Page 121 of Viparious

“Kazhdyy muzhchina klanyayetsya svoyey koroleva1.”

The smuggest smile lifts her lips, and she tilts her chin in the air. There’s no argument or bullshit avoidance as she plasters herself at my side, ready to leave. My hand doesn’t leave her hip the entire way down. Valentin is slouched with Verena sitting on his chest when the elevator doors open. I don’t even attempt to hide my laugh as she begins kicking into his chin while holding his thumbs and a bony elbow hits my ribs.

Inessa steps forward, reprimanding a baby for kicking someone as annoying as my brother.

“You won’t hit your uncle, will you, Vero?”

She does it softly and strokes her hair back. I’m the only sane one and lift her up to kiss her cheek and tell her the truth.

“Kick him as much as you want. If he starts one of his tantrums, you can just shit on him to shut him up.”

Valentin scoffs as he playfully ruffles Viktor’s hair.

“Yeah, what’s one more after little man spent two years pissing on me every chance he could get.”

Vitali walks through, ready to leave for his fight, and the puppy is overexcited after the doctor said he’s completed his rehabilitation for his knee and cleared him. His smile is from ear to ear, and he focuses it on Inessa as he gives her shit.

“Aww, cute, the parents are going on a date.”

She doesn’t rise to it and continues the joke rather than argue with him for once.

“Keep being a poohead and I’ll ground you.”

Everyone in the room pauses, I’m sure Verena does too at her attempt of clean language that Viktor tries to help her as he corrects her, “Did you mean shithead?”

I’m the mature one and kiss the top of Verena’s head before sitting her back on Valentin’s chest and dragging her mother out with me. But I’m only human and manage to keep it back until we’re in the car.

“For such a filthy mouth, the best you could come up with was poohead?”

She nips my thigh, continuing her immaturity.

“Don’t swear in front of children, and don’t tell her to shit on people. It’s not nice.”

She sits taller as we approach the gates, and the guards open them.

I need her to relax for the important part, so I wait until we’re further away from the house to fix her incorrect thoughts.

“She’s not going to live by anyone’s expectations of her. If she curses, who gives a fuck? They’re just words, and she won’t have any rules. Whatever she wants is hers.”

The eye roll in my periphery is audible as Inessa relaxes into her seat without anyone able to see her.

“Okay, you psycho, children need some rules, or they’ll become feral.”

I shrug, uncaring and take the turn for the restaurant, “So let her be feral.”

Twisted humor lights up her eyes as she leans over the center console and says, “I bet you’ll suddenly find rules when she’s a teenager or wants to date.”

Turning to look at her, I watch realization slowly sink.

“You seem to think the rules would be for her. I’d break any cunt’s legs who so much as takes a step in her direction. If she wants to date, she canwantto do that, but it doesn’t mean that it will happen. Anyone she’s interested in will be tested, between Dima, my brothers, and me, I can fucking guarantee they won’t get very far. Viktor will be older too, so he’s going to be stuck to her like a shadow.”

“Because that’s healthy,” she mutters.

“She’s going to be insufferable, a spoilt pain in the ass, her feet won’t touch the floor, and her chin will never touch her chest. The moment she opens both eyes and gives someone her full attention, it will be my job to ensure they treat her right.”

“By beating the shit out of them?” she deadpans.

“Among other things.”

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