VAS (The V Games Book 3), page 8
“You’re up early,” Vlad says, his voice cool and impassive. Sometimes he reminds me so much of Molokh. A shudder ripples through me.
“It’s a good time to study the Word,” I whisper. When Irina gifted me the Bible, I cried. Molokh certainly never allowed me to have one…or read anything, for that matter.
He furrows his brows and leans against the bookshelf, staring down at me. “You look like her.”
I widen my eyes and try not to tremble. “Your mother?”
“Our mother,” he says with a nod. But instead of looking angry or half in love like Molokh, he seems happy. Of course he’s not smiling. I don’t think any man besides Vas ever does, but his eyes are soft. You can tell a lot about a man in his eyes. Either evil or good lurks there. There really is no in between.
“Are you angry?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m happy to learn I have another sister.” He kneels in front of me, pulls the Bible from my grip, sets it down on the table beside me, then takes my hand. “I’m sorry, Darya. This life is wicked, and it’s one I’m responsible for running. Had I known I had another sister…” he trails off, his jaw clenching. “The tests prove we’re siblings. I just want you to know I’ll spend the rest of my days giving you what you are rightfully owed.”
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“But there are factors out of my control. Factors that could leave you vulnerable and ripe for the picking,” he growls. “And that is why you cannot stay here at the moment.”
I flinch at his words as terror rises in my chest. “W-What?”
His gaze softens. “Vas is taking the Voskoboynikov girl to Moscow to train with the Vetrovs. I think you need to meet them. They’re fucking bizarre as hell, but…” he sighs, “Vas will keep you safe. Just stick with him and let him protect you. Plus, you don’t need to stay cooped up in this house. You’ve been…kept…long enough. I think it’d do you some good to get out there and get some exposure to the real world.”
“Okay,” I whisper. As long as Vas is there, I won’t be afraid.
“But know this, dear sister,” he says in a sweet, gentle tone. “You belong with me and my family. You’re under Vasiliev protection now. If someone hurts you, I’ll disembowel them myself. Are we clear?”
A ripple of unease engulfs me. The look of violence in his eyes sends a chill through my blood. “Darya, I don’t ever want to see this look on your face when you look at me. You never have to fear me. I will always protect you from this day forth. You are my sister, my blood. Do you understand that?”
My lips tremble as I nod and try the sentence I’ve thought about since finding out about the possibility of Vlad being a relation. “Thank you…my brother.”
His Adam’s apple bobs, and he looks away, standing quickly. “Go on and pack up. You’ll be leaving soon,” he instructs, his voice raspy and choked.
Did I upset him?
“I didn’t mean…”
“I am your brother,” he says sharply. “You are allowed to call me that. You can call me whatever the hell you want. You’re not some mule in a cage. You’re the daughter to a very powerful family, and that means you are to be held in the highest honor.”
“Thank you, brother.”
This time, he does smile at me.
“There!” Alyona shouts, pointing to the building with a line wrapped around the corner. “Klub Chernyy. Oh my God, I’ve been dying to go here since they opened this place. It’s not fair they let in their precious Vassy, but not me. I tried once, you know.”
Vas snorts, but his smile shows his amusement. “And how’d that go for you?”
“The bouncer didn’t let me in,” Alyona gripes. “I told him I was a Voskoboynikov and he laughed. Fucking laughed! The gall, that fat asshole. My friends and I had to go up the street to some lame-ass bar. That was the one time my tits failed me.”
“Your tits can’t win every argument for you,” Vas says, chuckling.
“Well, I’ve since learned how to use them a little better,” Alyona explains. “I bet that bouncer would be eating out of my palm now. In fact, I’m going to tell him—”
“You’re not going to tell him anything,” Vas grumbles. “We’re going in the back anyway. You have an early morning tomorrow, so it’s best if you get up to the apartment and go to bed.”
“Oh, hell no, Vassy Volkov! Are you kidding? You can’t drag me all damn day across Russia to the best club in the country only to tell me to go to bed. Fuck no. I’m going dancing. Little V, you like to dance? Did they let you dance at the convent?”
