11

Chapter 11

Vladimir

Sadness mixed with a tinge of happiness etched deep into my heart as the car steered into Dmitri’s mansion. Ariel was already standing by the facade with her husband, my brother, her smile warm and welcoming.

“Can I have Dalian to myself for a while?” I asked Guilia just before I killed the engine.

She stared at me in surprise, but handed him over to me, albeit reluctantly. “Be gentle with him, please.”

I gave her an unbelievable look. “He’s my son, my own blood. Do you think I don’t have boundaries?” I hated that she brought out this side of me. I hated nagging or whining.

Her lips parted as if to speak, but I didn’t wait to hear whatever she was planning to say because I climbed out from my seat and made my way into the house.

Dimitri was waiting for me by the wine cellar in the living room with a bottle of brandy. A small smile was all he had to offer me.

“Finally my brother has returned from the woman-hunt. I thought I’d never see you again.” He said teasingly before throwing his head backwards and downing his brandy in one gulp.

“Yeah, as if you haven't embarked on worse hunts.” I replied wistfully.

The women strolled in, chattering loudly, but it died down the moment when Guilia and I exchanged glances.

“This is wonderful, Vladimir. I never knew I would ever get to see her again especially after her father tried to marry her off to that man. I’m glad it didn't work out.” Ariel chirped gleefully and turned to her husband who only had eyes for her. I wanted it to be the same, but I feared that things had fallen apart between us.

“I know that she has to go home with Vladimir soon, but can she pass the night here? I’ve missed her so much and I’m sure Liora and Maxim will love to have Dalian around.”

I got to my feet and Dalian did the same, latching his little fingers onto mine. The little act melted my heart and for the first time since I became a Made man, I felt something akin to fatherly love.

“She’ll have to stay here until I find an apartment for them. “ I blurted out.

A gasp came from Guilia's direction. “Why can’t we live with you?”

“That’s true, why can’t she live with you?” Ariel added.

“Because I don’t think it’s proper to live with the wife of another man.” I replied with deep jealousy burning in my chest and when I managed to spare her a glance, I was the one who looked away first, almost unable to stomach the sight of her sharing the same breathing space with me but unable to mark her as mine.

“We’ll all stay here tonight. Until I find somewhere safe for you and him.”

GUILIA

He was cold and no matter how hard I tried to feign ignorance, I knew that I’d hurt him in a way I couldn’t put into words. A knock on the door jolted me from my train of thoughts and without giving the knocker the permission to come in, Ariel meandered her way into my room, wearing a sad, almost mournful look I didn't like.

“Oh, girl, are you doing alright? It looked like you had a fallout with him back there.” She noted.

I nodded slowly, unable to use my mouth at that moment. I fiddled with the ring on my finger and scoffed, it was the same ring that put a barrier between Vladimir and I.

Ariel’s hand covered mine as she lifted my ring finger to her eye level. “You got married to him?” She asked with so much concern.

“I was left with no choice. He threatened to make my life a living hell and Dalian’s safety and well-being had to come first.” If only I hadn’t left, I wouldn’t be feeling so miserable.

Or maybe there was a way to stop feeling this way. I had to speak with him and apologize for acting so stupid and cowardly. Just maybe, he would listen to me and all the tension would thaw out a bit.

I shot to my feet instantly, spurred by the need to make amends and restore sanity to my life and made for the door.

“Where are you going? We aren’t done talking yet.”

“The father of my son is mad at me. Don’t you think I should go make up with him?”

She rose up as well, her face still veiled with that same forlorn visage that I despised. “I know that I was never in support of your relationship, but your disappearance shook him and ever since he hasn’t been the same.”

“There’s something I want to know. At least, before I take my next step.”

She batted her lashes, biting her lip. “What is it?” Her voice was shrill, thin and almost inaudible.

“How did Vladimir find out about Dalian?” Our eyes met and immediately she looked away as if she had seen a forbidden image. Her body trembled slightly as I shook my head impatiently in disappointment. “I’m listening, Ariel.”

“Trust me, I didn’t intend for him to find out…” Her voice cracked.

The betrayal stung so much I couldn't hold her gaze, so I walked out before she could continue her explanation. All the while I'd been thinking I had finally found a confidante, someone who could hold my secrets dear to her heart, but it just seemed like I was fated to never experience peace all through my existence.

I found Vladimir casually strolling through the hallway and I halted in my tracks. His gaze fell on me and he spun around without hesitation, trying to leave when his name slithered out of my throat.

“Vladimir.”

His shoulders went taut as he paused abruptly. He said nothing even while I drew closer to him until I was standing right in front of him.

“What’s the matter? Is Dalian doing well?”

I liked that he cared for our son, but why was he acting aloof with me? At this point, he was as unpredictable as the weather. One minute he was a sunny cloud and the next he was grey and gloomy. I didn't know which side of him I loved anymore.

“Dalian is fine, but he’s not why I’m here. I want us to talk.”

He scoffed and tucked his hands into the pocket of his black pants. “And what makes you think I want to talk to you about anything?” He replied callously.

The courage I had gathered before coming to him withered like plants in summer and I was seconds away from muttering the chants I learnt from a horror movie I’d watched a few years back just so I could disappear, but this wasn’t the time to test my disappearance skills. All my life, the only thing I knew how to do so well was running away, but not anymore.

I had to fight for what was mine.

I dug my teeth into my lower lip until I could taste blood coming out of it. “I shouldn’t have left.”

He tilted his head to the side, a shrug following. “What else do you have to say?”

“Umm,” My brain chose that moment to stop its primary function of interpreting and delivering words to my mouth because all I could do was stand there and gape at him.

“I’ll be on my way.”

I caught his forearm before he could move any further and blocked his path. “Please, Vladimir, I wasn’t in my best frame of mind! I was scared of what my father and Rocco would do if they found out that I broke off the engagement. The truce between the Bratva and the Famglia would be nullified and I didn’t want to be the reason for that.”

“If you knew about that, why then did you ask for my help? Do you know that the alliance is on the verge of annulment because of my actions?

“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

He shook his head sadly. “It should, you’re married to a man from the Famiglia, and do I need to remind you that you can’t divorce him unless you’re ready to lose your life?”

My heart sank as I tightened my grip on his arm. “You can’t possibly be serious about that.” I cried, envisaging how my whole world was about to crumble.

“You know the rules, I can’t help you with it.” He shoved my hands off him and held my chin in an unyielding grip, his brown orbs peering down at me in a steely and terrifying gaze that made me want to shrink so I could squeeze myself out of the situation, whatever it was.

“The only reason I helped you run away even after finding out that you got married to that bastard was because of Dalian. Hence, don’t ever try to talk to me unless it’s about my son. And one more thing, as soon as I find a house for the both of you, we will have to talk about co-parenting.

“And whenever Alessio comes to take you - oh, stop looking at me like you haven't thought about the possibility of that happening.” Somehow, his eyes didn't seem like the ones I'd grown to love. They left me naked and utterly vulnerable now.

“Bear this in mind, Guilia,” Guilia. Not buttercup. I was Guilia to him now.

“I. won’t. fight. for. you.”