Page 30 of Viripotent

Straightening his little suit, I adjust his pocket square and make sure his shirt is tucked in, before scowling and forcing his game face out.

He’s a child whose only comfort is within four walls and four people. My brothers, Dima, and I will all protect him, but certain threats aren’t visible and the only way for Viktor to experience some normalcy is insulated by the four of us publicly refusing to care about each other. Soon he’ll have a cousin to play with and Vitali has probably got a few kids he doesn’t know about all over the country, they’ll all come together as one and they won’t be forced to fight for a spot.

He perks up and scowls at me before his shoulders harden under my hands. Seeing that he’s ready, I straighten and remain two steps behind him to have any one threat in view as we go back to the façade inside. Valentin is beside Misha and Inessa is the closest safety for Viktor as Len moves in. Discreetly tapping his shoulder closest to Inessa, Viktor doesn’t need any other prompt and goes straight to her side. Verelli’s wife is smiles and happiness, shaking his hand and I’ve seen the work they both do at Steorra to know they won’t let any harm come to him.

Going to the bar with them still in sight, the dick follows me, needing to get whatever’s burdening him free. He has the sense to wait until I’ve got my drink and keep his voice low.

“You got rid of one weakness just to pick up another. From 3, then 2, and back to 3. Make sure she doesn’t become a fourth.”

To onlookers he’s a father shooting the shit with his son on his engagement. The reality is sinister, and I can’t control myself, half turning into him but keeping my body to the room, venom laces every syllable leaving me.

“Do not discuss her.”

Len’s brows go up and he looks at Inessa, purposefully misunderstanding. The sick fuck wants me to say her name, so many years of those letters not leaving my tongue, the muscle doesn’t remember the pattern. Tapping against my thigh, I remind myself of what made me, what kept me, and what I need. The repetition doesn’t work, and I go blank on the outside as he fills with twisted satisfaction saying her name.

“Oh, you meant Vanya.”

Fighting the urge to rip his fucking tongue out, I hold myself rigid. There’s not a single tic allowed in my muscles because that delicate thread keeping back my rage wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

THIRTEEN

Inessa

I’ve managed to get a four-foot bodyguard as Viktor comes to my side. Mara breaks our conversation and holds her hand out, introducing herself while he remains respectfully stoic. He’s not the bright, bubbly kid he is when he’s at home and I hold his shoulders, keeping him away from the harsh pricks surrounding us. They’re all drunk and they’re unreliable enough when they’re sober around anything innocent.

Mara is the same with him as she is at Steorra, making me relax.

“You look very smart in your suit.”

He preens under the attention, and he acts like Vitali, flashing her a smile and each part of his personality is carefully selected from the different parts of his dad and uncles. She doesn’t pause realizing he’s a Vartanov and my gratitude grows with her not holding Vlad’s sins against me.

He could have involved himself in any feud, but the selfish bastard chose the one person who has a tie to me. The woman who got caught up in the middle of something she should never have been involved in hasn’t returned to Steorra yet. As much as Mara says they aren’t that close, everyone has seen the womenof the conglomerate together even if their husbands are icy and cold with each other. I haven’t been allowed the full details other than Maria was taken out of the country and even the guards don’t gossip about her whereabouts.

Someone moves closer to me from behind and I turn to see Dima adding himself as my shadow. His movements distract me from the bitch who’s going to be my mother-in-law. If she even attempts to relocate to the States, I’m emigrating. Her mouth is poisonous, and I can understand why Vlad choked her now. It’s not excusable, just unsurprising when taking into account her personality.

The look she gives her own grandson is filled with disgust. I protectively hold Viktor’s shoulders as he stands in front of me, and the disgust isn’t dimmed. He’s a boy, innocent and uncorrupted, but she looks at him like the devil lives in his eyes. Sipping her champagne with fake class, she pins her eyes on me, and the cunt comes out.

“You should speak with the other guests rather than stand here in the corner with misfits.”

I’m going to beat the shit out of her and then use her tongue to do it all over again. She clearly doesn’t know who the fuck themisfitsare. My voice is cold giving her an introduction.

“Anika Vartanova, this is Xiomara Verelli.”

The dumb fuck realizes her mistake and plays a bullshit card, spluttering and making her accent thicker.

“Some things can get confused in translation.”

The ‘Ndrangheta matriarch comes out as Mara meets her bullshit head on.

“It seems I understood that perfectly well.”

Anika’s eyes widen and she fucks off, not wanting to ruin a working relationship further. Or she’s fearful knowing how much a full feud will cost Moscow if the ‘Ndrangheta are insulted in the Pakhans’ home.

Keeping her voice low, she hides her words from the other guests behind her flute.

“How far away is Moscow again?”

Viktor turns hiding his smile from everyone else and Dima’s smirk is in my periphery at my response.

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