Page 33 of Voracious

“Be honest, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I gave my life to Vlad, no one else’s. I won’t be the hand that’s used to hurt Ana when she’s already had too much. He’s usually fair and I’m banking on it carrying through today as I grab her hand and pull her with me to his office. Everyone in the living room stares at her and she scowls back. Before she can start fighting anyone, I pull her closer to my side and tilt my body to block sight of them.

Vlad’s staring at the wall, fingers steepled together like a fucking villain behind his desk when we push through the door. His eyes slowly lift, he looks in a line from Ana to me and then to her hand I’m still fucking holding.

“It’s Len,” I offer so he doesn’t focus on our joined hands.

His father was a cunt, even from the grave he manages to knock himself out of top place on the cunt leaderboard.

Ana’s anger is a default, and I don’t react to it as I sit her down in the seat opposite his desk. Vlad stares at her when I’m the one who spoke and I bring his attention back to me.

“Make deals, don’t beg.”

He finally flicks his eyes up, seeing the conviction on my face as I nod, and he turns back to my hellion. The deadly tone pisses me off as he asks, “How did you know my father?”

I move to her side automatically and he scrutinizes me as my allegiance shifts.She has no one and there’s no harm she could cause any of his brothers, apart from smacking them in the mouth but they deserve it at times.

The hellion doesn’t try and temper her voice as she rolls her eyes. “I don’t. I’m sure he was as disappointing as you.”

Vlad’s lips lift on one side, and he pulls out a passport from his desk drawer. It lands with a heavy thud as he throws it across the desk and the weight of the truth is within those pages. I fucking know I’m right, Len is the only person I’ve ever heard say that shit, and the only one sick enough to pull off whatever fucked up version of a childhood Ana had.

She doesn’t move and I take the seat beside her, trying to get her attention. It doesn’t come, she’s staring at the closed booklet with her brows together as she chews on the inside of her lip. I grab the passport and open it to his photo. She blinks, trying to make sense of the world as I hold it in front of her and softly ask, “Is this Marlo?”

She doesn’t even need to answer. As soon as her eyes have processed the image she hardens and pushes back with so much force the chair slams against the ground.She’s two seconds away from killing us both and her chest heaves from the force of her attempting to maintain control.

“You sick fuckers. Where’s Nina?”

Vlad doesn’t help the situation with his order. “Lower your fucking voice.” Looking at the floor, he adds, “And pick the chair up.”

Grabbing her from behind before she can do any damage, I band both arms around her. All that fucking rage is pulling me forward as she thrashes.

He doesn’t see any threat and calmly walks over to her. When his hand comes up, going to the collar of her t-shirt, I take a step back. No one will hurt her. I won’t let him. The way she shuts down is haunting and I can’t bear the thought of her pain. He sighs like this is an inconvenience and drops his hand, but Ana’s boot keeps connecting with my shins, making me nearly drop her as I lift her higher to stop her pulling me forward.

“How long have you all known?” She whips her head to the side, pain lacing every syllable of her accusations. “Did you think it was fucking funny watching me search for her?”

I lift her higher and she slams her foot into my knee when I’m doing it for her benefit. If he decides to lay a finger on her, I’ll be able to drop her before it connects in this position. He notices the movement and takes a step back, silently confirming he’s not going to hurt her as he clues her into history.

“I killed the cunt, don’t think I’m my father’s son.”

The conversational tone isn’t helping the hellion and she’s even more rage filled than usual.

Ana screams murder and it attracts an audience as everyone stands at the threshold of the office. Dani looks like she’s about to cry and Inessa is confused as Val and Tali stand in front of them. Stasya manages to push through and she’s the only one brave enough to come within reach of Ana as she tries to calm her down.

“You’re going to hurt yourself, copy my breathing, okay?”

The bitchy side of her personality has dropped away and she’s actually caring, that’s how fucked up the situation is.

Her attempts are futile and I’m going to be covered in bruises as Ana knocks her temple into my jaw at the same time as her feet kicking into any parts of my legs she can reach. I’m losing my grip and Val steps forward with a syringe. There’s fear in his eyes as he pushes the needle into her neck, and she continues screaming. It’s not threats, sheer anguish rolls off her and her screams silence everyone. I’m the one getting beat to shit but everyone else is fucking fearful. Whatever sedative he’s using is expired because it barely dulls her movements.

My hands twitch to rip his head off when he takes out another vial and administers more.Ana’s violence starts to wean and her face crumples with betrayal as she loses the fight with unconsciousness. That last look on her face is going to haunt me.

Her limp body tries to fall through my arms, and I hold her tighter as I lift her in a bridal carry. Fuck everyone else, they have each other. She has no one and the few people she barely allows into her life are people she thinks hurt her.No one tries to stop me as I take her out of the house and none of the guards look in my direction. Good, they better extend that fear to the one who deserves it.

I gently lay her on the back seat and pull the belts over her body, so she’s kept in place. I don’t give a fuck about the audience, they all just fucking watched on, scared for themselves when she was breaking. Cunts. She didn’t even get to have her fucking cake.The more I’m around the hellion, the more I understand why she’s so violent, but the less I understandher. Or myself.

I makeit home in a third of the time as I break every speed limit and Ana still hasn’t woken up. She’s put on a little weight but not enough to be sedated this heavily and for it to be safe. He didn’t even convert for her body weight, he just jabbed her neck like she’s not important. I carefully remove the belts from around her and cradle her to my chest, her head is on my shoulder, so I don’t do any more damage, and she’s too lifeless.

There’s no sound or murmur from her as I walk in the house. She’s silent and limp as I carry her up the stairs and I don’t even think of putting her on that shitty fucking air mattress as I walk into my room. I’ll give her my card and she can buy a proper bed, all the pillows and shit that Katya used to collect for decoration and candles or whatever the fuck else will make her more comfortable.She’ll most likely use them to burn the place down, but I’d prefer her psychotic rage over the silence.

---