42. Daniela

FORTY-TWO

Daniela

M y heart is too big to fit in my chest seeing Val's emotion. He's such a good dad, there's no violence or taunts when he's with Viktor. I walk him out and he grabs my hand pulling me into the hallway. The door doesn't close behind me as I extend my foot back and he cups my face slamming his lips on mine. It knocks the breath out of me, and I hold on for my life as he fucks my mouth.

A door slams to the right pulling us apart. Looking to apologize to my neighbor, they've clearly had enough of the display and locked themselves away from it. He strokes my tingling bottom lip with his thumb and makes his words seem more intimate than relaying information.

"I'll be back late, if you get tired go to sleep and I'll let myself in."

I'm still in a daze and all I can think about is his lips, so all I can do is nod. But he laughs and gently pushes me back inside before locking the door from the outside.

I pause near the door and press my fingers to my lips. There's a wide grin on my face and I shake every dirty thought away, remembering the little boy who's in my care. Viktor has stuck all the designs he made on his cup and finished painting it. Untying his apron for him, I set the ceramics to dry and look to him for help on keeping him busy.

"Do you want to watch TV or something?"

I don't know what kids do and I definitely don't have horses like he's accustomed to at home.

He looks up at me and his brows slowly come together as he sucks all the air out of the room.

"Are you my dad's girlfriend?"

He was just talking to Val for fuck's sake, why is he asking me hard questions? I need to keep my hands busy and put the paints back as I pluck an answer out of my ass.

"We're friends, why?"

Fuck, he can't have seen or heard me say anything.He doesn't act uncomfortable and throws himself on the sofa as he says, "My dad doesn't have friends."

I'm going to laugh in Val's face when he comes back, little loner. Viktor pokes his head up over the back of the sofa and he's perfected his no bullshit stare as he clues me in to the culprit behind our conversation.

"If my dad has a girlfriend then I'll have a mom, that's how Jax got a new dad. His mom got married."

I'm going to kill Val; the snake has set up his own son because I keep saying no to his lame ass proposals.I sit beside Viktor and pick my words carefully as guilt tears through me.

"Do you want a mom Viktor?"

He shrugs and turns to me. "Not really. But I like you and you teach me things."

My heart is going to burst. Hugging him to my side, I kiss his head and I'm sure I'm squeezing the air out of his lungs, but I can't let go.

"I'm always going to be here," I promise, "for anything you need. Okay?"

I've never given a more meaningful promise and he chokes out, "Are you going to be weird like my dad? He always needs cuddles too. "

I can see the tops of my cheeks from how hard I'm smiling and force my arms to relax so he can breathe.

It doesn't matter what he does or what happens with Val, I'll always be in Viktor's corner. I don't know what a normal aunt-nephew relationship is, and I'll never hear him call me by the title but it's fine as long as he's happy. Putting on a random movie, he stays by my side and we both feel the effects of the long ass day of running around pulling at us as we sink into the cushions and my eyes close.

A little hand taps my cheek and my eyes open to darkness. There's something shuffling behind me, and Viktor presses his finger to my lips telling me to keep quiet. He hasn't moved from his position pretending to be asleep. Val said he'd let himself in if we fell asleep but there's more than one person. Viktor stops me moving and presses three fingers to the back of my hand.

He's so calm and there are three people who shouldn't be here inside my home. There's always random things stuffed under the cushions from when I'm working on something, and I hope to fuck one of them is a knife. Or a gun even though I don't own one. I should buy a gun. Why the fuck don't I have one, I live alone and don't even have pepper spray.

The shuffling moves closer, Viktor's entire body goes stiff, and I tighten my arms around him protectively. They'll see there's nothing to steal and fuck off. Fuck, fuck, where's my phone? I messaged Tali and put it on charge. In my room. Fuck, Val's going to go ape shit.

He'll be here soon.

My arm tightens around the little boy who he isn't even breathing harshly as he taps against my knee counting something out in his head. He's like a secret agent who's been trained, managing to remain calm while I'm freaking the fuck out. Something cool touches my hand and I thank the universe at the sharp palette being found. I keep the wooden handle in my fist as the little taps increase in speed.

Something grabs my arms forcing a blood curdling scream to erupt from my throat. Aiming my arm behind me, I hit air and something hard knocks into my temple. All hell breaks loose as a little boy tries to fight shadows, I'm dizzy as fuck and the lights burn my eyes revealing three blurry figures.

Another knock to my temple and I finally hit meat digging the sharp point of the palette knife into the fuckers thigh. I push all of my body weight forward as Viktor pulls a knife out of his backpack and I grab his arm pulling him behind me.

My voice is panicked which is owed to the situation. "I'll give you whatever you want and I won't call the police."

