25. Valentin

TWENTY-FIVE

Valentin

T he reins are fully wrapped around my hands to stop me from choking Tali. I've become the third fucking wheel, again. I'm on borrowed time with Dani and the dumb cunt is monopolizing it as he shows her how to feed the horses.

Their conversation filters through as I turn, refusing to see him touch my girl and he pisses me off further as he says, "The other day in the club, which fucker were you using me to make jealous?"

The leather is going to be fused into my skin from how tight I'm holding it.Dani shouldn't be focusing on anyone else. My head is filled with her, and I can't even escape her in sleep, it's only fair she's the same. I watch Viktor's lesson in the paddock while waiting for her to give a name, a description, anything so I can find the cunt. The dumb disrespectful prick who was on her door had me ready to kill him so it's not a hardship to add another person to the list.

She keeps her voice low like there's any universe my ears wouldn't pick up the sound of her voice as she tries to brush him off. It doesn't work and the leather snaps from how hard I'm pulling with my shithead brother's coaxing.

"Come on, you fake tongue fucked me but can't give me a name."

Something shuffles and my head turns, automatically expecting the worst, thankfully he's only holding her shoulders but it's the next words out of his mouth that make me relax.

"If anyone saw me kissing the air my reputation's ruined, so you have to tell me to make up for it."

My little actress.

Wide eyes are locked onto mine; she's a lying little shit, fucking playing me, fucking with my head, and now she's been caught. Dani has two choices, say my name, or come to me. There was no one else she knew that night, it's always been me and her.

I'm finding out shit I never knew by lurking and Tali's need to gossip as he nudges her. "I know your type, and you said it was a guy so that rules out any of the women. None of the fuckers were your type in men."

She never dated when she was younger because no one got past my defenses, but her flush shows the dickhead just outed her. I don't give a fuck what her sexuality is as long as I'm in there, but a pit opens up in my stomach at the thought she doesn't feel comfortable with me knowing.

She actually believes I'm a cunt, that I'd judge her for being attracted to the same people I am. The sinking doesn't leave as I move further away to give her the idea of privacy. I'm examining every interaction, trying to work out where I fucked up on that one point. The others are obvious. Dani's discomfort is proof that none of the shit on her part was real, I gave her me, every part of me, the fucked up ugly parts and my hope for better. She was the only person I let see that, but she couldn't do the same with me.

Tali fucks off to flirt with Viktor's teacher and I don't move. I want to. But I can't because there's a chance my artist will come out and it's not worth missing.She does and she fidgets with the hem of her shorts as she stops beside me at the edge of the stables.

She looks so small and fragile as she avoids my eyes. It's not due to size, it's the nervousness radiating off her and her voice is weaker.

"I didn't want my mom to find out. She had, opinions . "

Pulling her into my side, I kiss the top of her head knowing she's censoring her true feelings. The notion that she can't feel how she wants because her parents are dead is dumb as fuck. Shitty people die and all of a sudden you can't speak truthfully. Death doesn't override facts, if you were a cunt when you were alive you just become a dead cunt.

She relaxes into me and opens up with her smile returning.

"It's weird that tio was actually my dad's brother, he's so different and warm. You and your brothers are alike, but they were worlds apart."

The only way we're alike is our need for violence and destruction, Vlad is a psychotic fuck and Tali is a puppy. She softens, fully fixing that smile on me and it stops me hearing her request at first.

"He wants to meet Viktor and I told him I'd ask."

Fuck no is my first thought.

Making sure Tali is near my son, I grab Dani's throat pushing her further into the space away from any audience. Disgust works through me as I piece her plan together and her back hits the wood with a gasp. My hold tightens involuntarily as I lean down with the fear taking over.

"Did you think opening your legs would mean I'd allow you to take my son away from me?"

She doesn't say anything, feigning hurt instead of forcing out a lie. Always fucking lying, tricking me, and making me think that she's good. I look up and down her body as I press her deeper into the wall and scoff, "You were a good fuck, but not that good."

She flinches back like I've hit her and there's pure fire in her eyes as I move my head back, avoiding her hand as she slaps out at me. Pain wraps itself around her as she hisses, "You're a cruel bastard."

I don't disagree and smile like it's an honor to be pinned with the description.

Jolting her body with my hold on her neck, my fear takes over, spilling my secrets and causing a physical pain in my chest as I say, "I gave your sister $250,000 extra and she knows I'll kill her before any of you try to take him away. I might have loved you, but I will slit your fucking throat if you even think about taking my son."

My heart is beating too fast, it's like those first few months when I didn't know how to keep him alive. I'd just stand there useless as fuck not knowing what to do when he'd cry but wanting to offer anything to take it away. Fuck, I can't breathe.

There's an ominous feeling in my gut, foreboding setting off alarm bells, and I can't get my lungs to work properly. He's still a baby in my head, even when he's in front of me, small and the world can squash him if I'm not there.

Soft, delicate fingers stroke my cheeks and Dani's voice floats through, just like those fucking nights she's there in my head, comforting me as she whispers, "It's okay, take a deep breath for me." Pressing her palm to my chest, she exaggerates the sounds of drawing in a breath, coaxing me to copy her. "No one's taking him from you, breathe out through your mouth." I close my eyes and allow her to be my instructor on breathing.

Waiting until I'm somewhat normal again, I open them to see my Dani staring up at me with a warm smile and teary eyes. Her voice is soothing, and she wraps her arms around my middle with a promise.

