Page 28 of Vulnerate

He laughs and loses all of his anger as he slouches in his seat. He turns looking out of the window and gestures for Dima to come inside. Our stepdad wastes no time leaving his post and he joins us for Tali to begin his interrogation and keep us occupied. “What are the chances of the kid belonging to your husband?”

Dima’s grumble replaces all the tension. It’s like we’re kids again, and he’s fed up with us. “He’s not my fucking husband.”

I nod, feigning seriousness. “Is that because he found out you were cheating on him? I should kick your ass for stepping out on my brother.”

If they were actually in a relationship, I’d do it, but they’re not so he’s safe.

It hasn’t even been an hour when Vlad storms back in holding a duffel bag. Everything falls silent and Dima takes a deep breath at whatever he’s been told telepathically. The duffel is weighted and hits the floor with a thud as Dima leaves with his phone to his ear. I turn my head and Vlad is even more pissed than when he left as he flicks his finger at me.

“Up. You thought you were a man sticking your dick wherever you could fit it.”

I know I look dumb. I can feel my face sinking and I don’t blink as he slams the door shaking the house.

“Now, it’s time to become one, go get your son.”

I look around the room like someone’s going to pop out and say it’s an elaborate as fuck prank. Tali’s face matches mine as he stares at me. I’ve heard wrong, or I’ve spent eighteen years not knowing what words actually mean. There’s no fucking way I have a kid. A baby that I’m responsible for. When I don’t move, Vlad kicks the bag towards me and his disgust forces mine out.

“Fifty fucking grand they asked for! That’s the type of woman you thought would be good enough to carry your child.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat, and he moves forward. Tali is wide eyed in shock at Vlad being honest for once.

“I allowed Leno to go free years ago because of what he had on me, now it’s to save you.”

His knuckles are fucked as he puts one hand on my shoulder and does the same to Tali like when we were kids. It’s fitting considering I’m as lost as I was then. His voice is softer only in volume as he dips his head meeting each of our eyes.

“I’ve got rid of anyone who could tell Anika and Len, keep your mouths shut until he’s safe and with us.”

Both of us nod and I’ve officially left my body. I’ve never even held a baby. I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do. I know they drink milk but what if it’s lactose intolerant. How the fuck would it be able to tell me. Or would it be on its birth certificate. Like a little chart telling you what to do. So, I ask, “Does it have a birth certificate that will tell me its allergies and shit?”

Vlad straightens and blows out a breath as he taps on his thigh.

“You’re a dumb fuck, I don’t know why the fuck I spent so much money on a fancy fucking school.”

He walks away while muttering about how much of an idiot I am, and Tali laughs to himself being more vocal.

“You’re actually an idiot, haven’t you seen your own birth certificate?”

I shake my head and hiss back, “Does it look like I know anything?!”

I have a kid, I don’t want a kid, I’m still one myself. I’m glad he’s finding amusement in my fucking mental breakdown. It’s a valid fucking question, people drink oat milk and shit. Babies are just smaller people, they might need to do the same. Vlad barks my name and we both stand knowing now is not the time to piss him off. He’s already in the car when we leave, and he turns back into his usual sarcastic prick self.

“A birth certificate only says the kid’s name, their parents, when and where they were born. If it came with warnings, yours would have stupid in big red letters.”

Dima hides his smirk behind his hand as he drives, and I stare at the headrest in front of me, unblinking.

I’m going to fuck the kid up. I know I am. Fuck, what if I end up being a dick to it? Or like my parents?

Vlad’s face comes into view as I blink and look to the side. He’s tapping away on his phone, and I want to throw myself out of the car and run. He’d look after it, with Dima, like he did with us. Fuck I can’t breathe.

Tali laughs and throws his phone at me as he says, “They drink formula and you thought they drank normal milk. I feel sorry for the kid already, he’s going to be running around with a diaper on his head.”

It stops me going through with my escape plan and I punch him in the leg because I have nothing to say. He has a million tabs open, all of them are about caring for a baby, so I read through them, but I can’t take in any information as we drive to collect a kid I shouldn’t have.

TEN

Valentin

There’s blood smeared on the floor of the gym. Someone has tried to clean it, but it’s just made it a bigger mess. Vlad stands in front of us with his face in hard lines.

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