8. Daniela

EIGHT

Daniela

V alentin doesn't let go of my hand as he drives me home. He's genuine and honest, making the butterflies in my stomach go crazy, and I can see my cheeks from how hard I'm smiling. He turns into an empty street, and parks up at the end then leans over to kiss my cheek. Sparks dance across my knee as he flattens his hand over the joint to stop the glove compartment hitting me.

I don't know this Valentin, he's gentle and doesn't stop touching me as he places a velvet box in my hand. Even his voice is softer as he explains, "This says you're mine, wear it all the time for me?"

I haven't even opened it, but I nod, and his smile matches mine. It gets closer as he leans into me, and I can't stop my eyes going to his lips. They're so soft, and he kissed me . He doesn't let me feel them again as he lifts the box out of my hands.

The light built into the top cover makes the gold sparkle as the necklace is unveiled. The ornate vines thread around the single slanted bar and dagger forming a V. I know the symbol, it's on Tali's ring and he was excited when he first got it. The Vartanov insignia, the one thing they hold in high regard that symbolizes their family. Does he know that I'm aware of how important that symbol is? Tali reveres it, Vlad has it on his cufflinks, but Val doesn't wear it. I search the collar of his t-shirt for any sign of a chain as he gently pulls it out of its holder.

The gentle voice fills the car making me pause my search.

"Turn around, baby."

I'm melting into the seat at the endearment and slowly give him my back as I pull my hair out of the way. The cool metal feels heavier than the actual weight and his lips press into the side of my neck as he does the clasp. "Now everyone knows you're mine."

Pride fills his voice and I flatten the pendant, so it rests above the other necklace he gave me.His lips linger as they slide to my nape, sending a shiver up my spine that I can't hide. It's useless when I can feel him smirking against my skin.

I know he's arrogant, all of his flaws really, but it just makes the way he is with me better. It feeds the delusional voice in my head to have a stronger belief that this is real. The deep whisper does the same too.

"Do I make you nervous, Dani mine?"

I can't tell him the truth. He'll think I'm a loser and humiliate me. So, I lie, and resist the urge to keep toying with both necklaces. "No, I'm just cold."

He coils his arms around me and hauls me over to his side of the car without any strain. "Let me warm you up."

He sits me in his lap and rests his chin on my shoulder.

Why is my heart racing? Sweat is beading down my spine and I'm overheating, but I don't move and sink into his chest. He continues tightening his arms around my waist until his palms are flat on my ribs, his fingers stretching out to press into my back, and he breathes out as though he's being dying without it. His voice is low and soothing as I tilt my head back to look at him while trying to get my brain to make sense of what's going on.

"You know I've never wore the pendant since I got it, I needed to make sure that it was safe just for you."

I gain a new appreciation for the necklace as I look down and ask, "It's just mine? "

He nips my jaw with his teeth and corrects me, "No, it's mine like you are."

The claim bolsters my confidence as I turn and pointedly look at his bare neck. "What about you?"

Val's smirk is slow, and he raises one brow being cocky. Reaching for my bag before he can refuse, I grab a pen and push his arms off me to go back to my seat. Sitting up on my knees, I hold his arm in place against the leather padded center console and the nib glides over the skin under his inner elbow before I've thought of a design. I don't have some fancy symbol and make my own up taking inspiration from the one on my neck.

He doesn't move or try to distract me as I form a D with a paintbrush and vines with little flowers on his forearm. Once I'm done, I lift his arm in the air and blow on it to get the ink to dry. I remember the other things in my bag and decide to make it last longer. He laughs seeing me pull out a small container of baby powder, but he manages to keep his arm still.

I carefully cover the design I created while my face heats. I'm wrecking his car and I must look like a nut with baby powder on me, Tali always gets my art supplies, and I picked the bag up not expecting whatever strange ceremony we've created. My voice is too quiet as I attempt to give a normal explanation that doesn't involve some infectious rash.

"I use it to thicken paint so I can pipe it."

I can't see his eyes as he hums and curls his lips over his teeth to prevent the laugh that clearly wants to come out. I open the windows for the next part as well as to cool down. Gently spraying a thin layer of hairspray over his forearm, I sit back and tilt my head to make sure I haven't missed a bit.