"He's your son, we just want to know him. We're not her, I swear Val." Stroking her back in apology for my mouth, I kiss her crown. My sweet Dani wrecks me with a sniffle. "I'm sorry for what she's done to you. He's worth so much more than whatever money she demanded."

I paid the instalments for information, not Viktor. The bitch had already signed her rights away and if it was anyone other than Leno stood beside her she wouldn't have left the room with a duffel bag but in one.

An urgent, panicked scream has me turning alert, forgetting everything as Tali's voice pierces the air.

"VAL! Get the fuck out here!"

My hand automatically goes to the back of my waistband, but I don't have a fucking gun and I'm moving towards his shout before he's even started again.

"Hurry the fuck up!"

My heart stops beating when I reach the end of the stables, and I run with my life on the fucking floor.

Viktor lays on the ground. Not moving.

The teacher has the sense to move the fuck back as I jump over the gate and Tali's lost all color, but I'm only focused on the little body laid out on the floor. Dropping to my knees, I test his breathing against my knuckles and my own restarts as soon as the small breeze touches the raw skin .

Dani's voice adds to the current chaos as I go to lift my son and she places her hand on my shoulder. "Don't move him."

She's kneeling beside his head, but she doesn't take his helmet off.

His groan comes out as she strokes his cheek and calmly asks, "Viktor, can you tell me where it hurts?"

Tali is stink eyeing the animal who looks upset and keeps dipping its head trying to see if he's okay. It's his favorite horse, the grumpy fuck hates everyone other than Viktor and he's never bucked once.

"Dad?" His small voice has my full attention and I look down. There's no blood and he's coherent as he tries to sit up. "I'm fine, I just want my dad."

Lifting him slowly so he's sat on his ass with his legs stretched, I help unclip his helmet when he says it doesn't hurt.

"You good, little man?"

Fuck my voice is weak.

He tries to smile, and it turns shy as he explains what happened. "I wanted to do a trick, but I slipped when I tried to stand up."

He gets even more embarrassed as Vlad and Inessa run towards us, after either overhearing the commotion or the guards reporting back.

Viktor plays his game of fake soldier, scowling up at his uncle as I carefully help him stand.This kid is the most important child with every fucking psycho willing to go to war for him. He doesn't sway on his feet and his voice is the usual tone as he stares at Vlad with an order on his tongue.

"You're not taking Thunder."

It was the rule that he could keep the horse unless it fucked up, so he battles criminals to keep it, and Dani protectively moves closer to his side as though he's in danger when Vlad would cut himself open just to keep any of us warm.

Nodding my head towards the house, I soften my voice to get him to move. "Come on little man, Katya was just making food. You can finish early today."

He fists his hands, shakes his head, and clenches his jaw, refusing. "No. I have fifteen minutes left." Viktor is a fucking hard ass, but he softens as he looks up at me and steps closer so no one else hears. "Just to walk or trot, I won't gallop. I promise." His eyes do that thing where he looks like an innocent kitten, bigger and cute as fuck, as he whispers, "Please Dad, just to trot."

I can't give in when my heart hasn't recovered from the sight of him on the floor, so I cup his cheek, savoring the final moments of that innocent look before he goes in a mood, but the useless fucking instructor swallows around a lump in her throat and gives her two cents.

"It'll be good for his confidence." Every one of us look up with murder and she backtracks. "If you want to, I mean."

Viktor pleads with his eyes and Dani whispers at my side, "I can sit with him, that way he'll fall on top of me if it happens again. I'll pretend to be scared so he goes slow."

If they both fall I'm selling every animal and burning the stables down. Nodding my head, she squats down so they're the same height and gives him a smile.

"I've never sat on a horse before," she says, softly and filled with care, "can I go with you?"

His excitement comes back as he picks his helmet up, fitting it back in place and babbling like he didn't just fucking fall.

The horse huffs as I stare it out and it walks over to the spot Viktor likes to use to get up on it as it throws its head back. I swear it can understand what's happening and the fact I've aged at least twenty years. Everyone holds their breath as he walks to the edge of the paddock. We're all murderers for fucks sake, my knuckles are raw from beating the shit out of someone already today and Vlad has a death match in a few weeks, yet in this moment, we all experience fear.But my kid? He doesn't, he looks at me and then to the other side of the gate as he narrows his eyes, ordering me around.

"You have to go outside."

There's pride and fear, the only emotions I'm capable of possessing as I do as he says. I don't want him to be scared of shit, but it's a natural instinct for protection.

Tali grumbles like a dick as he stands beside me. "I'm not giving it sugar cubes anymore."

Inessa laughs lightly and prods my arm to get my attention, so I turn my head without looking away as Viktor gets on the horse. She wraps her arm around me and softly asks, "You okay? "

She's normally a raging ball of sarcasm and orders and I nod without any conviction.

Dani plays her part perfectly, reiterating that she's never done this shit before and she's scared, so Viktor goes slower. Keeping one arm around him she smiles over the top of his head as they go round in circles and gratitude fills me. Vlad turns into his usual dickhead self when we all see that Viktor's safe and that twisted smile pisses me off as much as his commentary.

"No tantrum, you're growing up. I never thought I'd see the day."

Prick.

My gratitude increases tenfold when they come to a stop and Dani convinces him to get down first.

"You have to help me. Show me how you get off the horse and I'll copy you."

She's fucking perfect and doesn't make him feel like he's being watched. Turning to Tali, I ask the important question too late.

"How long was he out for?"

His brows come together, and he sits on the edge of the gate keeping his voice low, so no one hears.

"He didn't pass out, he was embarrassed and kept asking for you. He just wanted you to make it better for him."