3. Valentin

THREE

Valentin

I t's late when we get home and Tali is dragging ass, taking forever to open the door. Kicking the back of his ankle to get him to move faster, I make sure not to jolt Dani in my arms. She feels right here with her hair tickling my face. Vlad opens the door and keeps his mouth shut as we walk into the house. He's nearly thirty years old but the sad fuck has been waiting for us, if the tumbler in his hand is anything to go by.

My life is a joke and I have to lay my dream girl in my brother's bed. Pretending to be exhausted, I lay beside her not giving a fuck if Tali has to sleep on the floor. He gets her every night, sneaks her into his room, and they do whatever the fuck they want. After hearing their weird ass plan for him to hook up I relaxed, but seeing Dani get comfortable in his bed is pissing me off.

It's always going to happen. They're too close and I hate it because there's no reason for them to be friends. He's been obsessed with this stupid theory that we have a little sister for longer than I can remember but it doesn't mean Dani has to fill that gap for him since Vlad shouted at him for mentioning it. Or sleep in his bed and wear his clothes. He doesn't look at her like he's attracted to her, but he always kisses her cheek. They do it to each other. We're not children anymore, we're teenagers and she should be friends with girls, only. Even then I might limit her interaction in case they talk shit to her.

He's too tired to notice me and throws the covers over her. My fake sleep disappears when he grabs a pair of shorts, if the shithead changes in front of her I'll kill him. There's too much familiarity in his movements, showing this is their usual routine. He saves himself and goes into the bathroom, so I make myself comfortable. Dani grumbles as I attempt to move her over to the other side, so he doesn't have any space, and she wraps her arms around me. She's so beautiful, even when she's asleep. There's something inside of her that's all goodness and light, drawing me closer since the first time I laid eyes on her.

Closing my eyes, so I'm not evicted from my place, Tali flops down on the other side of Dani. He doesn't go under the covers and her face is tucked against my chest. I'm only eleven months older than her, but I feel older due to getting involved with the underground fights. I should have listened to Vlad and waited; the controlling fucker would be ecstatic to hear he was right, so am I fuck admitting it.

Vitali always falls asleep quickly as long as there are no lights on, and I wait for his breathing to even out in the dark room. All of the external lights on this side of the house have been turned off so he doesn't get disturbed after Vlad moved him from my floor when he caught Dani trying to scale the side of the house to climb through the window.

Dani's skin is soft, her hand is resting on my chest and there's no scars on her knuckles. The callouses on her fingertips are from her art, her creations. Not destruction like my rough hands. My eyes have adjusted to the dark and I pull her closer as I lay my phone on the bed between our chests. The muted light from the screen doesn't cast any shadows, just enough light so I can see more of her. She twitches her nose as I trace her features with the pad of my finger, the cute little shit. Doing it again, she swipes at my hand, and I bite my lip to stop from laughing. She's so adorable all curled up against me.

All the cunts who try to hurt her have never been able to and even though she has me she's never come to me to complain. My Dani is good and doesn't even try to get revenge. Especially against the bitch Zoe who wrecked the sculpture she made of her mom. So many hours and trips to get the perfect colors and materials wasted over some little cunts need to be feel superior. No one is better than Dani, they wouldn't be able to compare, that's why they keep fucking with her. Even though she hides away, there's not a single person that doesn't see her, she's powerful covered in paint and not noticing the world.

I kiss her forehead and I don't move my lips away, soaking up as much of her as I can get. She'll wake up and run after my brother, both of them inseparable, and there's no room to fit myself between them. Her lashes flutter against my chin and I move back before getting caught. There's no shame, I want her to catch me and sink into me physically like she has mentally, to lay claim to me and breathe life into my soul like she does her art.

She strokes up my chest and curls her hand around my nape already falling back to sleep. I'm sick of being around her and never having her, like a lonely dying star stuck in her orbit never allowed closer. All she has to do is look at me and I'm fucking hers, but she's too busy with my dumbass kid brother. I know if he loved her I still wouldn't stop, I'd take her from him because she's mine. But he doesn't, he's told me he hasn't fucked her, and he always gets pissed when I say he has.

I press my lips to her forehead and let her sleep. Trying not to wake her again, I turn on my side tucking her closer and wait the one minute until it's the right time. My phone buzzes against my shoulder at the same time as I whisper, "Happy birthday, Dani mine."

She has one leg wrapped over me and I pull her up so she's fully resting on me. Her smile touches my jaw and a soft whisper floats into my ear. "Thank you Val, you're the only person who says it at the exact time."

