Page 90 of Volatile

I can’t stop myself and hate it at the same time as I snap, “Would you rather I bit it off like you?”

I’m going to throw up at the memory of what I found in his private office, but I can’t focus on it with my turbulent emotions taking over.

Val’s dumbass face looks between the two of us, but he saves himself from the knowledge of what has the devil freezing. Vlad doesn’t focus on my anger, instead he asks, “Why are you taking this shit?”

Because it fucking helps!

I don’t say that though, that’s rational and there’s nothing rational about me right now. I look around the room for anywhere they could have hidden the bottles and force my feet to move while my body protests. The sofa cushions are the first thing to hit the floor and I have to grab the armrest when bile burns the back of my throat.

“They’re gone,” Val says, the smug prick. “Sit the fuck down and stop ruining your life.”

A dark laugh bubbles out of me, it’s bitter and the sound would make the normal me wince. “I’m not going to take advice from someone who had to ask who the mother of his child was.”

His anger comes out, it’s not uncontrollable enough to beat the shit out of me and I don’t know how I’m standing as I turn to face them. I look him up and down and smile knowing I’ll get relief in less than thirty seconds.

“Have you ever called out Carly’s name when you’re fucking her sister?”

There’s a line I’ve never crossed, I’m not a disrespectful fuck like my brothers. Those I care about are given my loyalty. And I just crossed it, so I do it again.

“Or do you compare them? You like Dani’s tits but Carly’s as?—”

Val charges forward and sweet pain erupts in my jaw, but ever the fucking protector, our makeshift father steps in front of him as Val rages. “First you talk shit about my kid now my wife?!”

I shrug and add more fuel to the fire. “If you don’t like the truth that’s on you, suka.”

Vanya grabs his arm as he threatens murder. “You’re a stupid little cunt. Keep fucking talking and I’ll rip your tongue out of your mouth.”

I want him to do it. To make it fucking hurt and knock this shit out of my head. To remove the thoughts of a life I could have had and never fucking will, to push everything away so I can’t fucking focus on the fact I couldn’t even fight properly with having to keep my weight off one leg. Or how Stasi sobbed with blood on her fingers.Or how I made her walk through literal shit and death because keeping myself standing was too painful.

The devil speaks and clenches his jaw as he attempts to warn me, “Watch your mouth.”

Hate turns to loathing and I smile, full of twisted satisfaction at what he thinks I don’t know.

“Nah, that’s what you do in your little jerk-off room. Does Inessa know that’s what gets you off?”

I’ve never said anything worth killing me over than that one fucking sentence. But he freezes instead of killing me like I want, and my head is abruptly turned to the side from the force of a hand slamming into my cheek.I can’t feel the sting and turn back to look at who it is. I expect someone other than his wife standing in front of me. She just slapped me across the face so hard I’ll probably have a handprint denting my skin, yet it’s the utter disgust in her voice and eyes that manages to penetrate my fucked-up head as Vanya rushes forward to keep her from hitting me again.

Inessa snarls, “Get the fuck out.”

Going at my brothers didn’t work and Vlad calls his wife back to stop her attacking me.

“Inessa, don’t.”

She whirls on him with fire in her eyes as Vanya gently moves her back, defending me. My niece is an adult, but her voice is childlike, and she fidgets, clearly uncomfortable with the tension.

“If you’re in pain?—”

A derisive half scoff-half laugh leaves me, cutting her off, and I shake my head. Every letter that falls from my lips drips in pain and pulls her face down. “You have the emotional intelligence of a fucking leaf?—”

My body is pushed back with a hand wrapped around my throat and pure violence staring back at me.

“You spew your shit at me, I’ll fucking take it,” Vlad forces out between clenched teeth.

My back hits the wall and I’m lifted off my feet as I choke, “Everyone’s seen how you take it.”

A fist hits the wall beside me, and Vlad ignores my taunt as he fights himself not to hurt me.

“Speak to my kids like that, I’ll forget you’re my fucking brother.”

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