Page 107 of Vulnerate

I’m reassuring us both when I don’t know how the fuck we got here.

A dull pain radiates through my shoulder as I try to angle my body to go in front of the sudden soldier beside me. He leans closer to me and whispers in my ear, “Tem três pessoas.”

2Nodding my head, I keep him talking and try to get him to move so I can free him of the ties. Before he’s even taken a step the door opens, and he fills with too much anger for a child.

Leno’s ugly ass moves forward, and all his hate is directed at a kid, the coward. I get his attention on me as I push my back against Viktor’s body and harden my voice to disguise my fear.

“What the fuck do you want?”

I’m going to string Carly up and fucking peel her skin away for this fucking shit. The selfish bitch couldn’t just disappear.He looks at me and smiles as though this is a reunion.

“You’ve grown up, little Dani. So that’s what your sister would look like if she didn’t party?”

He swipes his finger under his nose on the last word and Viktor’s breathing is far too calm while my heart knocks against my ribcage.

Two other men enter after him, both in leather. One of them has a satisfied grin and moves closer. Leno doesn’t have any other taunts as he stretches over my body and ruffles Viktor’s hair like a cunt announcing, “There’s our golden ticket.”

I’m going to be sick; my head is throbbing, and I can’t get enough leverage to lift up as Viktor shouts turning into Vlad.

“Untie me and I’ll see if you’re brave then.”

Something hits my ribs as I sway my body to try to keep him covered. I look down when it happens again. There’s a large metal rod prodding me and then a boot replaces it.

Fuck. It hurts. It knocks the air out of me as I fall smashing my temple off the ground without my hands for leverage. I scream obscenities as he roughly drags Viktor forward.

“He’s a child, you sick fuck. Let him go.”

Leno moves forward and the smile on his face is full of sadistic pleasure. I tense my body hoping to dull the impact as he cocks his leg back. It connects with my abdomen and I’m choking trying to draw air into my lungs as Viktor screams.

It’s filled with anger and shock works through my body stopping me from being able to see what the fuck is happening. The electrical currentforces my muscles to spasm as it hits different points of my body, and my senses feel like they are under water. I think I’m screaming, begging them not to hurt him but I can’t control my body. Metal coats my tongue from the back of my mouth and the shock comes again forcing my muscles to spasm.

Leno’s annoying ass voice breaks through my senses as the volts continue working through my body.

“You know, I told Carly that he’d have the same dead eyes as you and your brothers.”

Val, he’ll come and make sure Viktor’s safe. I manage to lift my head enough to see Viktor and he’s standing in the middle of the room with his wrists held together in a zip tie. I can see his face fully now. There’s dried blood running from his temple down to his cheek, his eye is already starting to swell, and I cry for the little boy who’s not showing anything but his hate.They were beating the shit out of him while I’m here and I couldn’t even do anything.

The cunt who grabbed him presses against his shoulders. I kick my legs out to get him away, but Viktor fills with more authority than his young years should offer.

“I’m not scared of you. I’m a Vartanov and we don’t kneel.”

Pushing more energy into my legs, I connect with the assholes ankle, and he finally leaves Viktor, focusing on me. There’s no time to prepare myself for the kick and my thigh burns before he stamps on my leg. I can’t keep my scream back as he presses his boot into my thigh and pushes down with his full body weight.

I’m not built for brutality, but neither is Viktor. As long as I’m the target then he’ll be fine. The shock comes again, robbing me of consciousness as I try to hold on. He’s a kid. If I fall into it he’ll be left in their unmerciful hands.

It hits the top of my spine, and I can’t cling to reality anymore.

1 It’s alright.

2 There are three people.

FORTY-THREE

Valentin

He’s got my fucking kid. My son who has done nothing but fucking save me time and time again. Waiting for Viktor to grab the phone I focus on the scuffling in the background, if I push everything else away right now I can break down later. My pronunciation is utter shit, but I hope to fuck he’s able to understand.

“Você sabe onde está?”1

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