Page 99 of Vulnerate

Viktor scrunches his nose up and I nearly laugh at the explanation.

“The moms were talking about you and said you’re handsome.” His face pinches in the middle like I’m dog shit. “Then Tali made a joke and the man heard. He started shouting at me, but Tali called him a prick who can’t fuck his wife right.”

The disgust doesn’t leave his face and I’m a peacock ruffling my feathers for a bunch of bored housewives.

“It was Leighton’s dad,” he says, “and he wants to fight me because of it.”

Stupid prick, he’s a rich little snob and two years older.

I try to keep my tone normal and push my anger away.

“Get ready, I’ll kick the shit out of him before the first bell rings.”

Then I’ll fuck his mom just to ground the cunt.

Remembering Dani, I go back on that plan and leave Viktor to get ready. I’m becoming an adult; my usual tactics are still my first reaction but as long as I don’t actually follow through, my woman can’t be angry.

Tali is already on my floor, gripping his nape and smiling like he’s a kid about to get into shit. He’s not pissed so I’m guessing it’s not due to Dani that he’s here and he relays the same information as Viktor.

“The dad is an old fuck and pushed the kid forward instead of being a grown up. Fucking pussy, he got in his car before I could do anything.”

I ignore his ranting over not being able to grab the cunt, I message Dani that I’ll be later than I originally planned as Viktor pokes his head out of his door.

“Dad?”

I turn and hum so he knows he has my full attention.

“Do I have to let him hit me first?”

“No,” I say as Tali steps forward.

“Get dressed Vik,” he smiles, “I’ll show you how the best Vartanov deal with shit.”

My son is my biggest defender as he stands in the doorway arguing with his uncle. “My dad’s better than you.”

Tali leans forward, whispering, “Your dad’s a little bitc?—”

I grab his nape as I swipe his leg out from under him, cutting him off and making him fall.

“See,” Viktor laughs, “my dad’s better.”

THIRTY-NINE

Daniela

My eyes keep going to my phone checking the time, watching it and wondering where Val is. It’s already two hours past Viktor’s school time and the door opens with a whistle making its way through the studio. Turning to see the arrogant shithead who’s late, the first thing I note is his knuckles. They’re all red but he has the widest smile on his face.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I examine the rest of him. He’s far too attractive and that smile is pure sin.

“What happened to your hand?”

He lifts his fist with pride, and it gets wider as he shrugs. “Some little cunt was picking on our kid.” There’s no chance he means what I think he does, and he adds, “Had to beat the shit out of the kids dad.”

I just blink.

The schoolyard taunt of “my dad can beat up your dad” is supposed to be a taunt. Not a bet that hasa winner during drop off.

He pulls me up from my seat and he wraps his arms around me. He looks so proud of himself it’s endearing despite the violence. And he ruins it by opening his mouth.

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