no sweat coating his skin. His chest is moving, and there’s no blue tint to his skin.Setting the alerts as I move to Valentin’s floor, I check the cameras to see what the vultures have been doing. They’re both boring as fuck. At least Anika has kept her whoring contained to the bedrooms, so I don’t have to see that shit and need a lobotomy.

There are toys littered on the floor as I reach Valentin’s floor. A trip hazard because the lazy bastard hasn’t picked them up. I wouldn’t be surprised if Valentin was the one playing with the remote control truck while Viktor sat on the sidelines. Picking them up as I go, I drop them noiselessly into the toy bin and repeat the same checks.

Viktor’s room is first. It’s a stupid design when he should be in the room furthest away from any exit, but their floor is set up in two wings split by a corridor, and he wanted the biggest room, leaving his dad with the other on the other side of the hallway. He’s not blue . I watch his chest, counting each breath and making sure there’s no disturbance. Once I’ve convinced myself he’s fine, it becomes easier to breathe.

He doesn’t even twitch as I stroke his hair back or kiss his head, and sleeps spread out. His leg is hanging off the bed, exactly like his dad when he was younger. Gently picking up his limb, I return it to the others and leave his room. Valentin sleeps on his front, making me pause. He’s usually on his side facing the wall, and I look to the window. It’s closed, the latch isn’t undone, and I soften my steps as I walk to him. Holding my knuckles in front of his mouth, I wait. When air hits them, I can relax and turn on the alerts, going back to my own floor.