17. Daniela

SEVENTEEN

Daniela

M y hands are sweating, and I keep checking the bags to make sure they're right. I don't know what to buy a nephew I've never met before and decided on a bunch of random shit to suit any interest he could possibly have. Val's rude ass message only gave an "okay" and nothing else. The self-righteous prick doesn't even care about what he did. He can fuck himself and be an asshole as much as he wants, I'm not going anywhere.

Driving towards the Vartanov's I let the new scenery distract me. Their house in the city was huge but this is ridiculous in comparison. There are no neighbors and the road leading to their estate is private with a guardhouse.Intrigue chases away my nerves as we approach stables. Looking at Tali with a what the fuck expression, he wags his eyebrows twice acting smug.

"Told you to stick with me, didn't I, my precious Dani?"

His offer of sharing his snacks when we were kids isn't the same as owning horses and ponies. It makes sense in a way that's confusing, I can imagine Val mounted on top of a horse with his strong shoulders back and filled with authority. The handsome prick would be calendar worthy.

I realize I've went slightly overboard as I get out of the car and all of the bags in my hand are only half of the shit I bought. It didn't seem like a lot when I was shopping but Tali has the other half, and my fingers are stinging from the pressure of the handles digging into my skin. He's babbling away trying to chase away my nervousness that increases with each step. Vlad's deadly instruction not to mention Carly is repeating in my head. She must see him, even if it's rare. I can't imagine a world where she's abandoned him completely.

Standing outside the stables while Tali collects his nephew, I can hear the happiness in his little voice. I expect a mini version of Carly to walk out but his features are a mix of both of his parents. Other than his eyes which are exactly like Val's. The dark hair is his too, but he has Carly's smile, the one she'd give to get out of any shit she caused is on his little face.

I wipe my hand on my thigh before holding it out dumbly and my voice is filled with formalities. "Hello, I'm Daniela."

I never use my full name but how do I introduce myself?

Oh hi, I'm your aunt. I was kind of in love with your dad when you were conceived and then your mother lied to get me to leave. Sorry I haven't been around .

I have decades on him, and my mind feels like it's going to explode trying to understand my life.

He takes my hand with a smirk and acts too mature.

"I'm Viktor. Tali said you're his friend?"

Nodding my head with what I think is warm smile, I cling to anything to keep the conversation going. It's glaringly obvious some of the items spilling out of the bags at my feet will be shit he's outgrown but I offer it anyway.

"I got these for you. It's okay if you don't like them."

Tali plays devil's advocate and takes them out for him and acts like a prick, teasing me when he sees the multiple stuffed toys and building blocks. "He was bored of half of this shit by the time he was two." Kicking his ankle to get him to shut the fuck up, he ruffles Viktor's hair and pride fills him at his nephews accomplishments.

"You're onto languages and cooking now, aren't you?"

He scowls up at his uncle as he fixes his hair and gives me a small smile.

"I don't really have teddies, but I'll give them to my dad, so he stops trying to cuddle me."

That's so cute and I hate Val even more. The prick cuddles his son, but it doesn't mean he's a saint. With the asshole being mentioned he steps out of the stall while I act like a child refusing to look in his direction.

Just because he's a good dad from the extremely limited view I have won't make me soften. It's harder to ignore him when he stands beside Viktor with a hand on his shoulder. The tight t-shirt he's wearing should be classified as obscene with how it paints his muscles. Tali hooks his arm around my neck misjudging my mood as nerves. He doesn't shut up, filling the silence with random chatter as he guides us towards the house.

"Vik's the smartest Vartanov after me, obviously, and he makes the best sundaes. You'll show Dani I'm right, won't you?"

The familiar comfort helps me relax as Viktor fires back, "I'm not stupid, make your own food."

We both come to a stop when Dima smiles at me.

"Not using the windows anymore, little Dani?"

He was always a miserable bastard and would grunt when he'd pick us up from school. Teasing him back, I feel like I'm home.

"I heard your husband was getting married, how are you coping?"

Turning back into the Dima from childhood, he grunts and walks away.

I'm going to kill Tali, he's the shittest fucking friend in the world for abandoning me when I need him. Vlad's fiancée has warmed up to me and she's too perceptive as she extends her voice to get the pricks attention.

"Valentin, drive Dani home. It's late and I don't want to send her with one of the freaks outside."

Her personality makes sense considering who's she's marrying, and the authority she carries has Val moving. Taking my phone out so I have a distraction from interacting with him, he swipes his keys up and drags his feet. He hasn't looked at me or spoken to me while I've been sat here. I'm not the asshole who lied, the prick can choke on whatever issue he has. He's a good dad and Viktor is a credit to him that he doesn't deserve. It's the same as when we were kids, at home Valentin is someone who is perfect, and I lose my resolve with my own emotion.

I send Tali random messages as I follow his dickhead brother out of the house to prevent making a fool out of myself and forgiving him.

Me:

Where did you go?

I'm going home

All of my frustration is channeled into my thumbs as Val huffs to himself. "Put your phone down."

I don't look up and speak to the screen. "Eat shit."

Tali's response comes before I can vent about having to be around Val and snitch on myself.

