Page 74 of Volatile Waters

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Chance Attraction

Exiting the basement of my home, I was confronted with quite the sight. A guard was standing in a corner, laughing at someone else’s expense, of course. Wild screams were shrieking throughout the foyer. Feeling as if I were the parental figure needed, I sneered, “Father,” seeing Valerie hanging in the air, over the railing, from the second story.

Holding the tiny girl from under her frantic arms, Father peered around her, then smiled. “Yury!” Knowing he wasn’t smiling at the sight of me but that I had perfect timing, I walked forward while he asked, “How was the private session with Wolf? Invigorating, I hope.”

Valerie wore a T-shirt but nothing else. I had quite the view from below. Father’s hands released Valerie as he laughed at his horrid humor, not caring whether or not she survived the fall. My arms stretched out as Valerie wailed in terror, anticipating her upcoming death. When she landed in my embrace, she gawked at me, then threw her sweaty arms around my neck, wrapped her bare legs around my waist, and howled her tears.

She wasn’t adapting well. Seeing her present treatment, it wasn’t exactly shocking.

I glanced up with a tad of irritation, due to the weeping in my ear. “Father, must you mistreat our guest?”

He switched to English to further terrorize Valerie. “Oh, Yury, always with the dramatics.” He headed down the stairs. “This vile creature is not our guest. She is a whore that has bewitched your cousin.”

Walking past us, he tugged on her hair.

Valerie squealed and tightened her hold on my neck.

Choking, I scoffed, “Not appreciating your humor, Father.”

He headed down the hallway toward the kitchen. “She needs to be soiled.”

To keep Father from getting any more ideas, I lied, “Has already been done.”

Valerie jolted in my arms, confused by my lie.

Father spun on his Louis Vuitton shoes. “By whom?”

“My semen leaked from her womb and core, yet here she is.” Confident Valerie wasn’t going to release me, seeing how her life literally depended on it, I lifted my arms to show how she was glued to me. “See? Now, will you please stop your childish games? They are tiresome.”

The lie worked. Father pondered, his finger to his mouth. “Is killing her an option?”

His overpaid minion in the corner dared to step forward. Valerie whimpered. I pulled the gun from the back of my slacks and pointed it at the minion’s head. We locked eyes. He stopped moving, trying to read how serious I was. With a double meaning, I warned the minion while telling my father, “Kirill did not choose to follow that order, due to his claim.” The minion retreated to his corner. Putting my gun away, I glanced back at my father. “If you wish not to respect Kirill’s claim on her, hear mine. She is not to be harmed.”

He closed his eyes and dipped his chin. It was a false agreeance. I was sure of it, so I retrieved my cellphone and texted Kirill:

Valerie is with me. My father was terrorizing her again.

As I walked up the stairs, he texted back:

I need a better lock on my door

Agreed

Almost home

Valerie whimpered in my shoulder. “Your dad is awful.”

I unlocked my bedroom door. “This is truer than you know.” As I walked us inside, she pulled her face back enough to see my eyes. Her expression was full of shock and horror. “Yes. Stay clear of him, if at all possible.”

She lifted the black rhinestone leash attached to her collar. Kirill had given her ‘bling’ in attempts to buy back her love. Understandably, she was irate to wake in another country; one she had specified to no longer be interested in. The bribe was not a success. Valerie had been sneaking about, trying to escape ever since. That is why Father had her over the balcony.

I nodded at the leash. “That is the only reason you are still alive.” Then I stared at her, hoping she would cease her futile attempts.

A burst of tears broke free before she could muffle them. “I hate it here. Crash was right—” I dropped her to the floor, causing her to yelp. From my mauve plush carpet, she studied me. “You regret killing him, don’t you?”

Done with the conversation, I left her where she sat. “I’m taking a shower.” I stopped entering my bathroom when I heard her scurrying behind me. “Valerie, what are you doing?”