Page 17 of Viparious

“Ineska didn’t say what happened, only that they grabbed her but, did they touch her?”

I don’t like the familiarity in his tone as he uses her short name. If he has some crush from childhood, he better fucking kill it. I lean forward, ignoring my anger at those filthy bikers touching her and it latches onto the man who has known her since she was a child.

“I appreciate your concerns regarding my wife.” He doesn’t flinch, and I add, “But she is my responsibility.”

He would be more suited to her than me. They’re close in age, he listens to her talk shit and doesn’t get pissed about it.

He shakes his head and reminds me of their family secret as he lowers his voice.

“She’s blood, don’t make it into something sordid.”

Inessa has managed to make me do something I never do and forget all the pieces at play. No one knows who impregnated Dariya with Maximoff burying the secret, and it was supposed to be the ace up my sleeve should I ever need it. But Inessa has altered my brain and rearranged the pieces so she’s at the center of every living thing. I nod and relax back into my seat, knowing he won’t touch her. Valya steps into the office, and they swap places.

Before he can start his tantrum, I gesture to the decanter beside him, “Let me have a drink first.”

I’ve seen him fight. He’s deadly but acts like a child and rolls his eyes, setting it down in front of me with too much force.He gives me time to dull my senses and waits until I’ve had the first sip in peace. On the second, he opens his mouth.

“You should rethink your plan with Inessa.”

Setting the tumbler on my desk, I take a controlled breath and wait for him to elaborate. She is mine, my wife, for however long I fucking decide. He continues taking liberties, knowing that he will never receive any punishment.

“She cares about you, and she’s basically part of the family now. She’s been cooking with Vik and taking him to the horses every day, so he’s not alone or missing you.”

There’s a pause, which is never good, and he sighs, looking behind me before continuing.

“I just think you shouldn’t do it. She wants to stay, and she’s making this her home. It’s bullshit that we all know it’s going to end but she’s sat out there arguing with Tali like she’s not going to leave. If you get divorced, she’ll lose that.”

Discomfort snakes up my spine, and I tap against the rim of my glass, reminding myself why I’m doing this shit. Vanya, it’s all so these idiots are safe, and I can be back with Vanya. My solnyshkuh, she’s alone and even though it gets easier to breathe, there’s still a hold on my lungs without her.

Separating the living from the dead, I give my brother the only amendment that can be made.

“Inessa will stay part of the family.”

He relaxes, and I chase it away, repeating what he’ll need to remember when the time is right.

“When I die, you’ll become head of the family and you’re getting initiated as a Vor before then. You’ll give Inessa my legal accounts apart from those set up in trust, and she’ll live as a Vartanova for as long as she wishes.”

Bitterness coats my tongue at the thought of her not being linked to me. It’s easier to count the things I’m not than what’s true when it comes to my sins, but she deserves happiness, and I won’t take it from her just because I’m dead.

Taking my tumbler, he downs the full thing in one gulp and shakes his head.

“You’re a controlling, overprotective fuck. You’ll stay alive just to make sure no one can get near us. Don’t talk shit about dying when it won’t happen.”

He looks at me, and all I can see is the little scared boy who stared at the door waiting for my fights to end, or how he’d cling to my t-shirt when our parents were home, and the way his eyes would widen when he was cuddling Vitya under my bed waiting for me to get home. Refusing to let emotion derail the conversation with his sensitive ass, my smile comes out, knowing he’ll be pissed.

“Each one of your tantrums makes it more enticing.”

Clearly having his own mental conversation, he refuses to take the insult.

“I get why you did everything now. I hated sleeping in those fucking changing rooms that smelt of piss and sweat, Tali can’t remember it, but that smell hasn’t left my memory.”

He doesn’t see me go blank, remembering those fucking nights as he stretches in his seat. There’s no emotion in my voice when I’m stating facts.

“He was three, he wouldn’t remember.”

Refilling the tumbler, he nurses it while making me an audience to his therapy session.

“And you were fourteen carrying toddlers into a fight, making a bed out of your gym bag so we’d be comfortable and padlocking the door to stop anyone getting near us.”

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