Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AVELINA
The next day, I’m bringing Sofia back to play in the rec room after taking her to wash her hands.
We round the corner and find Matvey in the rec room with Leon already on his knee. Sofia sits next to them, making sure not to touch them. Matvey rolls out the puzzle mat with the latest incomplete puzzle ready and waiting.
I can’t help my smile.
I settle into one of the sofas, watching as Sofia begins to meticulously work on the puzzle pieces with Matvey. Viktor sits down beside me, still giving me plenty of room.
“My hands still smell like that fucking baby powder.” The words are said just outside the door of the rec room, and they’re close and loud enough for Viktor and me to hear clearly.
“Tell me about it. I was on diaper duty while the bitch napped yesterday. I still can’t get the shit smell out of my jacket.”
I stiffen and swallow thickly, but I try to pretend that I haven’t heard anything. I mean, changing diapers isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite job.
“I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, me either. Having to take care of her kids is too much.”
“We’re trained soldiers, not fucking babysitters.”
Viktor’s knuckles whiten as he tightens his fist on his thigh.
“She’s goddamn lazy, and the only thing she’s good at is using people. First Geliy and now Viktor.”
Acute embarrassment rolls through me like an out-of-control tidal wave.
The words sting, especially the judgment over my mothering skills.
I turn my head like I can’t hear them and try to focus on Leon’s squeal of laughter instead.
I’m a guest here, and I don’t want to cause any trouble or tension between Viktor and his men.
Viktor stands abruptly, startling me a little.
“Viktor?”
He ignores me.
“And after that Geliy dude called her such a flighty bitch? I mean, it’s obvious what sort of mom she is.”
“Yeah, a bad one. I mean, what sort of mom gets everyone else to look after her kids?”
They share another laugh, and my cheeks pinken as Viktor’s boots stomp heavily on the floor and around the corner. A thud against the wall makes the picture frames shudder. I exchange a glance with Matvey before I stand and hurry toward the door.
Exiting the rec room, I catch sight of Viktor dragging both men down the hall.
One of the men keeps running his mouth. “But Boss, her baby won’t stop fucking crying. And the mess—there’s toys and shit everywhere. We’re trying to fucking work and—”
“You don’t like the noise? I’ll cut your ears off,” Viktor hisses.
“You don’t like the toys? I’ll gouge your goddamn eyeballs out.
You don’t like her presence? Then get the fuck out!
” The sound that rips from his throat is closer to a snarl than words.
“You want to complain about crying children? Then do it while you’re digging your own fucking grave! ”
Matvey sprints off somewhere. And I rush down the hall as Viktor shoves the two soldiers into another room. But another thud followed by gasping and choking sounds makes me hesitate outside the door.
“I’ve got three fucking rules for you,” Viktor roars at them.
I peek around the door to see he’s got one large fist around each of the men’s necks, pinning them to the wall.
“One, you don’t cuss in front of the kids!”
I wince, another thud sounding as he rams both men against the wall to emphasize his point.
“Two, you don’t badmouth their mom. Ever! And three, if I order you to change a shit-filled diaper, you do it without a single fucking complaint, or I’ll cut your fucking tongues out! Got it?”
“I’m pretty sure shit counts as cussing, as does fucking. And the kids can probably hear you...with how loud you’re being,” one of the men gasps.
Viktor growls and grabs his knife.
Matvey rushes past me. “Don’t worry, Avelina, Nikolai is watching the kids,” he blurts out before bursting into the room where Viktor is. Grigory has also suddenly appeared.
I follow very slowly.
Grigory shoves an arm between Viktor and the men. “Okay, okay, they get it—we all do!’ he yells at Viktor.
“They get it, Viktor,” Matvey repeats as he eases Viktor’s hands away. “Put your knife away, yeah? We all get it.”
“I suggest you two get the fuck back to work,” Grigory snarls at the two soldiers. Then Grigory’s gaze swings toward me, and the icy look he shoots at me makes his feelings patently clear. He thinks I’m causing trouble between his men.
My eyes drop, and guilt gnaws at me from the inside. “I’m going to take the kids upstairs for a while,” I croak. “It’s almost nap time.”
“Good,” Grigory snaps.
Pivoting on my heel, I go back to the rec room. And scooping up Leon and taking Sofia by the hand, I flee upstairs. And I wonder if this is fate’s way of telling me that staying here with this man is a really, really bad idea…