The Don And His Flower

31

Eight months.

Skin and bones.

Flesh and nothing more.

Valis looked at the familiar stench room. Familiar faces of the repeating soldiers were all fixing their pants, reclasping their belts.

Some drank small glasses of alcohol, some drank water, some smoked a cigar. But they all had shared the ecstasy of a massive release.

On the blood stained mattress, lay a skinny man. A man who lost his muscles, his men, and his mind. Cradling his knees to his chest, Michael Kholodov laid on his side.

It was the middle of the night once again. Valis had left his woman in their bed. Walked to the main compound to pay another visit to his father. "I'm sure..you're wondering why I haven't killed you yet. Honestly, I'm wondering the same thing. I'm wondering why I've neglected to tell my wife I found you. To tell her about the things you've endured since being captive. Nikolai isn't saying much of anything to me right now."

He sighed, the familiar seat in his view as he sat down. "I can't find it in my heart to care anymore. Not about you, about Nikolai, about Maroni, none of it. Especially not when my son has my wife bedridden until he's born. But still, I know she'll be waking up soon. Sneaking out to watch me leave the compound. She's suspicious about me, dad." He scoffed at the name he still called Michael Kholodov.

Dad.

"My woman is suspicious about why I've snuck out in the middle of the night and come here for the past few months. You think I should tell her? Should I write a letter to my deceased heir? Explain how long justice-"

"Fuck you."

Such a small whimper. First words in almost a year. And it was an insult.

"Fuck me? I don't think you are in any position to make such a comment like that."

The man whimpered, tears spilling as his face was red, anger and exhaustion in his face as he felt the tears fall from his face. Picking his head up, he sneered at his son. "The bastard will never hold my legacy. You fucking c-coward."

Buzzing in his phone made him nod slowly.

6:30 a.m.

Imani should be waking up by now, wobbling her way out of bed to see her husband leaving the compound through the window.

She'll be surprised to see who he brings with him. "Legacy? You are beyond correct. My son, and my children after him. They will never follow in your fucking footsteps. Not when I'm the one who will raise them."

His father had a quivering lip. Crying softly as Valis stood over him. He was swift, dragging the man over to the familiar waters. He groaned, body wiggling and tense as he was dropped on the concrete. Valis put the familiar long gloves, tightening the ends when they stopped above his elbows.

"We'll do a bit more humiliation."

Michael Kholodov craned his neck, wincing and cursing before he was pushed underneath the water, head only. Valis watched one of the soldiers fall on one knee, the other planted up as he shoved into the body rattling man.

The assault continued for hours, the near drowning only stopping just to continue right after.

"Don't stop." Valis watched the mens ejaculation drip on the floor, ordering the rotation to continue.

"You want evil? You want to see the man you raised me to be? This is who I am father. A man who will happily burn you to death. Knowing that everything I've done to you, will never be enough to make up what happened to my woman." He spoke loud, letting his muffled words go into the water blocked ears of his father.

"Valis-" his elder reflection tried to negotiate, failing miserably.

"Imagine, all of this could've been avoided, had you accepted her as your daughter in law so long ago. Had you never ordered the hit on your own people. Had you not let your shitty ego blind your common sense." Valis pushed his father back underneath the brown colored water. His cries muffled as the next man lined up, shoving himself deep while giving brutal punches to the man's stomach.

***

9:30 a.m.

Imani woke back up after not seeing her husband. She was around the compound early in the morning, watching and greeting everyone as she gave herself daily rounds of exercise. Walking and waddling her way around another corner, she found herself looking into a small library. A homeschooling teacher reading to a small group of almost sleeping children.

It'll be her baby in that group soon. Painting and singing lullabies. She smiled, waving at the teacher who caught her. Walking into the room, she was nearly bulldozed by the curious kids.

She sat on the offered seat, the teacher grabbing her some water as she opened it carefully. "Does it hurt?"

"It looks like a balloon!"

"Wait so how did it get there?"

"My mommy told me a baby fairy puts them in you!"

Imani giggled, coils tied up into a bun as she tried to hold all the fruit snack packs the little hands shoved into her grip.

"My mommy says that you have to eat in order for the baby to be strong. Want one?" Her hands happily accepted the half eaten cookie, placing it on a napkin to throw away when they weren't looking. "Is it true that only two people who love each other can have a baby?"

Her voice was barely heard as she tried to speak among the chattering children.

They handed her a book, replacing her for their teacher as they wanted to hear her read Humpty Dumpty. They were so accepting of her, it's what she loves the most about kids.

Obviously they did not know of how she sustained her wounds, but they just knew she had a soft voice. Almost like their voices were soft..sometimes.

She opened the book, clearing her throat and was ready to read to most of the eager kids. The first word was barely out before the library door slammed open, a nerve struck maid had two armed guards behind her.

"Mrs. Kholodov!"