I let out a small giggle. She’s like no one I’ve ever met before. Some of the elders got really excited during the services and would flail around, but that’s about it. “Not really, no. But…” I bite on my bottom lip. Something about these two makes me want to tell them my silly stories.
“Spill, jelly bean,” Alyona says. “I know there’s a story. Probably a super boring one because it’s churchy and all, but I still have to know.”
“You’re such an asshole,” Vas groans as we turn down a dark alley on the side of the building.
“Duh,” Alyona chirps. “Tell me, woman.”
“Well, it was frowned upon to go out at night, but sometimes, I would sneak off to go pray in the garden under the stars…” I trail off as I remember the smell of mint and sounds of the crickets.
“Such a rebel,” Alyona says with amusement.
“And I’d dance. Not like the flailing they did in church. Just spin and dip and bounce.” I sigh and smile. “I always felt alive in the moonlight, but that’s because the devil likes to prey on us in the cover of night so all things feel better under the cloak of the stars. It’s a trick of sin,” I inform poor Alyona, who probably had no idea she is the perfect embodiment of temptation and sin.
“Well, I don’t know about the moon making you sin, but I saw that cute ass at the service station and I have to say, I bet that bounce brings all the boys to the yard and sinners out to play,” Alyona teases.
“There will be no bringing of any fucking boys to the yard,” Vas bites out as we pull up to a garage bay behind the building. “I’ll kill them.”
I flinch and send Alyona a panicked look. She simply rolls her eyes and mouths, “He’s just jealous.”
My flesh heats, and she winks at me. Vas doesn’t want any boys coming around because he wants me all to himself?
“Hey, man,” Vas says to a guy in a black suit.
“Volkov,” the guy greets. “Your spot is open. The maids have cleaned up the apartment you prefer. Rodion said you only needed one. Is that correct, sir?” he asks, tracking his gaze between the three of us.
“Yeah, I like to keep them where I can see ’em. One is good,” Vas instructs.
The guy goes to mash the button to allow us access, then bends to look at Vas. “You fighting?”
“Training,” Vas grunts.
“Let me know if you fight. I’ll get someone to cover my shift so I can watch.”
Vas nods before driving into the underground garage.
“Creepy much?” Alyona huffs. “That guy had a major dude crush on you. ‘Let me know if you fight because I want to lick the sweat off your abs after,’” she mocks in a deep, manly voice.
My eyes widen at the image flashing through my mind, and I bow my head to whisper a silent Hail Mary.
“You’re an idiot, Voskoboynikov,” Vas grumbles.
“Your favorite one,” she sings back.
I’m amused at their banter. Everyone in Vlad’s house is so serious and somber. Sometimes, I hear Irina’s giggles echoing down the halls, but it’s not often. These two seem to like to poke fun at each other, but in a familiar, friendly way.
We get out of the car, and I stretch my limbs. Vas’s gaze is on mine. All humor is gone as his eyes roll down my body. Normally, when men look at me, I feel ashamed. But Vas is different. I like being under his heated stare. It makes me want to spin around so he can see all of me. A blush creeps across my skin. His blue eyes harden, and his jaw flexes.
“Come on, Darya,” he instructs, holding his hand out to me. “Stay close. If they know you’re with me, they’ll leave you alone.” Then he barks over his shoulder, “You’re on your own, kid.”
Alyona laughs as she clomps along in her heels past us. The sweater is gone, leaving a black, skintight tank top.
“Don’t worry, Vassy. I can handle myself.”
Vas shakes his head and hands a man some cash and his keys as we pass. “Will you put the luggage in my apartment?”
“Of course, sir,” the man says.
Alyona, just ahead of us, opens a heavy steel door, and the loud beat of the music spills out. It’s dark, with an insidious vibe that sends a shiver of fear rippling through me.
Vas leans closer, his hot breath tickling my hair. “I’ve got you.” His hand squeezes mine, and some of the tension bleeds from me. “And whatever you do, don’t take anything the Vetrovs give you.”