I make the mistake of catching his eyes and he looks at me the same way I do at sculptures. Part admiration, part enjoyment, but the largest parts are intrigue and awe. Exactly like I do when I find a new hero, someone I wish to emulate and study.

"I know what you use it for," he says slowly. "You have those weird knives that you mix it with. I know when you've used it in one of your commissions because you always have bits of the powder stuck to the edges of your hair just here." He gently traces the small curly hairs at my temple.

This boy is no good for my heart. He's changing how it beats as he innocently cups my nape. His eyes are lighter, little bits of darker blue and yellows coming out and stretching out like veins towards his expanding pupil. He makes a triangle as he looks between my eyes and lips, speaking through a soft smile.

"You're so adorable, Dani mine. Even if you were trying to gas me."

I wasn't trying to gas him. I opened the windows first. My argument is cut off by Val's lips and I hold his neck, needing to be closer to him.

A screech breaks through my senses as I'm lifted out of my seat. I drop against his chest as he tilts his seat back and sits me over his thighs, his smile is against my lips and his hands massage my ribs under my t-shirt. He doesn't go further up, choosing to stay on my waist and I kiss him again. His lips softly move against mine and he opens up for me.

When our tongues touch it's like I've flipped a switch inside of him and the gentle hands hold me tighter. I like his roughness, feeling his fingers press into my skin. It's the opposite of my movements as I trace his features with the pads of my fingers, and we share the air from our lungs.Even with my eyes closed and only the tips of my fingers, he's beautiful and I reverently map each feature, committing it to memory.

A moan is pulled out of my chest as he rakes his fingers down my back, and I turn more urgent. There's no space between us and I press further into him, melding our bodies together. I moan into his mouth feeling him hard beneath me. It was the same in the middle of the night and my body wants more while my brain fills with nerves. He gently pushes me back and holds my waist. Valentin isn't some angelic saint. He's fucked half the school, but he won't even entertain the idea with me.That hurts.

But he doesn't move me off his lap as he kisses my cheek and lays me against his chest. His hands are gentle again, one flat against my back and the other combing through my hair as he says with conviction, "Our first time won't be in a car. I'm going to give you better than you can ever imagine."

The conviction settles me, and I don't look up as I make the same shape I've sketched on his arm against his chest.

"Oh yeah, what's better? "

I can't think of anything better than right now when I've got everything I want right here.

He presses his lips to my forehead and tightens his arms around me as he whispers, "There'll be rose petals and candles, you'll be a little tipsy from the champagne and you'll taste like cake because I couldn't wait to get my wife home." His hand moves further down to my lower back, and I look up smiling from ear to ear. "Then, I'll ask you for our first dance away from everyone else," he places a kiss to my cheek, "and I'll slowly take your dress off making sure it doesn't get damaged so you can keep it and pass it down to our daughter." Resting his forehead on mine, I can feel the words more than hear them. "Then, I'll make love to my wife and never stop for the rest of my life."

I weakly nod, unable to speak. A light laugh brushes my cheek and then he presses a chaste kiss to my lips. It's over too soon and far too innocent. He has restraint and we have the same dreams of a future as he shows his care.

"But now, I need to get my girl home because you've got a commission to finish."

In my grief, it was the best distraction and I managed to get everything finished for the piece, knowing that I didn't have to think or sit with my emotions, so there's only the final sealant layer required before I ship it off. But he kisses me again before I can convince him to stay in the car.

His movements are so smooth I nearly miss the fact he puts me back in my seat without removing his lips from mine. I'm dazed and lean into him as he pulls back with a shit eating grin. For as long as I can remember I've wanted him, this, to be the person Valentin comes to. My vovó always said that when something bad happens, life is preparing you for the good because life is never a straight line. It has curves and ridges. Val is my something good after the bad, he's the curve up and the incline gets steeper as he threads his fingers through mine as he drives to my house.

There are no other cars in the driveway when we pull up, forcing me to remember my life because they've all been sold so Carly can live. A few weeks ago, I never thought about what I'd eat, we'd just order in. Now, we're going to have to be responsible until I can get my trust .

Vlad's name flashes on the internal display as Valentin's phone rings and I kiss his cheek before getting out of the car. I don't need him to be any different than he usually is, and his brother only calls him when it's important, so I don't interrupt whatever it is.My good mood falters as I enter the house. It's still cold, and there's a folder on the entrance table. Carly isn't home and I flick through the sheets. They all have my name on and little color coded tabs showing where I need to sign, but none of the words make sense. I sign it like I have everything else for Carly to take guardianship of me before going straight to the only place that isn't desolate.

