Page 50 of Viparious

“I’ve known you since I was ten years old, you scared the shit out of me then, and you still do now. But you’re human, contrary to how you act.”

The first part has a genuine smile on my face, despite Dani basically being another one of the kids under my protection, I like having her fear. It means she won’t be a cunt and take advantage of what she’s been given.

Letting out a sigh because she’s spent too much time around Valya and probably picked up his habit of throwing a tantrum, she softens and discomfort snakes up my spine at her assessment.

“You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met Vlad, you deserve to be happy too.”

My mouth opens, knowing my words will hurt her feelings and crush that thought, but I make no attempt to claw them back.

“Trying to get all three brothers for your collection?”

She doesn’t flinch. She just rolls her eyes like a kid and stands, wiping her hands on her paint-splattered overalls.

“Don’t be a dick to me when I still remember you tying my shoelaces. Deep down inside, I know you’re a good person.”

She’s blind, or the MC hit her too hard, and we didn’t realize she’s suffered some cognitive damage. I speak to her back to try to get her to see the truth as she walks to the door.

“I should have let you fall over.”

She pauses with her hand on the door handle and looks over her shoulder with a soft smile.

“But you didn’t because you’re a good person even with the blood on your hands.”

She’s definitely suffering mentally; I’ll have to call the doctor to check her over.

* * *

You’d thinkwith the opportunity of earning $2 million that Dima would be fucking struggling to fit everyone inside the warehouse. Instead, I’m stuck with four dickheads who don’t look capable of doing any damage. I haven’t fought without a crowd since I was thirteen. Twenty-five years later and my body has become accustomed to watchful eyes. But right now, I need to unleash. Not put on a show to entertain the masses.

The door clangs behind me and I keep expecting Inessa to walk back into my life. It’s not going to happen; she’s made her choice and it’s not one I can blame her for. My queen shouldn’t settle for anything, and I won’t force her to. Not when the alternative is giving her the truth and letting all that shit out into the world, allowing the pain to be real and watching her be ashamed of me.

My rage increases as Vitali walks in with his arm over Ana’s shoulders. He has a burger in his hand and alternates their bites as he holds it in front of her face. The silly little bitch is supposed to be guarding my wife, not fucking my brother. Too dumb for self-preservation, she shrugs out of his hold and walks over to me. This fucking psycho has pity on her features when she was raised by sex traffickers. That enrages me further. I’m not fucking weak, someone to pity, especially not by someone who is barely fucking human. Her voice is lower as she asks, “Can I talk to you about something?”

If she spews some shit that’s irrelevant, I’ll add her to the lineup of fuckers I’m going to kill tonight.

Standing away from the others, she keeps her voice low and my legs itch to leave.

“She was upset and said she wanted to be alone. But I thought you should know that someone sent her flowers. I’m guessing I’m supposed to be your spy as well as her guard.”

Inessa wouldn’t fuck some random prick just because they sent her dead plants. My mind knows that, but a fucked up part of my brain tells me it’s deeper. That she wants space to have someone else in her life. Pipsqueak hesitates and her lips twist as though she’s attempting not to talk, but it all falls out of her anyway.

“I think she’s sad.”

She sounds dumb as fuck, like a child who doesn’t know anything. She doesn’t say anything else, and I go back to the cage we’ve set up. The metal siding rattles as I jump over it, needing to use my fists to organize my thoughts. The first prick comes at me, and my limbs move while my brain only focuses on what my wife will be doing. She won’t be entertaining some cunt, not with my baby in her belly. Gripping the back of the fucker’s head in front of me, I drive my knee up, pushing all my rage into his face. I’ll get it all out and then go to her. Tell her the rules. As long as Inessa follows them, I’ll be able to breathe.

My problems stop, the world doesn’t spin, and I lose sense of everything. There’s no opponent opposite me. They’re buttons and my limbs move independent of any thoughts to prolong it.

Blinking into awareness, whoever the first fight was with, he’s unrecognizable and his body is limp as I hold his head in two hands. Wide, horrified eyes stare at me as I let him go. He slumps, falling to a heap, and I smile, extending my voice.

“Who’s next?”

All they have to do is stay alive, for fuck’s sake. It’s not that difficult, but they look to Dima like he’ll be their protector. The last voice I expect to hear proudly declares, “Me. You look like you’ll be fun today.”

Ana kicks off her shoes and Vitali tries to pull her back. My bark stops him.

“Let her go.”

Ana and Dima are the closest to being able to give me the fight I need and if she dies, it will be a benefit.

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