Her parents will be home tomorrow for her meal, so we always get the day before, but I'll never go a year without wishing her happy birthday at the exact moment she was born. It's the moment my other half was created.

Kissing her cheek, I drag out any words to keep her with me.

"I always will be."

Sleep isn't more important than time with me alone. She softly hums, but she doesn't say anything straight away. Her lashes flutter, tickling my cheek and I can't help myself as I kiss her crown. It's innocent, not something that would ever be associated with me, the act or Dani. I don't move my head as she looks up and whispers, "Promise?"

Fuck, she's so pretty I forget words, losing my entire vocabulary in both languages, and what we're talking about. I lower my voice to disguise how much of a little bitch I sound as I negotiate the terms for her requested promise.

"Kiss me and I will."

Even if it's just my cheek like the car I'll survive. It took everything in me not to turn my head and claim her lips like I wanted to. Her voice is even lower as she slowly inches up. "Close your eyes."

She's cute, getting nervous for her first kiss and I do it.

It's not the setting I wanted, but I'll take it, and my heart speeds up in anticipation as warmth ghosts over my face. My arms tighten around her as she moves closer and innocently kisses my cheek, avoiding my lips. Exhaustion weighs her down and she sinks against me. I don't mention her cop out as I settle her so her head is resting against my shoulder. Her hair is soft too and I stroke it back loving the texture as I give her the promise she wanted.

"I promise Dani mine, you'll never get away from me."

She falls back into sleep, and I stay in place watching the sun come up. I could kidnap her, keep her locked on my floor on one of the nights she climbs through the window. No, I'll get her drunk and make her marry me, then she'll never be able to escape, and Tali can't get involved because husband trumps weird ass friend who just eats all the time.

There's going to be a lecture about not being a pervert as soon as I get up. I swear to fuck if I hear Vlad say the phrase ‘ only perverts obsess over who their family fuck ' one more time, I'll blow my brains out. I don't give a fuck what Tali does, he could have lopsided muscles from jacking off so much and I wouldn't give a shit as long as Dani is never involved in any scenario with him.

My phone buzzes again with my alert to train with Dima. I pull Dani with me as I slide out, making sure there's as much distance between her and Tali as possible. It's not enough when he's like a snake following her warmth. Taking her backpack, I put it in the middle, if he wants to hug something he can use that.I add the pillow as an extra layer of protection before leaving his room .

Dima raises his brows at the direction I've come from as I go up the stairs. He doesn't say anything, and Vlad tries to pin me in place with his stare. They're both weird as fuck, they're in some little relationship where neither of them get laid, but they're like a married couple and will finish each other's sentences. Well, Dima does considering I caught him last week so I bring up his infidelity in the hope it gets his husbands attention off me being in Tali's room.

"Who were you at the club with?" I ask Dima.

His brows come together as I pull my t-shirt over my head, and he asks, "Which club?"

Vlad throws a pair of shorts at me but there's no interest in my shit talk, so I add more. "I only saw the back of her head, but she must have been pretty enough for you to want her on her knees." I don't bother leaving to change when they wiped my ass.

I'm taking my boxers off when Vlad directs his anger at me, and his eyes darken. "Why the fuck were you in a club? And why were you watching someone get their dick sucked, you weirdo?"

I roll my eyes then my shoulders as I get ready. "I wasn't watching, I saw it as I walked through," I say flippantly. "There's a difference."

Dima's grumpy ass face lifts into a smirk and he looks at his husband, being a prick.

"Do you think he was following me?" He turns back to me and adds, "I never knew you felt that way about me, Valyusha."

Vlad shakes his head and takes a deep breath before ignoring us both as I keep my limbs loose and wait for Dima to take a step towards the gym we have on this floor. Once he's beside me, I throw my fist out, aiming for his ribs, but he blocks it and laughs, "Look, he can't help himself and needs to touch me."

Vlad grips my nape to stop me doing it again as we walk into the gym and issues his warning.

"Is there going to be a problem with Vitya?"

He doesn't relax when I shake my head. If I open my mouth the only thing that will come out is that she's mine. We've only ever had one rule, don't let anything come between us, and my brother is a psychotic fuck, no matter what we do, he won't leave. I could burn the house down and he'd make a stupid joke about me having a tantrum. But he's strict in that one rule of nothing ever coming between us. He squeezes my nape and kisses the top of my head to hide his threat.

"Make sure it doesn't change."

It won't. If Tali loves Dani so much and sees her as a sister he'll be happy when I make it official. She can make him her bridesmaid and he can hold the crown above her head while I make her mine and only mine. The thought doesn't leave as I take my place on the mats, but the real world turns silent when Dima stands opposite me.

