The Don And His Flower

37

Imani fisted the letter in her hand.

Underneath the willow tree, Imani sat underneath the sun. Her resting one year old laid belly first on a thin sheet besides his mother.

One year.

Since Imani and Valis had welcomed Xander into the world, it's been only a year.

A year that her husband had still maintained the position of being the Kholodov Don, despite her unspoken wishes. Granted, nothing bad has come from it. As far as Imani had knowledge of, nothing bad at all.

Except for this letter.

Nikolai Kholodov wrote his brother a letter.

She shouldn't have touched it. No she shouldn't have even kept it from him. Imani gripped the paper, wanting to burn it but she read over it again.

Apologies.

More apologies.

Wedges between them since Imani was in the picture.

Perhaps their dad was right.

Xander being a mistake.

More apologies.

Promises of taking his brother's life for killing their father.

No more apologies.

He was insane. Nikolai Kholodov was insane to do such acts. To actually try and murder his own blood. Over someone he himself never even liked. She looked at her baby, occasionally tossing and turning his head.

No.

She won't let the man harm her husband.

Not her son.

Imani won't let Nikolai ruin something that has barely begun to blossom in her eyes.

Taking the letter, she held it over the small flamed candle. The smell of apple cinnamon intensified as she burned the writing. Keeping such an important message to her own heart.

Valis won't know this.

Imani got up slowly, grabbing the blanket in the small picnic basket, covering Xander. Picking him up with the new fabric, he gave a small frustrated cry before sleeping again.

She felt him.

Imani felt the look of someone watching her, and it wasn't Valis.

No, Valis wasn't watching her, she'd know. Her body and between her legs would get immensely hot and bothered when she felt her Don watching her.

Imani kept walking, one foot touching the flat stone as she neared the backdoor to their home. The feeling never wavered, so she rushed going back into the safety of her home and slid the massive back door close behind her.

Xander was tucked away in his parents bed, Imani double checking that every window and door was locked and closed securely. The decision of preparing an early dinner was in her eyes as she went to the kitchen.

Low chatter ensued as she heard the front door close. "Net. U nas s zhenoy yest' yeshche tri goda, ya uveren, chto u nas vse poluchitsya. Odnako spasibo."
No. My wife and I have three more years, I am sure that we will succeed. Thank you though.

Valis.

Her husband's voice neared the kitchen as she calmly prepared whatever her hands were working on.

Potatoes.

They'll have something with potatoes tonight.

"Imani, baby."

His hands stopped over hers, both under the water as she stopped washing the already cleaned produce.

"I've been calling you forever, flower. What's wrong?"

She shook her head, giving the man a kiss as she gave a final rinse. "Nothing, just.. really focused. Who was on the phone?"

There was a brief silence, husband watching his wife preparing the dinner as she awaited to hear his voice again. "Imani-"

She felt his hands over her shaking ones. Eyes nearly watered as she felt his other hand on her waist. Softly touching her skin, her chin was guided to turn up, looking at her husband. "Hi." She whispered, trying to push away her tears. "Tsvetochek, pochemu ty plachesh'?"
Flower, why are you crying?

Nikolai Kholodov is why.

The unknown feeling of being watched is why.

"U vas yest' muzhchiny, nablyudayushchiye za mnoy zdes'?" Do you have men watching me here?

Silence.

More silence.

Imani was scared to look away from the man, equally terrified to further the questioning. His hand remained under her chin, just calmly keeping her gaze. It wasn't until his minimal inhale that it sent her nerves skyrocketing.

"What men?"

His hands left her hand and face, touching her sides. His face remained neutral. Imani slowly looked away, face moving to the side until she felt him move her face back to him. "What men, Imani?"

The wails of Xander echoed in the home of the Kholodov. Imani shivered, pulling from her husband's hold. Leaving him by the sink, Imani went to tend to their wailing son.

It's okay.

Mommy's here.

Sweet boy.

Her soft whispered voice was so faint, Valis still heard it. He heard her succeeding in taming the boys tired cries.

Someone has been watching his wife. Someone here, in Sontarc. They have been near the compounds, watching her.

Valis went to the back of his yard, looking through the large sliding door that remained locked and closed. Nighttime was only creeping so slowly, the beautiful gaze of orange and blues mixing with the fading sunset.

How long has this been happening? Is this the first time she's noticed it and is now choosing to tell him?

Valis lost track of the time he stood in the kitchen, watching the outside. Imani set the final plate in the dining room, retrieving her husband who still remained looking outside.

"Two weeks." She answered him. The small tense in his shoulders brought her closer to him. "I noticed it for almost two weeks now..I'm sorry. I should've told you, but I didn't..I don't know. Valis."

The man turned around, hands on her face as he kissed such a priceless woman that was Imani Kholodov.

"I'll look into it, if anything..maybe it's just the newer guards checking on you."