The Don And His Flower

29

Five months

Imani capped the tip of her pen. The New Year had come quicker than she assumed. Folding the familiar lined paper, she put it in the small wooden box before her. Clasping the lock shut, she secured it back into its hole.

A new month.

A new letter.

Imani felt the small taps into her belly, eyes watery as she carefully pushed and pulled the cold dirt on top of the box. Covering it until it remained a smooth surface of mixed grass, snow and dirt. A few inches besides her deceased child, right below the willow tree.

Imani put her hands back on her knees, strong arms helping her stand as she felt Valis kiss her shoulder. Imani made the decision to keep her child, with nothing but the support of her husband keeping her moving.

Five months.

Five months. She had gone through with this child inside of her. Five months and she had canceled every single appointment regarding the gender.

She was scared to know, scared to know another confirmation that her child is in fact real. She didn't want to know, but didn't stop Valis from knowing. He bit his tongue, stayed quiet since the day he found out what his wife carried for him.

He followed her wishes, respected them.

In the further distance, the couple stood underneath the willow tree. His hands supported her belly as she leaned on his back. They looked at the pause of their soon to be constructed home. Valis had the builders sent home until the weather was better.

"I can't raise a baby in this compound Valis. Everyone is so kind, yes. But I want a home..not a mansion. Not a compound. But a home for our baby, for us."

He had the grounds cleared that following day. Foundation and workers nonstop until the winter hit last year. Now their future home remains unfinished, dry and cold. Hidden under multiple layers of tarp and other plastic.

What excited her the most was the willow tree also being part of their large back yard.

The moan left her lips, softly. Head to the side as she felt the small lift he gave to her belly. "My back is already killing me. Thank you." She murmured, letting him kiss her flesh. He murmured, eyes leaving the cold sky as he kept his hold for only a few more minutes.

She breathed slowly, feeling his hands carefully lower her belly. The medium sized pudge moved in response to losing the comforting touch of the father. They stood out there for another minute, Imani silently protesting as Valis led her back to their compound.

"Have you spoken with your brother? It's the new year, Valis..don't you think you should call him?"

The man recalled the recent argument he had with his brother. It wasn't the best, considering that he had learned their father was still in captivity. Still thrown and tossed into such positions. For almost over a half year, his father has endured such torture. All nonstop, only when the rotating men were tired or hungry.

He loves his brother, only to a certain extent. Surely it was only fair for it to be the same way for Nikolai. But the man didn't understand Valis or his point of view. Nikolai left Sontarc, he left due to the fact that he couldn't handle the lifestyle of the Mafia. He loves the luxury, but couldn't handle what comes from it. Valis doesn't have that luxury, being the firstborn.

As much as Valis tried to make his point across, Nikolai wouldn't and still won't understand.

Nikolai has no say in what happens to their father. 

"Valis."

He loves his brother. He doesn't want this to make them enemies. But there can't be a moment of peace in his mind if their father lives. He can't stand under that willow tree, knowing their father walked the earth.

"Valis."

The eldest son couldn't look at his child, growing inside his wife knowing that she was given such luck to be able to conceive another.

"Valis! Stop it."

He gasped, chest heaving as he looked around his surroundings. Soft skin touched his wrist. Eyes following the dark skin of her arm, fingertips touching his wrist under the sink.

Grapes.

She wanted grapes.

He was rinsing a cup for her to get her some grapes.

The stinging was soft, quick but kept coming as small streams of blood hit the sink. The glass remained broken, three shards nicked into his palm. He breathed slowly, watching her hands take over. The water remained, easing Imani and her nerves as Valis watched her carefully remove them.

Lukewarm water turned off as layers of paper towels were fisted in his palm.

"Valis?"

He was now on the edge of their bed, breathing finally controlled as he came to. He loves Imani. Will do anything to make sure his hands would be the only one harming the tight curls in her hair.

He heard such soft velvet call out for him once more. Her face in view as she lowered to her knees. Swollen belly, swollen tits, swollen lips. Dark brown eyes looked up at him as she palmed his face.

Was she his punishment?

The men who abused her innocence, the men who raped her. They're all dead.

Only two remained, his father and him.

Michael Kholodov and Valis Kholodov.

His father was locked away, starved and abused on a daily basis. The fact those soldiers are capable of still keeping an erection without popping a Viagra is amazement itself.

But what was the punishment for Valis Kholodov?

Was it Imani? Was he supposed to live out his days, watching the woman he defiled in a filthy bathroom raise his kids? Was he supposed to live knowing that what happened to her was all his fault?

That the only reason she was targeted was because he kissed her that day? In front of everyone? Told his father that he bled her?

Was living the only suitable punishment for Valis Kholodov?