His head snaps up in shock at my words. His mouth opens then shuts, before his eyes narrow, and he composes himself.
“Your father did this to you?” His words are calm, as though we’re speaking of the weather. It’s the calm hiding the hurricane of wrath within him.
“He stopped being my father a long time ago.” I need him to know that. I need him to know that I don’t relate to Viktor. That I don’t claim him.
“Because of this? He’s done this before?” That same even tone is used as he inspects my wounds. But the tremble of his hands betrays his façade.
“Yes,” I murmur, transfixed by him. My husband cares for me. I know he does. Viktor is wrong.
“When did it start?” I hiss when he lightly touches my nose, and he quickly jerks his fingers back.
“After ???? died. I was seven.” For the first time ever, I’m allowed to feel the pain and hurt. I’m allowing myself to feel what he’s done to me. My own father.
A small tear trickles down my cheek, but before I can wipe it away, I’m crushed against my husband’s large chest. One hand holds my head against his shoulder, while the other rubs my back. He’s not gentle with his comfort, despite his best efforts, but it’s what I need. I need his overbearing aggressive reassurance.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Katerina. That fucker doesn’t deserve to even be on the same planet as you. He will never touch you again. No one will. I swear on my life.” The confidence in his promise fills me with relief. Despite the reality of the situation, I believe him. He won’t ever let me get hurt again.
After a few minutes, he calls the Syndicate doctor to come check on me. I assure him I’m fine, but he won’t be dissuaded. When the doctor confirms a broken nose and rib, Dominic curses and paces furiously.
We have a calm evening, then head to bed. Despite my attempt, there’s no fun time. I know he’s scared of hurting me. When I assure him that I’ve been in worse pain before, it sets him off again, and he leaves to calm down. Eventually he returns and holds me until I fall asleep.
Chapter 44
Dominic
My watch notifies me of a text from Bash confirming the preparation. With one last glance at my sleeping wife, I sneak out of bed.
I know my actions are about to break the treaty. But in my eyes, he broke it first when he hurt a member of the Syndicate. The most important member. And for that, he must pay.
Unfortunately, I can’t kill him without causing a war. It’s the only thing keeping me from doing so.
Finding out about her childhood, of the hell he put her through, his own daughter, almost destroyed me. I was so consumed by anger that I had to lock it up. I had to put on my mask of composure, so I didn’t scare my wife. I was murderous, bloodthirsty. I still am, but now I’m rational.
After a quick debate between tactical wear or a suit, I land on the latter. I’m a man of business; I can threaten while still dressing with class.
It takes all my effort to drive the speed limit on the way to the ostentatious mansion my wife was raised and abused in.How many memories does she have of those halls that are full of pain? Does she even have any good memories? My heart clenches at the realization.
The gate opens as my car approaches thanks to Bash’s hacking skills. When I’m parked close to the front door, I exit and storm the stairs.
The banging of my fists on the wooden door echoes through the night. I don’t stop my pounding until it opens, then I push inside. I storm pass the furious woman who shouts at me in Russian.
“VIKTOR! COME OUT!” I bellow, storming down the hallway.
I make it halfway to his office when he slips out the door. To my dismay, he doesn’t look rattled. He doesn’t even look surprised. It’s as if he was expecting me. His lazy, sinister grin adds gasoline to my fury.
The only condolence I have is that his nose is broken. There are even red marks around his neck. At least my strong, fighting wife was able to land some blows. She was able to fight back just as hard. She didn’t revert back to the scared, small porcelain doll she was under his reign.
I storm towards him and when he’s in arms reach, I throw him against the wall. His neck is trapped by my hand, pinning him. My other arm punches his torso repeatedly. I don’t stop until I feel the crunches of ribs. If my wife has broken ribs by him, then he’ll have broken ones by me.
I lean into him until my face is a breath away from his. I ignore the sick smirk on his face. The look in his eyes as if he knows something I don’t.
“Let me make one thing clear, Viktor. Treaty be damned, if you ever lay a finger on my wife again, I’ll kill you. I don’t give a damn about the consequences and fall outs. She is mine. Andyou will not touch her.” My voice is so low I barely recognize it. I punctuate my threat by clenching my fist even tighter as I choke him.
He tries to speak but can’t get words out with my tight grip. I loosen my fists only enough to allow him the air to speak.
“Is that so? So, she’s betrayed me? She’s confessed everything to you? I guess the jig is up.” He raises a questioning brow at me. “And Yelena, calm down! No need to sound up a storm. He can’t kill me.”
I ignore his directions to his maid, who’s been yelling for help. I’ll be gone before the soldiers arrive anyways.
