Page 133 of Viripotent

“My dad is going to kill you, then Vlad will. And Vitali will piss on your dead body. Then I’ll send that toyourmommy.”

I stand because I can’t sit in anger and there’s a scuffle before the line goes dead. Without looking at Valentin, I dial Dani’s number, hoping to fuck she’s made a mistake and let the cunt in her house. When there’s no answer, I turn to leave, ignoring everyone’s eyes on me and I’m stopped with my brother grabbing my shoulder.

He already knows, it’s there in his eyes. A father knows when their child is hurt, and I give him a promise rather than confirmation.

“I’ll get him back to you.”

I won’t let him know the loss of losing his child, he’ll never have to spend nights awake counting how old Viktor would have been or imagining his milestones.

The temperature in the room drops to below freezing and Dima is the only person capable of moving as he stands. Gripping Valyusha’s nape, I shake him to life, needing him to not lose his shit yet.

“When did you last speak to Dani?”

He was on his phone at the fight and he’s overprotective of his son. He slowly blinks and takes too long to answer with everyone else already moving. Vitali speaks on his behalf, “I spoke to her before we left, she said Vik had fallen asleep watching some movie.”

I nod and turn to leave as Inessa goes to my brother, so he’s not alone.

I pause and kiss her crown in gratitude before I leave. Dima already has the car pulled up, and Vitali is nearly up my ass with his eagerness. Ana has joined our group and jumps in the back with Katya as we peel away before the doors have even closed. We’re encased with rage, and my little brother speaks, letting his emotions out.

“He wouldn’t have killed her, right?”

I made him a promise when he was five to never lie to him, and I don’t answer, not wanting to break it.

We have no fucking idea where to go, but Dima drives in the direction of Dani’s building. Hopefully, Leno’s inept junkie ass hasn’t left.

FORTY-NINE

Inessa

Holding Valentin’s forearm, I try to guide his huge body to sit down. It’s like he’s disappeared, there’s nothing on his features, and he’s just staring into space. I manage to tilt him so his back is to the sofa and gently push against his chest. He falls without any real force behind my hands, and his heartbroken whisper kills me.

“He’s got my son.”

He looks up at me lost. The killer has red-rimmed eyes, repeating himself.

“He’s got my son.”

He continues repeating it and I lower to my haunches and hold his shoulders, but he doesn’t stop.

The words change as it sinks in, and his face splinters.

“I can’t live without him.”

There’s no consolation I can give him. Whoever Leno is has shared history with the Vartanovs that they know he isn’t going to be treating Viktor with care. I wrap both arms around him and speak with conviction of the only thing I know to be true. “Vlad will get him back.”

My voice is full of strength, and he speaks to himself.

“Little man will be okay. Vlad will get him.”

Nodding to himself, he fills with anger, and I move back in time to escape the coffee table being thrown across the room. It’s not just rage fueling him but despair, and I stay a statue standing against the wall, watching Valentin break down.Everything is destroyed and I remain unmoving as he moves like a cyclone.

Vlad’s phone is still on the only intact sofa and we both turn to it as it starts vibrating. I can’t see the name with how quick it’s snatched up, and Val answers, clenching his jaw to stop the promise of death leaving him.

“Let me speak to him,” he says, losing his usual cruelty for something darker.

Moving closer to him like I can do anything, he puts it on speaker and wraps his arm around my shoulders. Viktor’s voice is filled with strength, and warm tears race down my cheek.

“Ni za chto.”

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