Page 71 of Volatile

She hasn’t slapped him in the mouth, which is her usual move, and my feet turn to lead as he physically holds his hands up. I’ve got the most psychotic person on my side, so I relax as I take a seat beside her. All the emotion is stripped from my voice as I relay that I’m useless.

“I’ve got all the audio files that have been released but there’s no marker and they’ve been scrubbed of background noise so I can’t pinpoint where they are. There haven’t been any images or video links set up, but they must be holding an auction soon.”

It’s the usual depraved marketing scheme of teasing the sickos with what they want. They both turn rigid, and Vanya’s lips fall in a straight line as she tries to be comforting before pointing out my fuck up.

“Did you let the girl you bought go home?”

Vitali did, he drove to Kristi and packed up their things. It’s his signature move, relocating people without any conversation. I stare between both father and daughter unsure if they’ll rage as I answer. “Yeah, she moved with her sister. We got them a new house a couple of blocks away from their mother.”

She pats my hand and speaks slowly, allowing me to absorb how fucked I am. “Amon said they do checks. Is the house in her name?” I nod and she continues, “Did you have a mask on?”

Not physically, my personality allows me to hide shit and I never thought of wearing one.Fuck. My face is plastered on socialite pages, it’s easy to find out who I am with my mother’s need to do everything to advertise me short of putting me on a billboard naked. They would have done something by now, found out where I lived and crept in while I slept. Vlad’s unhelpful-ass commentary makes all the confusion disappear.

“I told Vitali last night. He was supposed to talk to you.”

The little shithead made it seem like moving was due to wanting me. Not an order to keep us both safe.

He didn’t need to lie to me or sell me bullshit. I’m an adult and I would have dealt with it rationally, instead he ignited hope that will always end in disaster for me. Somehow, I manage to maintain a calm façade while I finish up giving them the details. My movements are robotic as I leave Vlad’s office and go to Vitali’s room to lock myself away. My finger is nearly pulled out of the joint from the force of pulling his fucking ring off because he lied.

Why the fuck did he lie? I didn’t ask for him to give me anything more. I asked for less. For him to see me as less and not put me on a fucking pedestal only to push me off. It’s exactly what happened, like my mother always said I’m good for the image, not the reality.

TWENTY-FIVE

Vitali

My girl is where she belongs and I’m on cloud fucking nine. Zidane’s message comes through as I walk into the house and the idea forms of finally being able to show everyone Stasi is fucking mine. I’m stopped from having her in my arms when Vanya pulls me to the side, and she looks so innocent despite the ink she uses to harden herself up and the absolute psychotic bullshit that is her personality.

“Stasi was upset when we told her about the auction.”

Fuck. I thought they’d keep their mouths shut and I could use it as an excuse to force her into my life.

I take the stairs to my floor two at a time, ignoring the twinge in my knee. There’s no screaming or sounds of things being destroyed as I reach our floor. My girl doesn’t do that shit though, she’s the silent type and holds everything inside herself, if she started destroying my shit I’d be proud of her.

A cushion smacks me in the face as soon as I step into our room. At least it’s not a dick this time. That fucker was heavy and packed a good weight.My beauty sits on the end of the bed with her arms crossed and hurt on her face as she asks, “Why did you lie to me?”

No tears. I can cope as long as she doesn’t cry. I check for anything that could do damage if she chucked it at me before fully stepping into the room and slowly walking towards her. “I didn’t lie, I just didn’t see the point in telling you about the cunts.”

Her fists ball up and I smile, seeing that she’s out of shit to throw at me unless it’s herself and I’ll always fucking catch her.I stand taller, goading her and hoping she uses herself as a weapon, but she just looks me up and down with disgust and spits out, “So, you thought it would be better to make me think you fucking wanted me here?”

The fuck. I didn’t make her think anything, I told the only truth that mattered. There are random pillows on my bed, half the closet is hers and I bought her the same shampoo as me. If that’s not wanting her here what fuck more am I supposed to do?

She shakes her head and stands as if I’ll ever let her leave. My hand wraps around her throat as I block her path, and I grab her hands before she can lash out. My lips touch her ear, and I can’t soften my voice with the urgency inside me.

“We’re going to fucking talk because you seem to miss every fucking word I say, and I’ll go through every language, explaining it until it sinks into your pretty little head.”

I harden at the sight of her bare finger as I push her back and she bounces on the bed. I don’t have to look far to find the ring that should be on her finger and slap out at the nightstand where it’s laid.

I’m nice enough to give her a choice and I hold it out to her as I contradict the action.

“Take it off again and I’ll make you swallow it, Anastasia.”

I wouldn’t, but she doesn’t need to know that.I’d just find a way to keep it on her finger. Have claws placed in the back so she can’t take it off. My stubborn woman lifts the ring from my hand and doesn’t look away from my eyes as she pulls her arm back and throws it behind me. It doesn’t bounce off any walls and I grab her ankle, keeping her in place as I pick it up. Stasi is half hanging off the bed, her fingers gripping the sheets, dragging them with her, and I let go of her ankle, replacing it with her wrist.

I don’t let go of her wrist as I press my knee against her stomach, pinning in her place. Her legs are bent, and the back of her head is resting on the edge of the bed as I hold her hand between us and fight the urge to scream.

“This ring tells everyone that you are fucking mine. You seem to struggle understanding that, so it will be a reminder for you too.”

Forcing her hand to straighten, I push it onto her middle finger while she glares at me. I sit her on the bed again, so she’s not suspended in a perpetual fall and smile. The sheets are all mussed from something other than fucking, but there’s a new light in her eyes. She’s showing emotion, even if it’s anger, and my girl finally fucking gets it.

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