Chapter 19
Dmitri
I took off my mask and fixed my butt on the bench in my garage, avoiding Vladimir’s puzzled gaze. This was one of the times he forgot that I wasn’t just the boss, but his elder brother.
However, I deserved the slight disrespect with the way I lost my temper and almost murdered her even though she caused it.
“Did you truly plan to unalive her? Did you even think of your actions before pulling out your knife?” He barked, pacing to and fro restlessly.
“Hey, I’m still the boss,” I reminded him, producing a pack of cigarettes from my breast pocket and I took out a stick.
My lighter wasn’t with me so he sighed in resignation and flicked it, lighting my stick.
Taking a slow drag and puffing out some smoke, I quietly repeated the same question he asked me and the response caused me to shiver.
“I can only thank you for walking in when you did. That little pest doesn’t know how to control her tongue,” I rasped, the image of how she froze and pleaded that I should stop popping into my head.
If Vladimir hadn’t come in, I might have listened to the little voices in my head and pushed through with the act that would cause a serious war between the Familia and the Bratva.
“What did she say to rile you up like that? I thought I bore the title for being on edge all the time,” He chuckled lightly and lighted a stick for himself.
I didn’t want to sound emotional so I shrugged and busied myself with taking more drags.
“Have you gotten any new information from those fuckers?” I deflected.
He glared at me for evading his question but he did not comment.
“One of them gave up the ghost this morning, I was coming to tell you that when I heard that Ariel had fainted. Those men aren’t willing to give up the truth so we have to use a new tactic,” He replied.
Fury slammed through me and I didn’t know when I shot to my feet and threw a punch against the wall. It hurt me that the attackers of my daughter were still running free and I didn’t know who they were.
I’d already envisaged the kind of torture that I’d give to them, I just had to catch them first.
“And what is Armen doing about it? Tell him to find the families of those morons and keep them until they confess the truth,” I thundered, my breaths bursting out in quick pants of rage.
His eyebrows climbed his forehead as he stood up as well. “That’s against your principle, Dmitri? When did we start hurting people’s families?”
“Well, they hurt mine first. They should know how it feels to be in my shoes and experience the fear of losing one’s loved ones,” I turned around to walk away and halted, sparing him a backward glance. “And the next time you return here, consigliere, please, come with good news,”
Returning to my room where Ariel was felt like a herculean task as I didn’t know how to face her. I hated the feeling of remorse that sprang up within me when I remembered how I assaulted her.
I had a daughter and I didn’t think I’d allow any man who laid a finger on her to remain alive.
Shit!
Running my fingers slowly through my hair while I got to the door and thinking of what to say to her made me feel like shit, but after taking some deep breaths, I gained the courage to walk in.
She glanced at me and quickly looked away, her fingers sliding to the cut on her neck.
My conscience pricked me instantly. I hated the feeling.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone was blunt and emotionless.
At least, she wasn’t giving me the silent treatment.
“I came to check on you…”
“And?” She cut in rudely.
She peered at me, her eyes bulging with expectation while I gave her a blank look. What did she think I’d say to her?
“Nothing…” I replied reluctantly.
Her tongue ran over her lips and she voiced silently, “Leave, please,”
“This is my room and I decide whether to stay or leave,”
She got up from the bed and removed the needle that was attached to the back of her palm, staggering to the door. I barreled toward her and caught her before she collapsed.
“Ariel,” I shook her vigorously.
She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply then struggled out of my grip and leaned on the wall.
“I know you hate that I waddled into your peaceful life and messed up your perfect setting, but how is that my fault? I didn’t ask to be married at a very young age, yet, I’m trying to be acquainted with everyone around me and the only way you can reward me is by trying to kill me,” She intoned huskily, her voice cracking and I could tell that she wanted to cry.
For some strange reason, my chest tightened and I didn’t like that her eyes were watery.
“I didn’t intend to hurt you like that. You crossed the line,”
She shook her head in disagreement. “No, I didn’t cross any freaking line. You just hate hearing the truth that everyone is scared of telling you,”
Waves of anger were beginning to build up again but I fought it. “None of what you said was true, Ariel. Let’s not bring up that matter again,”
“Yes,” She sniffed. “Let’s not bring it up again and if you don’t want me to call my father right now and tell him what you did to me, don’t ever show your face before me again,” She said authoritatively.
I scoffed in disbelief, propping my arms against my waist. “Are you trying to blackmail me right now? You are my wife, Ariel. What if I want you?” I argued.
“You can’t have me because I won’t allow it. I rather die than allow someone as despicable as you to touch me. So, dear husband, if you attempt to come within six meters from where I am. The alliance between you and my father will become null and void,”