Page 94 of Volatile

“You’re not weak.”

It’s not enough, not when he always has the right thing to say. I’m not made to console people, yet I try for him and only him.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

His tears continue to fall, dripping against my cheek. He takes in a shaky breath, and he moves his hand to my stomach. His voice is barely audible despite my ear being beside his jaw as he whispers, “I’m sorry.”

There’s a tremor in his hand as he slowly lifts the hoodie covering me to press his shaky palm to my skin. He looks down, seeing the yellowing bruise and softly kisses my forehead with his promise, “I’ll never let anyone get close enough to hurt you again, Asya, I’ll die before there’s ever another mark on you.”

Discomfort snakes up my spine and I hide in the crook of his neck as I mumble my plea, “Can you eat something?”

He straightens his uninjured leg and sits me on his thigh without doing what I asked. He just holds me, I hold him back and we hide together as he controls his breathing.

Sweat covers his body and I ignore the emotions in favor of picking the hay off his skin so it doesn’t hurt him. His shoulder twitches when I gently brush my fingers over the restrained joint. I kiss his cheek and stand, taking out a pin from my hair to undo the cuffs. The metal has already bitten into his wrist and I’m more concerned with Vitali’s mental state than anyone’s anger at me removing the cuffs. I don’t know how long he was abusing the pain meds for, but they’re not needed, when he’s focused he forgets about his knee and it’s only when it comes into view does he remember.

His arm drops without any life in it, and I lower to a squat, tucking myself into his side as I help him stand. He doesn’t give me his weight and wraps his arm around my shoulders, his lips resting against my hair, as we walk out. He gets heavier when he sees both of his brothers. Guilt is weighing his body down, he’s blaming himself for shit he didn’t fucking do and I don’t give two fucks if Vitali caused the argument or if he threw the first punch, they’re both older than him and he’s fucking drowning.

My voice hardens as I forget the blood on their hands and say, “Get the fuck out of my way.”

They both tense and stand taller, refusing to move. A smaller body pushes through them as Vitali forces himself to copy them; Vanya manages to get past her raging father and uncle. I didn’t hear what Vitali said to her, but it must have been bad for Vlad to react the way he did, even Inessa has refused to acknowledge him for his outburst, and Dima makes up their band of rage.

Vanya gives me a small smile and softens her voice. “We’ll go inside.”

It disappears when she looks at the trio and she speaks with more authority than all of them combined are capable of.

“They won’t hurt him.”

My feet are filled with lead and resolve unwilling to walk away from Vitali. He doesn’t look at me and presses his lips to my hair with some of his usual anger coming back, but it’s not directed at himself as he says, “Go eat something.”

All of these fuckers are obsessed with food.

When he presses his hand against my back I stumble without meaning to, it’s the mental act of pushing me away over the physical.He has never once pushed me away, but he does it now and repeats himself without looking at me. “Have something to eat, Stasi.”

Vanya stares out her dad, uncle, and husband as she lets out her low threat. “None of you will hurt him or I’ll hurt you.” Meeting each of their eyes she adds, “All of you.”

They nod, one by one, and she relaxes.

She was already my favorite psycho, but she’s cemented herself in top place for giving Vitali her loyalty. She doesn’t move until all three of them give her verbal confirmation, then she smiles and walks towards me to force me away, reiterating he’ll be safe like I didn’t witness her threat. “Dima promised that he won’t hurt him.”

Vitali remains behind me as we walk towards the house, no one talks as they wait for us to leave, and I’m prevented from running back to him as Inessa stands at the double doors leading into the kitchen.

The pool beside me is more inviting than the look on her face. It’s not anger, she’s staring at me the same way she would when we were kids and I’d let it slip that I couldn’t eat something, and she’d fixate on why until I pushed her over and ran away.

I’m contemplating doing the same thing now when we enter the house and she points at the nook, giving me a no-nonsense tone.

“Sit down, Stasya.”

Oh fuck.

She’s always been a hard ass, knowing that she can boss anyone around due to her grandfather’s authority, and I’m regretting not pushing her over as I drag my feet. Viktor isn’t even here to give me an idea of what’s happened, he’s good at keeping me in the loop and I take my seat as they take the ones opposite.

Three pairs of eyes look at me, waiting for me to say something. Dani’s are sad, Inessa’s are confused, and Vanya is open. She’s just happy to be included and ready to go down whatever path I choose. I’m waiting for someone to speak and tell me why I’ve been summoned when Inessa gives the other two a look and they abruptly stand. Vanya lingers and her immaturity shows as she lifts her thumb in the air behind Inessa’s back. She swivels it between up and down, trying to gauge my mood and I clear my throat before confirming, “I’ll be fine.”

She nods and asks hers stepmother, “You’re not going to hurt her?”

Inessa turns and softens her voice as she says, “I promise I’m not going to hurt her, I just want to talk to her.”

Vanya hesitates until her son shouts, “Mama.” He ends on a giggle and maybe she isn’t as immature as she seems because her face lights up as she turns her head towards Vlad’s office where all the children are playing.

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