There's no sound, only sight, which morphs so it's not Dima stood opposite me. It's Len, screaming that I'm being weak and not hitting Tali hard enough. The sick fuck couldn't punish us himself so he forced us to do it to each other. Vlad stands watch just like he did then but there's no tap against his thigh as I spar this time. Dima doesn't make any stupid jokes and he goes easy on me, taking a defensive position, rather than attacking me like he should.

Dima sits beside me, chewing with his mouth open, knowing I hate it. I can hear his teeth moving and drop my fork, put off my own breakfast. Being the pig he is, Tali stretches over Dani taking my plate and eating off both simultaneously. Vlad comes back into the kitchen after he left once our food was plated up. He always does it, I don't think he's ever shared a meal with us. I watch him as he walks to the table and taps an envelope on the edge before sliding it towards Dani. There's a cute little crease between her brows and he smirks seeing that she's still confused after all these years.

"You basically live here, happy birthday."

They have the same exchange every year, and she still can't meet his eyes as she gives him a tight lipped smile with a nervous "thank you".

I stretch my arm over the back of her chair to make her comfortable and Vlad picks up on the movement. He's like some old, wise, all-seeing oracle and discreetly looks towards Tali who's still eating. I know he's the favorite, but he doesn't need to literally put him before me every chance he gets. He proves it by focusing on me, acting and ordering me around as a junior rather than his brother .

"Office." He doesn't wait for me to follow as he turns on his heel, and I stop myself from kissing Dani's cheek like I want to as I get up.

The office door is open and he's not drinking so I take that as a good sign as I slam it behind me. He sighs like a prick and folds his arms over his chest. "Why are you having a tantrum now?"

I swear to fuck this man and his obsession with that fucking word grate every single nerve I possess. I sound like a liar as hurt bleeds into my tone.

"I'm not having a fucking tantrum."

It's the same shit every time, if I react to anything it's a tantrum. Just because he's a total neurotic fucking psycho incapable of processing emotions doesn't mean I'm the same.

He nods and softens his voice, changing his question. "Okay, so why did you get pissed out there?"

I try to keep my thoughts back. It doesn't work as I turn into a kid and whine, "You always give him whatever he wants, and I'm just supposed to deal with it. Do you ever think that he doesn't own the fucking world? I get that he's your favorite and you want to be a prick to me, but you won't let me do shit, I even said I'd move out and you act like a twat, saying I'm not allowed to when I have my own money."

All he had to do was sign the lease last year and I wouldn't have to deal with Dani and Tali giggling around me.

Vlad takes a step forward and hooks his hand around my nape. His forehead touches mine as he repeats the same shit he used to when we were kids.

"Ni za chto. You're not fucking moving, you're a kid, and I'm not playing favorites." I open my mouth to argue but he squeezes, shutting me up, and continues, "You wanted to be an adult, I let you join my group. That kot on your chest isn't for show, Vitali is still a child until he makes his decision."

I stand taller as the realization sinks in that he's trying to treat me like an adult in his own fucked up way. He takes a step back without letting me go and proves it by adding responsibility to my immature shoulders.

"One day you're going to be the one responsible for this family. Be a man and talk to your own brother instead of giving him dirty looks, if it's fine with him then I don't give a fuck. But if it's not, you drop it, you don't look at her, and you don't do anything that will break your relationship."

It's always the same shit without any explanation and I lose all hope of an answer despite asking anyway. "Why?"

Vlad doesn't tell anyone shit, he locks himself in his office and disappears. But he surprises me by telling the truth as he lowers his voice.

"Because Len is a motherfucker, and that chuski doesn't deserve to win shit. He doesn't get to break us now, especially over a girl when I've worked too hard for this, and because he's your little brother, you're going to need each other one day."

I always thought he'd end up killing our parents and I've never understood why he hasn't. They're useless and Tali is probably ranked higher than them, but as I watch Vlad waiver between anger and hurt I think I know why he hasn't. He thinks they might change. It must have been shit being him and being alone with them before we were born, so I let some of my anger slip away to end the argument.

He lets me go and I go back to the kitchen. Dani is sat playing with the necklace I gave her. As long as she never takes it off I'll know where she is – there's a chip hidden inside the stone-like resin. Once she's mine I'm putting one under her skin. Or a tattoo. Yeah, that could work and anyone who looked at her would know she belongs to me.

She's the only one with manners and picks up her plate, trying to clean up after herself. Taking it from her hands, I put it in front of the human trash can and stand.

"Tali will probably want to lick it clean. Come on, I'll drive you."

I don't want her hands to be occupied with anything other than me so I take her backpack. It stops her lingering behind, and she has to follow me as she picks up her birthday card.

