Page 20 of Viripotent

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 nightlightisn’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 sidefacing 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.

NINE

Inessa

Watching my future mother-in-law flirt in an outfit that’s making me blush has me pushing away my breakfast. The woman has no shame, while I’m filled with it. Averting my eyes as she exaggeratedly goes up on her toes to get a glass, the lace babydoll rides up in my periphery. This is the same woman who has bruises around her neck, and one eyeball is bloodshot from how hard her son choked her. Maybe she hit her head when he dropped her to the floor, and that’s the reason for her disgraceful behavior. No one else seems to think the same as me, and her sons are nowhere to be found.

I’m developing an appreciation for my parents’ neglect if this could have been the alternative. It intensifies when her husband steps in the kitchen, and I know this shit is normal when he doesn’t demand she cover up.How the fuck did they raise their kids? Vlad is fucked in the head and a team of psychologists would struggle with his devious mind. But the other two arefairly normal. They’re not twisted despite witnessing this shit their entire lives.

Len takes the seat beside me as I try to stomach swallowing my coffee and stare out into the gardens. He acts like this is his home, spreading his legs and knocking into my knee. It doesn’t assert dominance like he’s hoping to. All it achieves is making my skin crawl. I’m dressed, unlike his wife, but his eyes are fixed on me as though it’s reversed. He replaces his son as the most vile human being I’ve ever met as he looks me up and down and tries to act above me.

“You’re very comfortable here in such a short amount of time.”

His insinuation isn’t missed and dress shoes clicking against the tile cut me off from responding. Vlad is menacing on a normal day. He could be wearing a false smile and it still can’t be hidden. Right now, it’s murderous as he takes stock of his parents. He doesn’t say anything as they both continue doing whatever they want.Their dynamic is strange. He’s a control freak and brutal, but he doesn’t attempt to command them, and there’s no fear on his face.

He’s solely focused on me and ignores his mother in a way that I wish I could emulate as she stretches again, showing the curve of her ass. My stomach revolts, and I look at the safest sight in the room, Vlad. His gaze is fixed on the leg beside mine, and he slowly scans my body. Reaching my face, he relaxes slightly and his steps thunder until he’s at my side. There’s no good morning or greeting, as he grips the back of my chair, he drags me away from his father. The wooden legs screech against the tile, and the other chair clatters as he pulls it from my side to fit it in the space he’s created.

He lowers into the seat with authority, and everything around him shrinks as he stares at his father, attempting to dothe same but failing. Vlad’s rough order is directed at me but spoken to the dickhead glaring at me.

“We’re leaving in five minutes. Pakhan has called a meeting regarding the wedding.”

He’s never called Grandfather by his title with me. It’s always Maximoff. I’m not a lunatic, so I don’t question my escape and choose to keep the small amount of untainted sight I have left as Dima walks into the kitchen, getting Anika’s attention. The way she looks at him should be illegal as she leans against the counter, and I take steady steps away from the Vartanov’s dysfunction.

Viktor’s little head pops out through the railings when I reach the stairs. The kid is full of energy and life despite the death he’s raised around, and I go to the sanest member of this family for my own safety. I keep my voice low when I reach him, so he’s not caught.

“I thought you weren’t allowed downstairs?”

He nods and moves deeper into the hallway towards the living area.

Once we’re away from the assholes, he smiles widely and jumps up onto the sofa, speaking freely.

“This is Tali’s floor. I’m not allowed down there,” He points towards the stairs, and continues spilling family secrets I’m sure I shouldn’t know. “Only when Len and Anika are here. Otherwise, I’m allowed everywhere. But Len isn’t a nice man. He was going to punch me last time, so I stay here now.”

Protectiveness comes out in me, and I stand in front of the sofa. He doesn’t stop bouncing. I gently hold his arms, so he looks at me. He pauses and looks up at me, still smiling as I give him the most genuine promise I’ve ever given.

“If someone ever hurts you or says they’re going to, tell me. Okay?”

He doesn’t need to know that I’ll kill them, even if it’s Vlad himself, but he giggles and tries to scowl.

“You’re not scary. I am.”

There aren’t any signs of fear coming through. Viktor leans into my side and taps his hand on my knee three times as he watches whatever show he’s put on. It’s late in the morning and a weekday so he should be in school, but there’s no one coming to collect him as the next episode plays automatically.

I stroke his hair back and try to get more information out of him. If I’m going to be living here, he’s my only point of normalcy.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school, rypka?”

He turns his head at the endearment without moving his eyes from the TV and pulls his cheeks in, making a fish face before answering.

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