Nodding, I allow him to guide me down a hallway and through another set of doors where it gets even louder. People are everywhere. I’m dazzled by all the extreme outfit choices. Furry coats and shimmery fabrics. Glittery makeup and pink hair. I’ve never seen anything like it. Someone tries to hand me a glass, but Vas gives the man a shove. He stumbles away back into the crowd. When Vas turns to look at me, the whites of his eyes are even brighter under the strange purple lights. He grins, and his teeth light up. Wolfish and evil, yet I’m still not afraid of him.
Alyona is just ahead of us dancing as she walks. Several men gawk at her. I can understand why too. She’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a woman so pretty before in all my life. If I could imagine what an angel looked like, maybe she’d fit the bill. But she’s not a good angel. She’s slightly wicked. And oddly enough, that’s part of her charm.
Am I becoming wicked too?
A pang of sadness stabs at me. It’s as though I was destined for wickedness from the start. My temptress ways. Then getting taken and used by Molokh. Only to learn I share the blood of one of Russia’s most notorious men. And now? Now, I feel comfortable with Alyona and Vas—two people who are far from good, but who I like, nonetheless.
Vas reaches forward and taps her shoulder before she heads out to the dance floor. He points to an area hidden away by dark curtains. Her eyes widen, and she smiles before strolling that way. When the man guarding the area sees Vas, he nods and pulls the curtains back.
Guiding me farther into the space, Vas rubs a palm between my shoulder blades in a comforting manner. He stops by a leather couch and smiles, looking into my eyes. “I’ll be right back,” he says before releasing me. He saunters over to two men in a heated discussion, bear hugging them both. The three men playfully punch and laugh, then he says something to them before pointing to me.
The music is so loud, it vibrates through my body. My arms hang loosely by my sides, and the urge to find a shadowy corner to slink into becomes intense.
“Douchebag can’t even introduce us to the hottest guys in the club? Damn, look at them. Thank the Lord for creating such beauty, right?” Alyona yells over the music, nudging me with her shoulder.
“You want to pray?” I ask her, confused by her words.
She looks down at me, snorting. “Fuck no. I’m not the religious type. I guess we’ll have to introduces ourselves. Come on, Little V.”
Linking her fingers with mine, she prances over to them, then taps Vas on the shoulder. When the three men turn around, two of them stare at her, hunger in their eyes. The third—Vas—looks over at me, and the look in his eyes is one I would compare to the other two.
I knew I shouldn’t have eaten all the chocolate by myself.
“Boys, this is Vlad’s sister,” he introduces, his eyes searing into me.
“This isn’t Vika,” one of them points out.
Vas’s smile brightens his entire face. “No, she is not. This is Darya.” He taps the man on the chest. “It’s a long story for another time.” He nods toward Alyona. “And this monster is yours.”
Alyona glowers at him.
“Ours?” the one with light skin and hard eyes says loudly.
“Yours to train,” Vas belts out. “Rodion, she’s the Voskoboynikov you are going to help me with.”
The other man with the dark skin frowns. “We already have a Voskoboynikov. He’s fighting in the cage right now.”
Alyona and Vas exchange a confused stare.
“Ivan’s here?” Vas barks out. “What the hell, Zahkar? You know I wouldn’t just send someone and leave them to you. I’m not your bearded idiot cousin.”
Zahkar smirks. “Don’t let that bearded idiot cousin hear you call him that. Come. Let’s go see your…” he trails off as he regards Alyona, “brother?”
She rolls her eyes. “My asshole brother, so we’re clear. And it would have been nice to know he’s taking my place before we drove halfway across Russia to get here! Although, does that mean I get to party after all?” She beams, hopeful.
“He’s not taking your place,” Vas snaps. Anger is palpable in the air surrounding us, and my insides squirm. The heavy dread from the past months, living at the hand of such anger, causes my hands to shake.
Rodion slides an arm around Alyona’s waist and pulls her to him like he knows her intimately. “No, Vas has made it clear you’re ours. He can’t take back those words now.” He licks his full lips as he blatantly checks out her breasts.