She always gets nervous when her parents come home. I don't know if it's because her mom is sick or something different. I wouldn't piss on my own parents if they were on fire, but Dani is different, she cares about people. Dima stops her when she walks out the door behind me and slips her a smaller envelope. He doesn't even bother getting her a card like Vlad does. It will be cash like always and he's a miserable fuck who doesn't even say happy birthday as he gives her it. Asshole.

Waiting until we're locked in the car, I swipe the envelope Vlad gave her from her hand and open it while I'm driving. She swats against my arm without any real heat and protests, "That's mine, you can't take someone's gift away."

I already know there's not going to be anything written in the card and hand her the money while I read the tickets inside. My voice isn't strained now that I'm with her and I look from the tickets then to her beautiful face.

"I'm not taking it off you, I'm just checking what it is."

She rolls her eyes at my explanation but leans over reading along with me.It's some boring ass art exhibit with names that are old as fuck scrawled all over. There's only two tickets, the prick obviously thought Tali would go with her, I keep one for myself before giving her the other one.

No one is taking my girl on a date for her birthday, she can spend it with me for once.

She kissed my cheek and slept on me so that has to mean something. I'm done waiting for her to come to me, she's mine now . I relax as I turn into her street and watch her fight a smile as I tell her our plans.

"Be ready at three, I'll pick you up and we can get something to eat before we go."

There's no anger in my voice because it's worked out in my favor. I'm taking my girl out to literally watch dried paint but there's no other way I'd rather spend my time.

Anger comes back as I pull into her driveway and I'm out before my tires have stopped. The fucking cunt should be dead. Leno's slimy ass is breathing and has his tongue down Carly's throat with a single fuck that I'm about to kill him. She moves back when she hears me and stops herself being collateral damage as my fist flies out before I've processed the thought.

He goes down from one punch. The coward stumbles trying to get back up. Three years I've waited to see him again after he fucking went behind our back to my father, spewing shit to try and get Vlad to lose his position and lose us because Len decided we'd needed to be back in Russia to be toughened up. But now, the coward is weak and he loses his battle to get back on his feet as my leg rocks back, meeting the target of his stomach.

Carly screeches right in my fucking face, "Get off him, you psycho! "

I turn to her with my fists clenched, but someone pulls on my arm.Dani doesn't stop tugging until she's a physical barrier and looks up at me, eyes filled with disappointment. It doesn't carry into her voice or smile.

"Go home, please ."

I soften for my girl, but her bitch sister doesn't let it stay as she opens her fucking mouth.

"Leave or I'll call the police."

I look down at the mess she's trying to protect and laugh then shrug. "Do it. Does your dad know your fuck buddy of the week is strung out and has more debts than a country?"

She hardens in front of me. Her jaw tensing and nothing but disgust latches onto me. It's not due to the information, she looks at my girl to check if she heard. Dani holds both of my wrists and faces off against her sister. Her voice is steel, and I lean forward with pride.

"They'll both leave. And he won't be coming back."

She directs her disgust at Leno as he dazedly manages to stand. Her hands tighten around me when Leno gets up and he spits his dirty ass blood on the ground.

"Khuy tebe 1 , you broke the rules."

The slurred threat isn't due to being dropped, he's high already and it's the morning. I don't give a fuck about them. Vlad will kill him, and he won't be around Dani. She stays attached to me as I contain my rage, so she doesn't get hurt by me.

"Do your worst, you fucking rat," I spit. "Come near her again and I'll bury you myself."

He limps away, keeping all of his hate in his eyes like a true little bitch. Carly's an even bigger moron than I thought she was as she leaves her sister alone on her birthday to run after him.

Dani doesn't let go as she pushes me back to my car and she kills me with her sweetness.

"I'll be ready at three tomorrow, maybe park outside the gates?"

I have the widest smile on my face and agree. Carly is still glaring at me as Leno drives away. Ignoring her, I dip down kissing Dani's cheek while holding my middle finger up behind her head. My little artist is blushing when I move back, and she stuffs her hands in her pockets getting nervous.Cupping her jaw, I chase that soft blush on her cheek with my thumb and lower my voice as I meet her eyes.

"Be good, Dani mine."

She nods and looks away from me, so damn adorable I just want to bite her cheek and never let go.

My good mood fades as I drive home, Vlad's going to have an even bigger stick up his ass about Leno. He's never told us the full story, just enough to know why we hate him. For my brother to allow him to live the snake must know something he shouldn't, and I delay the inevitable rage as I drive home. I'll let Dima tell him instead of me being in the line of fire.

1 ? Fuck you