The Don And His Flower

39

Imani listened to the late night owls that called out to each other. The grass was soft, almost cold under her skin as the early fall was only weeks from approaching.

Imani hasn't seen her husband today. Imani woke up with him, made the man breakfast, had sex with him, and that was mostly it. The Don had barely given her an explanation before he left.

So she spent the day inside. Away from the garden and the willow tree, away from anyone who wanted to see her. Away from anyone who wanted little sneak peeks at the son of Valis Kholodov. However, she found herself sneaking out tonight.

The familiar tree was in her sights, eyes in a tired excitement as she saw only a few stars out tonight. Imani let her back rest against that familiar spot against the tree, only a few of the patrolling guards out tonight.

Calming.

That would be the word to explain how she felt at the moment. But all she felt was fear, fear to know that she wasn't alone.

That wasn't her husband's smell. There's someone with her. She gasped slightly, throat dry as she looked into the dark grounds.

No one.

She looked at the distance she had to her backyard, it was far. Too damn far. Imani could try yelling, but her vocals won't let her.

Shit.

Where's Valis?

Imani straightened herself up. Looking a bit behind her left shoulder, hiding behind the thick trunk of the willow.

No one.

Nothing but dark green in her eyes.

Imani quickly turned back, ready to run until she was grabbed. The whimper came out so softly, hands out to push away the man before she was met back against the tree.

She whimpered again, fists balled as she was ready to strike. A small pinch of her skin made her freeze.

"Don't make me do it."

Eyes opened, she looked up at the stranger that towered her height. The prick on her stomach increased the more she acknowledged it. "Don't make me do it." He repeated lower.

Imani nodded, frozen in place at the syringe the man held against her. Who is this?

His hand remained on her mouth, eyes occasionally looking around. He dressed as a soldier, even had the posture as one. "I've been waiting so damn long for this moment. All this time and I finally have you."

The man's voice remained low, Imani's tears falling one after the other. "From the dead, Michael Kholodov sends his regards." Imani cried, head shaking against the tree as she was pinned.

Even from his demise, almost two years ago. Michael Kholodov still had such few soldiers that remained alive in his support. Only few remained that Valis had given the option of leaving or dying.

Where did this man come from?

Imani whimpered, feeling the syringe poke further. She gasped, left hand swinging up as she scratched the man across his face. Little to no damage, but it was enough for him to wince. The syringe was in her hand, needle pulled out as she stabbed it into the man's shoulder, his grunt in response as he backhanded the woman.

Imani fell to the grass, hard. Turning on her back, she kicked her legs out. Taking the small chance of kicking the man in his chest as he bent to grab her. She kicked again, her hits connecting with his face and chest.

Why can't they see her?

It can't be that dark out, surely.

Imani kicked again, sending the man to the ground on his back. She scrambled to her feet, trying to run to the center of the yards. Her right ankle was grasped, sending her face first in a soft cry.

Heart slamming in her chest, she hitched her breath. Full volume, the monitor went off.

Wailing and crying of Xander who woke up without his mommy beside him. The monitor was suddenly grabbed in Imani's hand, her arm flinging it from the strangers attempt to take it.

Immediately, flashlights were in her view. She clawed at the man, her cries barely heard as she kept fighting. Slight voices turned to shouting as the man tried to get up. She reached up, grabbing his shirt as she took every hit to her face.

"RUKI VVERKH! SEYCHAS!"
Hands up! Now!

The man fought harder against Imani, trying to break free. Another hit to her eye had her falling to the ground, hands covering her face as she wept from the pain.

Where are you Valis?

The single gun shot sounded off, shouting slowly quieted as rushed voices spoke out orders. The man went falling back, groaning as he tried to stop the bleeding in his arm.

Her left hand was grabbed, pulled from her face as she kept her tears falling. The pain was immense as the nearest man inspected her wounds.

"Who the hell is this?" One guard spoke out from the nearing distance.

The soldier that checked her face, grabbed her up, letting her cry into his chest. "No idea." The shooter who held her spoke softly.

"Are you alright?" He finally asked her.

Imani looked at the man named Travis, his eyes solely on hers as she took in her blurred surroundings. Her attacker was cuffed, tight metal restraints around his wrists as he's dragged across the fields. Cursing and groaning from his lips.

A small gasp made her heart slam, chest falling up and down.

"Imani."

Her chest heaved, eyes watery as she just remembered her baby boy. Looking around, she sees Valis. Without a second thought, her body was crashing into her husband's. Cries rasped and full of obvious pain as he tightened his hold on her body.

"Xander.."

She sniffled feeling the man tighten on her once more, the nostrils of his nose, in her hair as he inhaled the intoxicating delicious smell of her body. The man held his wife for less than three seconds before he forced her face up at his. The simple clench in his jaw sent fire within her veins. His eyes left hers momentarily, gazing her wounds.

A nearly split eyebrow. Swollen eye, already bruising. Spilt bottom lip, small droplets of blood falling. Swollen nose, damn near sprained.

Bruise.

Bruise.

Bruise.

Imani watched his jaw clench again, body calm but radiating so much damn anger.

"Who?"