Page 9 of Vulnerate

I’m taking my boxers off when Vlad directs his anger at me, and his eyes darken. “Why the fuck were you in a club? And why were you watching someone get their dick sucked, you weirdo?”

I roll my eyes then my shoulders as I get ready. “I wasn’t watching, I saw it as I walked through,” I say flippantly. “There’s a difference.”

Dima’s grumpy ass face lifts into a smirk and he looks at his husband, being a prick.

“Do you think he was following me?” He turns back to me and adds, “I never knew you felt that way about me, Valyusha.”

Vlad shakes his head and takes a deep breath before ignoring us both as I keep my limbs loose and wait for Dima to take a step towards the gym we have on this floor. Once he’s beside me, I throw my fist out, aiming for his ribs, but he blocks it and laughs, “Look, he can’t help himself and needs to touch me.”

Vlad grips my nape to stop me doing it again as we walk into the gym and issues his warning.

“Is there going to be a problem with Vitya?”

He doesn’t relax when I shake my head. If I open my mouth the only thing that will come out is that she’s mine. We’ve only ever had one rule, don’t let anything come between us, and my brother is a psychotic fuck, no matter what we do, he won’t leave. I could burn the house down and he’d make a stupid joke about me having a tantrum. But he’s strict inthat one rule of nothing ever coming between us. He squeezes my nape and kisses the top of my head to hide his threat.

“Make sure it doesn’t change.”

It won’t. If Tali loves Dani so much and sees her as a sister he’ll be happy when I make it official. She can make him her bridesmaid and he can hold the crown above her head while I make her mine and only mine. The thought doesn’t leave as I take my place on the mats, but the real world turns silent when Dima stands opposite me.

There’s no sound, only sight, which morphs so it’s not Dima stood opposite me. It’s Len, screaming that I’m being weak and not hitting Tali hard enough. The sick fuck couldn’t punish us himself so he forced us to do it to each other. Vlad stands watch just like he did then but there’s no tap against his thigh as I spar this time. Dima doesn’t make any stupid jokes and he goes easy on me, taking a defensive position, rather than attacking me like he should.

Dima sits beside me,chewing with his mouth open, knowing I hate it. I can hear his teeth moving and drop my fork, put off my own breakfast. Being the pig he is, Tali stretches over Dani taking my plate and eating off both simultaneously. Vlad comes back into the kitchen after he left once our food was plated up. He always does it, I don’t think he’s ever shared a meal with us. I watch him as he walks to the table and taps an envelope on the edge before sliding it towards Dani. There’s a cute little crease between her brows and he smirks seeing that she’s still confused after all these years.

“You basically live here, happy birthday.”

They have the same exchange every year, and she still can’t meet his eyes as she gives him a tight lipped smile with a nervous “thank you”.

I stretch my arm over the back of her chair to make her comfortable and Vlad picks up on the movement. He’s like some old, wise, all-seeing oracle and discreetly looks towards Tali who’s still eating. I know he’s the favorite, but he doesn’t need to literally put him before me every chance he gets. He proves it by focusing on me, acting and ordering me around as a junior rather than his brother.

“Office.” He doesn’t wait for me to follow as he turns on his heel, and I stop myself from kissing Dani’s cheek like I want to as I get up.

The office door is open and he’s not drinking so I take that as a good sign as I slam it behind me. He sighs like a prick and folds his arms over his chest. “Why are you having a tantrum now?”

I swear to fuck this man and his obsession with that fucking word grate every single nerve I possess. I sound like a liar as hurt bleeds into my tone.

“I’m not having a fucking tantrum.”

It’s the same shit every time, if I react to anything it’s a tantrum. Just because he’s a total neurotic fucking psycho incapable of processing emotions doesn’t mean I’m the same.

He nods and softens his voice, changing his question. “Okay, so why did you get pissed out there?”

I try to keep my thoughts back. It doesn’t work as I turn into a kid and whine, “You always give him whatever he wants, and I’m just supposed to deal with it. Do you ever think that he doesn’t own the fucking world? I get that he’s your favorite and you want to be a prick to me, but you won’t let me do shit, I even said I’d move out and you act like a twat, saying I’m not allowed to when I have my own money.”

All he had to do was sign the lease last year and I wouldn’t have to deal with Dani and Tali giggling around me.

Vlad takes a step forward and hooks his hand around my nape. His forehead touches mine as he repeats the same shit he used to when we were kids.

“Ni za chto. You’re not fucking moving, you’re a kid, and I’m not playing favorites.” I open my mouth to argue but he squeezes, shutting me up, and continues, “You wanted to be an adult, I let you join my group. That kot on your chest isn’t for show, Vitali is still a child until he makes his decision.”

I stand taller as the realization sinks in that he’s trying to treat me like an adult in his own fucked up way. He takes a step back without letting me go and proves it by adding responsibility to my immature shoulders.

“One day you’re going to be the one responsible for this family. Be a man and talk to your own brother instead of giving him dirty looks, if it’s fine with him then I don’t give a fuck. But if it’s not, you drop it, youdon’t look at her, and you don’t do anything that will break your relationship.”

It’s always the same shit without any explanation and I lose all hope of an answer despite asking anyway. “Why?”

Vlad doesn’t tell anyone shit, he locks himself in his office and disappears. But he surprises me by telling the truth as he lowers his voice.

“Because Len is a motherfucker, and that chuski doesn’t deserve to win shit. He doesn’t get to break us now, especially over a girl when I’ve worked too hard for this, and because he’s your little brother, you’re going to need each other one day.”

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