Page 64 of Viparious

I bite my tongue to stop from telling him how fucking delighted the world would be at the news of his death as he drags me out of the elevator. The flowers Vlad had delivered without a card are wilting from the chemicals that have been poured on them.

The smell of alcohol mixes with something even more potent, and I squint from the fumes the deeper we get into the bar. Len kicks my calf with his heavy boot. My knees crumple, and I fall to the floor with a crack. The ugly bastard is in full view as he lets my hair go to backhand me, his knuckles catching on my lip, and it splits on impact. I turn my head back straight, but he stops me standing again and grabs the hair on my crown.

“You made him weak. He should be sat with the Vory, but he left becauseyoucalled him.”

He addresses me with a snarl, and I try to use sense over brawn I don’t possess.

“I can find what you were looking for in his office,” I offer.

I don’t flinch as his hand comes back up, and his knuckles fully connect with my cheek. The burn on my face is nothing compared to the one in my nose as it works out the mix of flammable liquids coating every surface.As long as he focuses on rearranging my face, he won’t hurt my daughter.

The floors sparkle in the low light emitted from the lamps from how saturated they are. I’m barefoot and I’ll make it two steps before I fall. Hugging my bump tighter, I give her every promise I can think of. Everything she wants, she will have.

Len looks me up and down with disgust. Swapping his hand for a gun, he moves back and keeps his eyes locked on mine as he aims at me. “You are nothing. I knew he wouldn’t allow you his secrets. Those weak bastard brothers of his don’t even know, but I do.”

He sounds smug, the freak. He continues as he declines Vlad’s call.

“I thought I’d rid him of everything. He was worse than I dreamed of. A true evil bastard.”

The pride in his voice as he describes his twisted wishes for his son fill me with disgust.

Vlad isn’t fucking evil. He’s a nightmare for those he doesn’t give a fuck about. Deep down, he’s a protector and the most loyal man anyone could know.

Len reaches for something out of sight on the bar, and he shakes his head as hate coats his voice.

“He’s always allowed bitches and whores to be his weakness, a waste.”

I’m not a submissive or silent person. I argue back and don’t give a fuck. But there’s another life that means more than my own.I focus on that and remind myself that Vlad will be here soon. He promised, and he won’t let anyone hurt our daughter. She’s family, under his protection. Repeating the same thought over and over, I zone out of Len’s ranting as he uncaps a bottle.

“You think he became what he is withoutme? He thinks he can ruin everythingIfucking worked for?!”

There’s no glass and he doesn’t bring the bottle to his lips. He tries to smile at the joy of his fucked up thoughts, but his face isn’t suited for the curve.

“He won’t take from me. I will ruin him again and make him stronger like I did all those years ago.”

I refuse to acknowledge him, nothing he says is rooted in fact, it’s bullshit.

“Has he told you about Vanya?” he asks when I don’t react to anything else he’s said.

Not answering him, I stare ahead, fixing on a spot on the wall.I continue repeating my mantra. We’ll be okay, Vlad said he was coming. If he was in a meeting with the other Vory, he’ll have people to help.

Liquid splashes on the top of my head and I hold my breath, not wanting to ingest the alcohol dousing me. Unhappy with not getting a reaction, Len stokes one from his son as he dials Vlad.

“Your wife is keeping me company whilst we await your arrival.”

He drops his phone on the floor, the gasoline and alcohol splashing up and hitting my thighs as Vlad falls silent. I can see the timer tick over to know he’s there, and Len looks from the screen to me before he grabs my face with one hand. His fingers dig into my cheeks, and he speaks in the most sickening tone I have ever heard.

“Open up, nevestka1.”

The bottle comes up, and I bite down harder.

He doesn’t move as I lock my jaw closed to stop the sick fucking cunt. I try to turn my body away from him as I push against him with one arm wrapped around me. The force of his hold pushes against my teeth, and his foot comes up, aiming for my stomach, making me scream, “NO!”

It lands on my thigh, hard enough for my bones to rattle. He presses his fingers between my parted teeth through my cheek, not allowing me to close my mouth. The sick bastard empties the rest of the bottle into my open mouth while I try to spit it out. I don’t know if I’ve accidentally swallowed some, and I can’t breathe from my attempt not to.

Holding up the empty bottle while I choke and wretch, the cunt toasts, “Sleduyushcheye pokoleniye2.”

I’m going to peel his fucking flesh from his bones and feed it to him. As soon as my baby is safe, I’ll be worse than the devil himself. Not voicing anything to risk her safety, I can’t hide the murderous plot in my eyes. Vlad said he would come, but he isn’t even speaking. I can’t hear any sounds of the road or an engine. I look down to make sure he’s still there and the seconds are still being counted. But he doesn’t fucking say anything.

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