My studio at the back of the house is warm and bright which is the direct opposite to the perfectly barren entrance. It's messy with tubes of paint left in random places and everything is arranged in organized chaos. Dropping my bag by the door, I kick my shoes off and pull out everything I'll need to seal the oil painting that was commissioned. It's a portrait and my fingers itch to do something different, specifically in shades of blue. I don't do it straight away or I'll end up forgetting about the portrait. My goals are small and pointless as I make a mental target. I'll seal it while I wait for the new canvas to stretch, then I can have my secret project to satisfy myself.

It takes less time than it should with that goal motivating me and I move to the clearest corner of the room. The blank cream is like a portal to peace as I lay the canvas on the floor and sit on my knees. There's no outline required, I paint from memory alone knowing every pore and lash after years of studying them. I've always started with eyes when I'm doing portraits, they're the thing that's the most distinguishing about a person's features. The range of colors are all the same, but everyone has different depths, different swirls, and creases that show their character.

I'm lost in creating the perfect image when the front door slams and raised voices travel through the house.

"You're a stupid fucking bitch, how long do you think you'll be able to hide it?"

Leno's disgust bounces off the walls and I shrink like it's directed at me. Carly might be self-absorbed and cold, but she doesn't deserve to be spoken to like that. Her whisper hiss doesn't have any defense for herself.

"Shut the fuck up, I don't want Dani to know."

There can't be any more family secrets after everything with our parents and I follow their hushed voices until I'm stood in the hallway. The lights are on, reflecting the brutal image off the shiny tiles and I'm not prepared for the sight of Carly. My gasp gets her attention as she turns to my frozen body. Her eye is swollen shut, there's bruising all over face, and fingerprints around her neck. Tears burn the back of my nose seeing my sister holding her ribs, which are probably also bruised.

She straightens her shoulders as she fails at hiding her wince and I don't give a fuck about anything they're talking about. I'll kill him myself, but he turns, fucking off. Coward. He beat the shit out of her but now that he has an audience he's decided to leave.

"I'm moving," she says, pained and ignoring every question on my face as I uselessly stand in front of her.

Voicing the more important topic, I block her way from going up the stairs. "What happened to your face?"

She can only open one eye and uses it to stare at me. That one eye holds the usual coldness my sister possesses and there's a new quality, making the temperature plummet as she looks over my shoulder. When it comes back to me, there's only one name under her sigh. "Vlad."

No. It's my fault. He said he'd speak to her, and he left the warehouse straight away.

She stares at each point of my face and drops her voice as she says, "We owe them money and I've found people who will help."

His knuckles are always busted but I can't remember them being freshly split when he gave me my breakfast this morning. How sick is he that he spent all night beating a girl, my sister, then fed me with those same filthy hands?

The first thing I want to do is deny it. He helped me last night, gave me food, and then tried to teach me to fight. He did the same this morning before Val dropped me off home. He's done it for years, ever since I was ten years old when Tali found me crying because I didn't want to go home because I was scared of being alone. It's that information that has me feeling stronger than I should.

"I'll talk to him."

He's fed me for years, got me birthday cakes and the same gift every year. He might help, or not kill Carly if I ask.

Clearly not thinking the same, she laughs holding her middle tighter and shaking her head. Her top lip curls up as she flicks her eyes down the length of my body then back up to my face. I can't stop my shoulders moving as I attempt to make myself smaller to match her view of me.

"Do you know who they are?"

Condescension drips off her and I don't need to think about the answer. They're my family, the people who are always there for me. Even if Vlad scares the shit out of me and Dima is a miserable bastard. Each of them have been there for me. Vlad taught me how to tie my shoelaces when he saw I was tucking them in because my parents have never been there. Tali would sneak me into the house, so I wasn't sat at home alone. Val has never said a single bad word to me when he's constantly an asshole to everyone. Dima would always check my helmet when we'd go out on our bikes with a grumbled "don't fall over" before I set off.So, I know them, they're the people I spend my birthdays with, the ones who have made traditions that we stick to no matter what happens, they're the people who have made sure I'm okay and stayed in school when they don't have any responsibility for me.

