VLAD (The V Games #1)(55)

I shudder, but that makes my sore body ache. The fall down the stairs hurt, and I know I’ll be wearing bruises for days, but overall, I’m fine. I just want to change out of this ruined dress and soak in a hot bath.

My mind keeps drifting to the look on his face.

Amber eyes blazing with hate.

I close my own to try to focus on them. He was angry for me. Killed Anton for me. I know it with every ounce of my being. He wanted revenge. To slaughter the man who hurt me. Despite all the fighting and death this evening, a small inkling of warmth provides me comfort.

Tomorrow, I’ll check on Diana, and then I’ll go to him.

“You’re staying here now,” Father says, as if reading my thoughts, as he enters his office where Vas and I have been waiting. I jerk my head up and pop my eyes open. My neck aches in protest. He tucks his cell phone into his pocket.

“W-What?”

“Diana has made a mockery of our name, and I will not put my other daughter at risk. I need to clean up this mess.”

Sitting across from me, he gives me a smug smile, then pushes the ledger across the table. “Besides, you have work to do here. Work that doesn’t seem to get done the correct way in your absence.”

Vas stiffens from beside me. For a moment, I feel sorry for him. Father’s love is fleeting, and Vas will soon learn that. I hope he enjoyed his time in the limelight because now he’ll spend the rest of his life not being good enough for Leonid Volkov. None of his children ever are.

I start to reach for the ledger, but wince in pain. Vas reaches past me and grabs it. He settles it in my lap before sitting rigidly next to me, his focus on me.

“I can help you with the books, but tomorrow, I want to go home,” I tell my father, my voice slightly cracking. It’s not often I stand up to him.

He sneers. “Don’t be foolish, child. You’re never going back there. I’ll send Vas for your things, but you are home now. Safe. And you’ll do as you’re told until I can arrange for your marriage to Artur Voskoboynikov.”

“I’m not marrying him!” I screech.

“Irina,” Vas utters beside me as he touches my knee.

I swat him away. “No, I am not like Diana. I will not be forced into marriage with someone I don’t love.”

Father laughs, and it’s cruel and mocking. “Love? You’re a Volkov, dear. We don’t love. We do business, and we’re good at it. You, child, are a pawn in this and you’ll do your part. You’ll all do your parts.”

“You promised us,” I choke out, my tone accusing. “You promised us both that we were just as good as the men of our world. That we can rule the empire and marry whom we chose.”

He slams his palm on his desk. “Enough. Your mother filled your head with that nonsense, not me. You will marry who I determine benefits us the most.”

“No—” I start again, but Father waves me off.

“You’ll do as your told,” he snarls.

“I need to go check on Diana,” I bite out as I stand. I’m still weak and dizzy, and the room spins. Vas rises and wraps an arm around me to keep me from crashing to the floor. He may be an asshole, but right now, he’s the best asshole in the room.

“Diana is safe,” Father says. “I just got off the phone with Yegor Vetrov. She is to stay there for the time being. Hopefully, she’ll be able to use her charms on one of the Vetrov men and redeem the shame she’s brought upon us all.” He scowls at me. “The eldest has always been sought after. Not even little Vika Vasiliev could land Veniamin. But your sister will try if she values her family reputation. She owes us a debt. And now the Vasilievs will want retribution. We need to strengthen our name with that of our allies. Then we can finally squeeze out the Vasilievs. We’ll become the most powerful family with Vas running the front here, Diana marrying Veniamin, and you marrying Artur.”

“I’m not going to marry Artur!” I cry out, my knees buckling.

Vas hugs me to him and breathes against my hair. “Shut up, Irina. Just let it go for now.”

I squirm against him, but I’m too weak, and Vas is built like a machine. “Please, Father.”

“It is done. I’ll negotiate with Iosif to see if Ivan will marry you instead. That would be better than Artur, but I cannot make miracles happen. This is the best we can hope for at the time.”

A loud crash resounds from somewhere in the house, then several loud gunshots. I scream in horror and Vas drags me to the corner of the office out of the line of fire. He draws a weapon with his free hand and points toward the door. Father already has his piece pointed at the door.

The hairs on my arm stand on end as though a storm is coming. I can feel the charge in the air. The crackle and hum as the entity nears. My heart leaps in my chest, and I try to pull away from Vas.

“Irina,” Vas hisses.

A beast enters the room. Wild and untamed. Dark hair hanging in his eyes, his face splattered with blood.

Vlad.

He carries a machine gun and keeps it pointed at my father as his violent eyes search me out. The moment his lock with mine, they flash with relief. I let out a sob and reach a trembling arm in the air.

“Irina, come,” Vlad growls, his voice low and deadly. I’ve never seen him like this. As though he’s a demon recently escaped from hell, determined to wreak havoc on the earth.