Page 113 of Voracious

He hardens as soon as he sees me. Whatever fucking bullshit he’s concocted in his head has him stepping forward like I won’t risk my life for my hellion.

“She’s not staying with you, she’s coming home,” he grits with his eyes more violent than usual.

He’s hit his fucking head and swapped bodies with someone from a different planet if he thinks Ana’s home is anywhere other than with me.

The change in behavior is weird as fuck. Val and Tali were the ones who acted all overprotective big brother, Vlad didn’t give two fucks. I’ve fought him multiple times without any motivation but now my woman is the reason and I gesture for Val and Tali to move. There’s more threat in my voice than I’ve ever had before as I step forward.

“No one will decide shit for Ana.”

His rage increases as he pushes his brothers away.I don’t know who the two dumbasses are protecting as they try to keep him back and he roars, losing control, “Fuck you, you fucking cunt. I told you to stay the fuck away from my family or I’d destroy yours.”

They stand in front him despite the fact he pushes them both back as though their body weight is nothing. He’s officially lost it and forgotten his own threat from our first meeting and the thought of the only people I give a fuck about being hurt because of him causes me to give my own promise. “Stay the fuck awayfrom my sister and my woman or I’ll rip everything I helped you build from your bloody hands.”

Right now, something other than violence darkens his features, it’s deeper and takes root in his eyes. Pain. It’s what stops the rage, and he keeps himself back while still glaring at me with murderous intent.He breathes like a bull, his fists clenched as he paces and Tali flinches as the dickhead advances.

Val tries to talk him down by repeating the same shit he was told back to the source as he steps in front of his brother, cutting him off from reaching me. “What happened to not being perverts?”

The three of us stare in confusion while Vlad continues tearing the place apart. He kicks the limb that was lying on the floor hard enough that it flies through the air and hits the wall with a wet thud. My ears ring as he tears into the dismembered bodies and his brothers stare at me. They hesitate in asking me for help, me, the person who fucking helped raise them while he was manipulating the Vory or killing anyone who could harm them. I’m the one who potty trained Viktor but Val assesses me like that motherfucking brother of his has any reason to hate me.

The anger increases, rendering us all dumb, as Vlad roars, “NOT WHEN IT’S MY DAUGHTER!”

One voice brings it all to a stop and I’m still fucking dumb.

“I am not your daughter. Dima, let’s go.” Ana stands with her backpack over her shoulders and her anger isn’t directed at me. The previous rage has disappeared as Vlad stares at her unable to speak. But his anger comes back, only fixed on me, as she repeats, “Dima. Let’s go.”

My sweet hellion acts like I need protection and tries to stand in front of me. I quickly move her to the side and keep my arm extended in case he charges at me.

He’s not focused on anyone else and stares at her with sheer heartbreak on his features. She can’t be his daughter though,he’s only fourteen years older than her, that’s not old enough to father a child when he never allowed a relationship with any woman before he married Inessa. I was fucking there and he would spin wild stories about his preferences of wanting to cut them into pieces while fucking just to get them to stop dropping their advances. The crazy ones always stayed, and he'd leave them tied up in random hotel rooms.

But he begs and I know it’s true.

“Vanya, solnyshkuh, I wouldn’t lie to you.”

The image of the devil with hunched shoulders slowly walking towards Ana is going to haunt me. She doesn’t see that and latches onto what he called her.

“You dumb fuck, that’s not my name.”

It doesn’t stop him as he keeps moving closer and I angle my body to create a barrier as Val and Tali remain frozen in place. The movement has his attention, and my hellion tries to move around me with her scream. “Touch him and I’ll fucking kill you!”

More proof lies in the fact he holds his hands up and nods his head, agreeing with her. The only person who doesn’t believe it is Ana, Vanya, B, whatever the fuck her name is.

She looks up at me with so much confusion playing out in her mesmerizing eyes, they’re bigger and drown her face. Like a kitten that’s been left on the side of the road that doesn’t have any idea of the world around them. Tears line her lashes as she slowly looks at Val then Tali, and she begins whispering to herself.

“It’s not true. Everyone’s lying again, like she did. It’s a game.” Shaking her head, she hardens her eyes and pins them on Vlad as she begs him, “You’re just lying.”

I expect her to run away, find somewhere that’s safe to ignore everything and keep her mind intact, but she doesn’t, my hellion argues the truth that’s staring us all in the face.

“You’re wrong, you did a DNA test.”

Vlad is calm as we all wait for some excuse, some fuck up or explanation when we witnessed Tali take his swab, and it came back saying half siblings. Oh fuck, how many fucking kids does he have?

Speaking with calm that no one feels, Vlad stops advancing and gives Ana space as he says, “It’s the same percentages for half siblings.” He takes a deep breath before quietly adding, “or an uncle and niece. I’ve done another one with my sample, it’s not a lie.” Another deep breath then he whispers, “Vanya.”

FORTY-FOUR

Ana

Vlad is a liar but Dima isn’t. He thinks it’s true.

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