Page 57 of Viripotent

I meet Roel’s eyes, and he can’t control his temper being relegated to the back. I want him to react to the murder he’s plotting, it would be fun, but no one fucking moves without Erion’s command. People think wars are won with blood, rarely does that work. They begin and end with paper, the blood spilt in between is to satiate man’s desire for violence.

As if sensing my request for insanity, the youngest Kadare steps into Noctem. He’s a psychotic fuck with no impulse control and Niko takes a step forward, ready to make my day. These are the same little shits who would make stupid bets with my brothers as teenagers, sneaking out together to raise hell, and now it’s all murder from both sides.I don’t look at Valentin as he locks onto the addition, and he knows better than to fuck this up.

Expecting the old Krye to keep the information, he slides it back and admits defeat.

“It’s done.”

I’m like a kid excited at winning the argument and he fucks off, taking his youngest psycho with him. Every one of his guards look confused as I finish my drink while they leave. I take my time, savoring each sip, hoping it urges someone to move. The Alessi’s may run Noctem with ironclad control to ensure no one breaks the peace, but a man’s pride being hurt can make him do a lot of shit he shouldn’t.

Valentin discreetly tilts his phone towards me, Vitali’s message lights up the screen making us leave. There’s no rushed steps and I slow down, passing the pricks who are too weak to fight fairly. Fucking pyromaniacs have been burning everything down for months like cavemen who have just found fire.I’m sick of dealing with the arson reports and having weak fuckers within my group.

The tantrum starts as soon as we get in the car and for a father, Val’s pout is fucking ridiculous.

“So, we’re moving?”

Checking my messages as he drives, I don’t look up and treat him like the child he is.

“You won’t have to change schools and I’m sure you’ll make new friends.”

He scoffs like I’m the immature one and shuts the fuck up.We were taking New Jersey no matter what happened tonight, by force or careful manipulation. The fuckers were too stupid to outright ask if the child was a Vartanov, they just accepted a piece of paper and made my life easier and equally boring.

I’ve already found the new house and Viktor will have more space along with his future sibling. It’s the perfect time to bring up the plan since Valentin is already in a mood about moving and not being told. I don’t look away from my phone as I speak.

“Once Inessa is pregnant, and the child is in my care, there are adoption papers for you to sign.”

He slows down and stares at me with his mouth open like a fish. Fuck, I can’t tell him clearly or he’ll start getting emotional or fucking crying.

“It’s a contingency if anything happens, you know how this life is.”

He nods and starts driving again as he lies, “Nothing will happen to you. You’re too much of a fucking psycho to let anyone kill your controlling ass.”

Huh, he’s kind of right considering I’m going to be the catalyst to my own death.

“Well, if it does you’ll raise the child like your own. If they’re too young to know who I am, you won’t let them find out,” I say carefully to prevent him finding a thread of my plotting.

He has no sense of fucking safety and slams the brakes on as he pulls to an abrupt stop at the side of the road. I swear to fuck his tantrums are getting worse.

“What the fuck? You want me to be your kid’sdad? How fucking insane are you?”

“Dealing with your tantrums? Very.”

He balks and pulls his head back, cursing.

“Fuck you, I’m not having a fucking tantrum. You don’t even want your kid to know you? I’d kill anyone who tried to make Vik justsayI’m not his dad, never mind live his life like that.”

My finger moves, tapping against the edge of my phone as I push every honest piece of history back to stop him from having full understanding.

“That’s the difference between the two of us, I don’t need my child to know me, I need them to be safe and you’ll be able to offer that. You’ll become a Vor too.” He opens his mouth to argue, and I quickly add, “Take the fucking compliment that you’ve raised your son well and drive, you have tonight to pack up your shit, we’re moving in the morning.”

Going back to the message from the agent confirming handover is ready for tomorrow, I decide to make him feel better.

“You’ll even have a pool. There are stables and horses on the property, 10 bedrooms and you can get Viktor enrolled in school.”

He doesn’t relax and gives me a stilted nod as he pulls back into the road and starts driving again.

I send the listing to my brothers and my thumbs pause before I can add Inessa to the group. She can make an argument out of anything, and I’d prefer not to deal with her shit right now. I’m already going to have to deal with the overgrown toddler currently driving, so decide against it, and Dima sendsconfirmation that everything has been dealt with ready for the move.

I realize my mistake as we pull up outside of the house we’ll only be in for another twenty-four hours. I should have just sent it to her because she’s waiting by the door with her arms crossed.We’re not even fucking married yet and she’s stood at the door like a nagging fucking wife.

---