Page 64 of Vulnerate

The leather is going to be fused into my skin from how tight I’m holding it.Dani shouldn’t be focusing on anyone else. My head is filled with her, and I can’t even escape her in sleep, it’s only fair she’s the same. I watch Viktor’s lesson in the paddock while waiting for her to give a name, a description, anything so I can find the cunt. The dumb disrespectful prick who was on her door had me ready to kill him so it’s not a hardship to add another person to the list.

She keeps her voice low like there’s any universe my ears wouldn’t pick up the sound of her voice as she tries to brush him off. It doesn’twork and the leather snaps from how hard I’m pulling with my shithead brother’s coaxing.

“Come on, you fake tongue fucked me but can’t give me a name.”

Something shuffles and my head turns, automatically expecting the worst, thankfully he’s only holding her shoulders but it’s the next words out of his mouth that make me relax.

“If anyone saw me kissing the air my reputation’s ruined, so you have to tell me to make up for it.”

My little actress.

Wide eyes are locked onto mine; she’s a lying little shit, fucking playing me, fucking with my head, and now she’s been caught. Dani has two choices, say my name, or come to me. There was no one else she knew that night, it’s always been me and her.

I’m finding out shit I never knew by lurking and Tali’s need to gossip as he nudges her. “I know your type, and you said it was a guy so that rules out any of the women. None of the fuckers were your type in men.”

She never dated when she was younger because no one got past my defenses, but her flush shows the dickhead just outed her. I don’t give a fuck what her sexuality is as long as I’m in there, but a pit opens up in my stomach at the thought she doesn’t feel comfortable with me knowing.

She actually believes I’m a cunt, that I’d judge her for being attracted to the same people I am. The sinking doesn’t leave as I move further away to give her the idea of privacy. I’m examining every interaction, trying to work out where I fucked up on that one point. The others are obvious. Dani’s discomfort is proof that none of the shit on her part was real, I gave her me, every part of me, the fucked up ugly parts and my hope for better. She was the only person I let see that, but she couldn’t do the same with me.

Tali fucks off to flirt with Viktor’s teacher and I don’t move. I want to. But I can’t because there’s a chance my artist will come out and it’s not worth missing.She does and she fidgets with the hem of her shorts as she stops beside me at the edge of the stables.

She looks so small and fragile as she avoids my eyes. It’s not due to size, it’s the nervousness radiating off her and her voice is weaker.

“I didn’t want my mom to find out. She had,opinions.”

Pulling her into my side, I kiss the top of her head knowing she’s censoring her true feelings. The notion that she can’t feel how she wants because her parents are dead is dumb as fuck. Shitty people die and all of a sudden you can’t speak truthfully. Death doesn’t override facts, if you were a cunt when you were alive you just become a dead cunt.

She relaxes into me and opens up with her smile returning.

“It’s weird that tio was actually my dad’s brother, he’s so different and warm. You and your brothers are alike, but they were worlds apart.”

The only way we’re alike is our need for violence and destruction, Vlad is a psychotic fuck and Tali is a puppy. She softens, fully fixing that smile on me and it stops me hearing her request at first.

“He wants to meet Viktor and I told him I’d ask.”

Fuck no is my first thought.

Making sure Tali is near my son, I grab Dani’s throat pushing her further into the space away from any audience. Disgust works through me as I piece her plan together and her back hits the wood with a gasp. My hold tightens involuntarily as I lean down with the fear taking over.

“Did you think opening your legs would mean I’d allow you to take my son away from me?”

She doesn’t say anything, feigning hurt instead of forcing out a lie. Always fucking lying, tricking me, and making me think that she’s good. I look up and down her body as I press her deeper into the wall and scoff, “You were a good fuck, but not that good.”

She flinches back like I’ve hit her and there’s pure fire in her eyes as I move my head back, avoiding her hand as she slaps out at me. Pain wraps itself around her as she hisses, “You’re a cruel bastard.”

I don’t disagree and smile like it’s an honor to be pinned with the description.

Jolting her body with my hold on her neck, my fear takes over, spilling my secrets and causing a physical pain in my chest as I say, “I gave your sister $250,000 extra and she knows I’ll kill her before any of you try to take him away. I might have loved you, but I will slit your fucking throat if you even think about taking my son.”

My heart is beating too fast, it’s like those first few months when I didn’t know how to keep him alive. I’d just stand there useless as fuck not knowing what to do when he’d cry but wanting to offer anything to take it away. Fuck, I can’t breathe.

There’s an ominous feeling in my gut, foreboding setting off alarm bells, and I can’t get my lungs to work properly. He’s still a baby in my head, even when he’s in front of me, small and the world can squash him if I’m not there.

Soft, delicate fingers stroke my cheeks and Dani’s voice floats through, just like those fucking nights she’s there in my head, comforting me as she whispers, “It’s okay, take a deep breath for me.” Pressing her palm to my chest, she exaggerates the sounds of drawing in a breath, coaxing me to copy her. “No one’s taking him from you, breathe out through your mouth.” I close my eyes and allow her to be my instructor on breathing.

Waiting until I’m somewhat normal again, I open them to see my Dani staring up at me with a warm smile and teary eyes. Her voice is soothing, and she wraps her arms around my middle with a promise.

“He’s your son, we just want to know him. We’re not her, I swear Val.” Stroking her back in apology for my mouth, I kiss her crown. My sweet Dani wrecks me with a sniffle. “I’m sorry for what she’s done to you. He’s worth so much more than whatever money she demanded.”

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