Carly doesn't know that and I'm too protective over having them as she moves closer towards me. I'm scared of my sister; more than when she hit me. She's villainous right now. I don't know if it's due to her being beaten or the shit storm around us, but I can't be her prey and take a step back. She follows me and her tone hardens.

"They are criminals. Not little fucking thieves or thugs. The type of criminals who have killed people. All of them, Dani."

She's lying. Tali wouldn't be able to kill someone, he's too busy stuffing his face. He would have told me because he's shit at keeping secrets from me. Val isn't a murderer either. Murderers don't plan their wedding and hold people all night.

I shake my head because I know who they are, not the rumors, but actually know them. Carly softens her features, and that one eye is all I can look at.

"They're in the Mafia, organized crime or whatever. I'm not lying to you. I wish I was." She dips her head down and gives me a sad smile. It carries into her voice, and I wish this person was the person I grew up with .

"I know I've been a shit sister. I've never been there for you before but I'm trying to protect you now. I won't let them hurt you like they did to me, okay? I promise."

All I'm capable of is blinking while I attempt to make sense of what the fuck has gone wrong with my life. She pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head.

"I've called tio and?—"

I try to pull away refusing whatever plan she has. Her arm around my shoulders tightens and she speaks over my refusal.

"Please just listen to me Dani, he'll be able to keep you safe."

The genuine panic in her voice stops me arguing and she pulls back with her hand on the back of my head. One eye is fixed on me with nothing other than worry as she pleads, "You'll stay with tio?"

I love my uncle, I was named after him, but it doesn't mean I want to leave my life to move to Brazil. My voice comes out weak under the weight of her emotions.

"I can't even speak Portuguese."

It's a stupid argument when she's literally black and blue. What does a language matter?

Brushing it off, she breathes easier and steps back. "It's fine, you're a fast learner. And all the family speak English."

I want to stay here, with Val and Tali, in my life where I at least have some of my comforts. But everything is changing, and she obliterates the relationship with my two favorite people.

"Don't even think of telling them where you're going." She sniffs but there are no tears and I move back when her nostrils flare. "Have you seen my fucking face?! They nearly killed me."

I hate myself for wanting to ask why.She's my sister, my loyalty should be to her, still there's a voice in the back of my head saying none of this makes sense. Turning cruel, she hits me with her words and points at her face.

"I'm not the one with the money and this is what they did. What do you think they'll do to you? You have your trust, and you'll access it fully when you get married. Remember, they'll do anything. Stay the fuck away from the bastards."

My face falls, she's developed some sibling bond that she's never had before as she stares at me and looks to the necklace Val gave me. Her voice is higher pitched as she curses, and I move back in time to get out of her reach.

"You stupid fucking bitch! Did you let one of them claim you?!" Her injuries slow her down and she grabs the wall for support as she gives up on causing bodily harm to inflict it verbally. "You're a fucking idiot. If they claimed you they'll never let you go, it's how it works with them. You've made us lose everything because you wanted to be one of their little sluts?!"

My throat is closing up and I manage to get out a croak. "It's not like that."

The bitter laugh has my organs jumping within my body as she shakes her head. "Yeah because you're not the slut. You're the one paying for it. You'll be dead as soon as you marry one of them."

No. Val wouldn't do that to me.

She keeps mentioning marriage and the echo of her cruelty mixes with the softness of Val's dreams. He wouldn't know that my parents changed the clause of my trust. But they beat the shit out of my sister after I told them that we don't have the money to pay them back.

I'm so stupid. I believed him but he was doing everything he could for his family. He never gave a fuck before, obviously I'm the idiot who thought he was being genuine when he's not capable of caring about anyone. I hate him and I hate Tali for not telling me. Everything is under a microscope. It was all planned and he probably told Zoe to attack me so Vlad could be the savior. Tali wouldn't look at me when we were eating breakfast and he didn't talk to his brothers.

They've put their own family first and I'm not part of it. Now I'll do the same for myself, not my family because they all left me. The only person I have is me and I'll be fine on my own away from these toxic assholes who just use everyone.

Worthless, stupid Dani who always gives everyone chances when all people do is use you, all they care about is money, just like my parents. They couldn't stay for me, so why would any of the Vartanovs?