Tali:

I've got a fight tonight, I'll tell Val to pick you up

There's no dress code and we'll go out after. You owe me years so you can't say no when I've just got my girl back

I throw my phone into my bag to avoid the temptation of begging to be left alone. Val's annoyingly perfect body is too close to me, and I move to the side to avoid touching him as we walk to the car. His jaw clenches and he doesn't act like a gentleman opening the door for me.That's good, it will stop me thinking he's capable of being anything close to kind and I'll remember he's an asshole.

There's no music to cover the awkward silence making my mouth open to disrupt the tension.

"He's a good kid," I compliment the prick.

Looking at me like I've taken a shit on one of his family members rather than praised his child, his rough voice infuses threat into two words.

" My kid . "

I'm not trying to take Viktor away from the only family he's ever known, so his claim is pathetic and unnecessary.

He's been a weird fuck ever since I turned up at their house. He's been ignoring me but hovering in the vicinity like I can't be trusted. Without anyone around us it's harder to push my anger away and I turn to look at him fully.

"What the fuck is your problem? I gave you a compliment that you don't fucking deserve, say thank you or nothing. You rude prick."

It's not my job to be civil with him, I'm not the one in the wrong yet his arrogance has me questioning it.

Gracing me with a cursory glance, a sneer curls his lips. "Shut the fuck up Dani."

I hate who he has grown up to be, the memories of when we were kids are being tarnished by the man he is. I cross my arms over my chest and mask my hurt with anger.

"Fuck you."

He proves he's an even bigger prick than I already thought he was, as his low laugh fills the car with the cruelty. "I'd rather not when you've already been stuffed by my brother today."

I have never and will never fuck Tali. It's semi-incestuous just thinking about it. We did stupid shit as kids, played spin the bottle when we were at someone's house party, but the line of our belts has never been crossed. The world focuses on sexual relationships too much that no one has ever understood my friendship, it's always met with disbelief. Isabella refused to believe that I don't see Tali as attractive when she caught me stalking his profile for snippets of Val. In my mind, he's not male or female, ugly or handsome. He's just Vitali.

His brother doesn't think the same with his hypocritical disgusting comment. Pointing out his own sins, hurt bleeds between my words.

"Proof of you fucking my sister exists in a little boy that's too good for you, but you're what? Jealous over my friendship with your brother that existed before you?"

He ruined everything. I didn't expect Valentin to be pining after me, but it shouldn't have to be voiced that you don't fuck ones sister while telling the other one you want to marry her. It shuts him up and he chokes the steering wheel as he drives .

As soon as we're outside my building, I get out refusing to entertain whatever bullshit he tries to sell to make himself feel better. I don't owe him anything and my day gets worse as soon as I walk through the doors to my building. I direct all my anger at the dickhead in front of me rather than the one following for an argument.

"Stay the fuck away from me," I hiss.

Sam's face falls, pretending to be hurt or affected by my tone. He should go talk with Val, both of them preferred another member of my family over me.

Sam doesn't move from in front of the elevator, so I run away from my problems and take the stairs. I'm not a psycho and call the elevator on the second floor rather than run up all eighteen flights. They can both compare notes and I wish I had anything of Val's to burn and purge my emotions. There's no one waiting for me when I reach my floor and my traitorous heart sinks. I need to get a spray bottle and every time I react to Val, even subconsciously, I'm going to spray myself in the face to recondition my brain.

As though we're connected and he felt it, the door to the stairwell opens as Valentin emerges. He hasn't even broken a sweat running up the stairs, athletic prick. He fits himself at my back while I unlock my door. Goosebumps pepper my skin when his words touch my neck. "Who is he?"

I want to hurt him, make him feel how I do and have the same questions haunting his nights, so I say, "My husband."

Pushing inside with my confident lie, he freezes at the threshold. I hope it hurts, the pain in my gut while I searched every memory trying to work out when he and Carly became a thing. The age difference makes it worse, but Vlad would have killed her if it was that sinister. They were never around each other enough for it to be significant but that doesn't stop me feeling like shit.A sick part of me is happy knowing that she isn't in his life, if I had to stand there watching them be a happy family I would die inside.

Smiling with feigned sweetness, I grip the edge of the door and slam it in his face. The satisfying sound of the wood hitting each other doesn't come as the dickhead wraps his fingers around the edge and comes to life.

"You're married? "

I freeze in place at the menacing tone, and he steps forward. I can't think of anything to do that won't get me caught as he keeps walking forward despite the small space between us. There's nowhere for me to run with his huge ass blocking the exit. I should have made up a better lie, there are too many holes in Sam being my husband. Like why are none of his things here? Or the fact I ran away from him.

Val remains on my heels as I escape him and go to the kitchen. His anger thickens the air.

"You got married to some little fucking cunt?!"

Enraging him further, I look over my shoulder as I fill a glass of water. "Big dick actually."

It's not technically a lie. Sam is a huge dickhead. I must have a type.

My head is tugged back as he wraps my hair around his fist and the glass slips from my hand shattering in the sink. His other hand comes to my throat as he issues a warning in my ear.

"Talk or even think about someone else's dick and see what I do, Dani mine."

A laugh leaves me, and I have to arch my back to look up at him as he straightens to his full height.

"What are you going to do? I don't have another sister for you to fuck."

His entire body tenses and he lets go of me. He's a coward and turns to walk out of my life slamming the door behind him.