Page 7 of Viparious

“I’ll hurt you if you don’t start listening to me.”

I breathe through my warning, and he turns to face me. His hands go to my thighs to keep me steady, and they don’t leave. I like the position because it puts my head above his and he has to look up at me, for once.

There’s no argument and he keeps at least one hand on me as he passes me his shampoo. The deep intensity re-enters his eyes as I gently tilt his head back so none of the suds get in his wounds or eyes. This Vlad is the most dangerous, the most capable of harm, because he’s vulnerable. It may not be violent, but I know he’s going to break me. I’m suddenly aware of what I’m doing, pampering a murderer, and it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. He’s not the monster or the man people fear, no, in this moment, locked away from the world in our bathroom, he’s just my husband.

My hands linger once there’s no more grime or blood in his hair. He allows me to stand there, on the chair, with my fingertips gently massaging his scalp. Some of his cuts are still open, the water washing the blood away before it can pool against his skin, and I don’t look further down in fear of my own reaction. My body sways forward and my voice is too low as I beg, “Don’t get hurt again.”

I’ve seen him covered in blood. It was fine when it was other people’s. There’s a different smell in the air, knowing that it belongs to Vlad.

There’s no acknowledgement of my request as he lifts me by the back of my thighs and wraps my legs around his waist. He silences me with a kiss under my ear and strokes up my back to gently place my head on his shoulder before he turns off the spray and walks us out of the shower. No stupid comment, or joke. He kisses my temple and my eyes slowly close, knowing he’s choosing not to make a promise he’ll break. There’s comfort in that, in the fact that he respects me enough not to lie to me.

He keeps walking, ignoring his pained body, until we get to our bed, and he lies on his back without removing me. Each sweep of his hand down my back fills me with warmth as I lay there watching his lashes slowly move. I have to force myself to move and there’s no heat in my voice as I peel his hand off me.

“Do you want shorts, or should I cover you with a blanket before I call Dima to stitch you up?”

He switches his neurosis back on and sits up, being a dumbass.

“No one else comes in here.”

I’m surprised he never gets tired of his trust issues. It’s exhausting being around them without them belonging to me. I let the argument drop, knowing he’ll just speak over me and go to the closet to get him some shorts before he ends up passing out.

His footsteps aren’t silent for once as he follows me into the closet and steps behind me. There’s a towel in his hands, and he squeezes the excess water out of my hair before pulling my robe off the back of the door and wrapping it around me. It mimics his actions before he disappeared for four weeks, and my accusation is a heavy weight in the room.

“You said you were coming home.”

Vlad promised he’d be there when I woke up, and he also promised not to leave me. Death counts as leaving me, and I refuse to accept that it will ever come for him.

I’m gently tugged forward as he double knots the belt at my waist. His fingers are warm as he delicately holds my chin between his thumb and forefinger to demolish all his promises.

“I will lie, cheat, steal, and do whatever I need to for my family to be safe. No one takes from me, Inessa, and if they attempt to, I’ll do what I need to stop anyone from thinking there can be a repeat.”

I nod and stop all the questions I have that will only make me look needy as I weakly hold out his shorts.

Once he’s dressed, he lets me stay tucked to his side. I can’t leave him alone; I’ve only just got him back, and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet that he’s here to stay and not a figment of my imagination. Dima is already waiting with the others when we go into the lounge, and it’s like we’ve gone back in time. Viktor doesn’t look at anyone and he’s stuck to Dani’s side at whatever he witnessed. The angry mark on his face will be with him for life, and his eye is still bloodshot from where the cunts hit him. Who the fuck punches a child?

Vlad doesn’t move me as he takes a seat with his brothers, and I reluctantly let him go so Dima can stitch him up. There’s no twinge or wince from the needle puncturing his skin. I do that for him as I watch, making sure nothing fucks up. The miserable man is uncharacteristically emotional. There’s no grumble on his lips, and I change my assessment from his hands to his eyes. I don’t think they’re in a relationship, he has the type of care Val and Tali have — admirable respect for an older sibling.

Val passes the head of the family back to his brother as he brings up the topic everyone fucking loathes.

“Len called. I made up some bullshit about you being away for business.”

Vlad nods once, and he stretches out, allowing me to hook my little finger under his, resting on his knees, as he begins ordering everyone again as though he never left.

“Keep it that way for everyone. This shit doesn’t leave the house.” Turning to me, he adds, “You’ve got your fundraiser in a week. We’ll all be there.”

I open my mouth to argue that he needs rest, but he hardens, glaring at my lips.I’ll give him a reprieve on account of blood loss and being injured. As soon as he’s back to normal physically, then so am I verbally. Staying tucked in his side, he doesn’t move away. For once, he just sits. There’s nothing for him to deal with or chase down. I don’t think he has ever known peace, or even rest. He always moves from one thing to the next, calculating his path, and my sleep-deprived brain finally gives in now that he’s finally home and everything feels complete.

My blinks get slower until my eyes are closed as I lean against his chest. Dima’s voice is low as he finishes up the stitches.

“She hasn’t been sleeping.”

Vlad’s palm covers my ear, blocking out the sound as they switch to their mother tongue, and he massages my scalp, pulling me to sleep. It’s even better when he talks, and the deep rumble against my other ear is like a noise machine. Some people need calming waves or white noise. I need Vlad so I’m comfortable.

My eyes don’t open as I’m slowly tilted, and my head is gently placed on cushioned thighs. I don’t twitch when a blanket is draped over me or when people move around. Continuing to massage my scalp with my nose pressed to his abs, he keeps his voice low when it’s just his brothers remaining.

“Inessa and Dani need guards, one team with them and a second that blend in. Go through your groups and find the best. I’ll test them.”

Everyone is quiet, and I’m eavesdropping. It’s not my fault, my mind won’t sleep despite my body being exhausted. I like listening to them interacting, seeing how much he cares about his family and doesn’t have any heat behind his order.

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