“Beat it, beautiful,” she bites out, shoving him away. “You may be charming as fuck, but I’m pissed. Take me to my brother.”
Rodion’s lips curl up in a sinister grin that makes me shiver. “If you demand it so, my queen.”
She tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder and struts off, her round bottom jiggling along the way. I find myself staring at her, wishing I was half as pretty and confident.
Envy.
The sin is a new one. Usually, I don’t notice people, much less grow envious of them.
Vas slides a protective arm over my shoulders, pulling me close. “Those are Ven Vetrov’s cousins. They are the ones you need to stay away from.”
I turn and look up at him. This close, I can smell him. My mouth waters to see if he tastes just as good. The unease from moments before ebbs with his skin on mine. “But you’re giving Alyona to them? Will they hurt her?”
He shakes his head. “I’m more worried about her hurting them. She may be a skinny bitch, but she’s feral.” He smirks.
“I trust you.” I find the words spilling free. It’s the truth.
He stops and stares down at me with such intensity, my knees almost buckle. “Trust me?”
“To not let her get hurt. She’s my friend now.” I beam at him proudly.
His palm lifts and he runs his thumb along my jaw. “I won’t break your trust, Darya. Ever.” The soft kiss he presses to my forehead lights my soul on fire.
Can an angel have such an affect?
A fallen one can.
And why doesn’t that terrify the living daylights out of me?
Because it’s Vas Volkov, that’s why.
She trusts me. Fuck me, I’m in trouble with this girl. It feels like she’s taking me apart to see inside me and then leaving parts of her in her wake as she does.
Bringing her into the club wasn’t something I’d planned on. I was going to get her settled down in the apartment before coming to see the cousins, but the thought of leaving her where I wasn’t, even if it’s in the same building, just didn’t sit right.
I want to be wherever the fuck she is.
I need to have her in my sight. To see this is really happening. She’s not trapped there with Yuri anymore. She’s fucking free—free with me.
It’s strange how things work out. Like I knew she was going to be a part of my life before I could actually know that. I’ve never really been a believer in fate, but it’s hard to deny it when it’s happening to you.
We reach the private elevator that takes us to where the real action is below. Her soft body pushes against mine when the space becomes limited, and I sense it—her desire toward me. It’s in her short, quick intake of breath and the way her teeth burrow into her bottom fat lip. My heart begins to pound as blood rushes down to my cock. I don’t want to scare her by prodding her with the fucking thing, so I adjust myself and smile tightly, counting the seconds until the door pings open.
A rush of adrenaline hits me when the roars of the fighting circle engulf us. Rodion nods in the direction of Ivan stepping into the ring. His opponent is wider, taller, and heavyset, standing opposite him, blood already crusted on his chest and hands from his wins.
“You want me to stop him?” Rodion asks, quirking a questioning brow.
“No,” I state with a smirk. This can be a lesson for Alyona.
She’s already pushed through the crowd to get a better view, not realizing the cousins have their own secluded area where they often sit like two gods poised on a throne, dictating the actions of others and sometimes joining if they’re thirsty for blood.
My muscles tighten over my bones when the first punch lands with a crunching sound and the cheers ignite the room with an indescribable buzz. It makes me hungry to compete.
A soft, warm hand slides into mine, weakening me. Darya looks up at me through her thick eyelashes, uncertainty flickering in her brown eyes. This may be too much, too soon. Her mouth is moving, but the crowd is too loud to hear what she’s saying. I lean down, stiffening when her plump lips brush against my ear.
“Can we move closer?” she asks, and a laugh bubbles from within me.
She’s full of fucking surprises.
I nod, then grip her hand in mine.
“He’s good,” Rodion acknowledges, observing Ivan as he lands a flurry of blows to the bigger fighter. “Confident,” he adds.
“Cocky,” I correct, watching as Ivan basks in the support of the masses, spending too much time lifting his arms in victory before making sure his opponent is finished.