The child I'm trying to protect does more damage with one hand than I could with two as a pained scream sounds.

"You little fucking bastard."

He keeps slashing while trying to get out from behind my legs. Warm liquid touches my hands as I reach back grabbing his arms to keep him covered.

But I can't focus after my brain being knocked and all the adrenaline coursing through my blood should be helping. None of the faces are recognizable as I keep Viktor hidden behind my legs and push his body into the back of the sofa once he finally stops throwing his knife wielding arm out. The man I got with the palette knife has a flick blade stuck in his thigh and blood pours out around the weapon as the lights come on from behind me – four people.

I don't turn in time as I'm dragged over the sofa by my hair and Viktor grabs my leg trying to keep me in place. It's wrong, I'm supposed to protect him but there's a dull thud against the back of my scalp and it all blurs as his small body charges forward with something in his fist.

My hands are tied in front of me, my ankles bound with the same zip ties. Viktor is by my side stood up with the same ties around his limbs. Shuffling closer to him, I ignore the way my brain protests every movement. This is the first time my vision has cleared enough to be able to see he's rigid, shoulders back and spine straight as he stares at the door. Keeping my voice low, I try to move my lips as little as possible.

"Tudo bem." 1

I'm reassuring us both when I don't know how the fuck we got here.

A dull pain radiates through my shoulder as I try to angle my body to go in front of the sudden soldier beside me. He leans closer to me and whispers in my ear, "Tem três pessoas."

2 Nodding my head, I keep him talking and try to get him to move so I can free him of the ties. Before he's even taken a step the door opens, and he fills with too much anger for a child.

Leno's ugly ass moves forward, and all his hate is directed at a kid, the coward. I get his attention on me as I push my back against Viktor's body and harden my voice to disguise my fear.

"What the fuck do you want?"

I'm going to string Carly up and fucking peel her skin away for this fucking shit. The selfish bitch couldn't just disappear.He looks at me and smiles as though this is a reunion.

"You've grown up, little Dani. So that's what your sister would look like if she didn't party?"

He swipes his finger under his nose on the last word and Viktor's breathing is far too calm while my heart knocks against my ribcage.

Two other men enter after him, both in leather. One of them has a satisfied grin and moves closer. Leno doesn't have any other taunts as he stretches over my body and ruffles Viktor's hair like a cunt announcing, "There's our golden ticket."

I'm going to be sick; my head is throbbing, and I can't get enough leverage to lift up as Viktor shouts turning into Vlad.

"Untie me and I'll see if you're brave then."

Something hits my ribs as I sway my body to try to keep him covered. I look down when it happens again. There's a large metal rod prodding me and then a boot replaces it.

Fuck. It hurts. It knocks the air out of me as I fall smashing my temple off the ground without my hands for leverage. I scream obscenities as he roughly drags Viktor forward.

"He's a child, you sick fuck. Let him go."

Leno moves forward and the smile on his face is full of sadistic pleasure. I tense my body hoping to dull the impact as he cocks his leg back. It connects with my abdomen and I'm choking trying to draw air into my lungs as Viktor screams.

It's filled with anger and shock works through my body stopping me from being able to see what the fuck is happening. The electrical current forces my muscles to spasm as it hits different points of my body, and my senses feel like they are under water. I think I'm screaming, begging them not to hurt him but I can't control my body. Metal coats my tongue from the back of my mouth and the shock comes again forcing my muscles to spasm.

Leno's annoying ass voice breaks through my senses as the volts continue working through my body.

"You know, I told Carly that he'd have the same dead eyes as you and your brothers."

Val, he'll come and make sure Viktor's safe. I manage to lift my head enough to see Viktor and he's standing in the middle of the room with his wrists held together in a zip tie. I can see his face fully now. There's dried blood running from his temple down to his cheek, his eye is already starting to swell, and I cry for the little boy who's not showing anything but his hate.They were beating the shit out of him while I'm here and I couldn't even do anything.

The cunt who grabbed him presses against his shoulders. I kick my legs out to get him away, but Viktor fills with more authority than his young years should offer.

"I'm not scared of you. I'm a Vartanov and we don't kneel."

Pushing more energy into my legs, I connect with the assholes ankle, and he finally leaves Viktor, focusing on me. There's no time to prepare myself for the kick and my thigh burns before he stamps on my leg. I can't keep my scream back as he presses his boot into my thigh and pushes down with his full body weight.

I'm not built for brutality, but neither is Viktor. As long as I'm the target then he'll be fine. The shock comes again, robbing me of consciousness as I try to hold on. He's a kid. If I fall into it he'll be left in their unmerciful hands.

It hits the top of my spine, and I can't cling to reality anymore.

1 ? It's alright.

2 ? There are three people.