The Don And His Flower

47

Valis woke up, early into the late night. His wife remained naked, asleep after the second round of sex that they had.

He wore a loose pair of black sweats, a dark gray v neck on his skin as he walked downstairs. All throughout the day, he thought about his brother, Nikolai.

It's been too long since he's heard from the younger man. Surely, he had been up to no good if Lorenzo Russi was offering a safe place for his woman and child. Awaiting for his arrival, Lorenzo Russi sat in one of the seats at the island. Two glasses were poured as he gave a curt nod to the Russian Don. "What has Nikolai done?"

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, nodding slowly before downing the drink. "I heard he's been trying to meet with some of your alliances. I thought you knew about this. It's been happening for almost two months now."

"The last time he spoke to me was when I killed our father. Have you heard anything else in specifics?"

Valis saw the ego dancing in Lorenzo's eyes. This was something he could've easily withheld from the Russian Don. Something to keep hidden away as Valis had previously done before hand.

Lorenzo hesitated, the faint burn going down his throat before he poured another small drink. "I haven't."

Valis downed the drink finally, nodding at the blatant lie that was just given to him. The Don could easily press the other one, question why he invited him here  just to hide such information from him. The two sat in silence, Valis feeling the room slowly spin as he looked back at Lorenzo. "Imani and I will be leaving sooner rather than later. Xander seemingly took a turn for the worst."

Lorenzo nodded, the fake concern displayed as he nodded. "How unfortunate. I'm sure Adeline would be upset about that. Valis..you understand I am your ally right? But I am a husband as well. I will also soon be a father in the near future. My motives mirror yours in the underworld."

The anger rose within the man's chest. Lorenzo was a reliable man to a certain extent. Valis knows that Lorenzo would be damned to give such information to him. Especially if it involves his own brother plotting behind his back. "Which is exactly why I trust my son in your care, Russi."

***
Imani gave a final wave.

Few days had passed until Valis mentioned that he received a call. Her baby boy was sick, painfully sick. Imani wasted no time into packing her half unpacked suitcase back up. The door shut carefully, the solemn look of Adeline was blurred as Imani sniffled wiping her tears.

She enjoyed the time she had spent with Adeline and Lorenzo Russi. But with the promise of meeting again for Christmas, Imani was happy only for a short moment. Instead, merely hours later, she stood in the center of her son's bedroom.

The boy was coloring, scribbling away as he carefully explained in short sentences of his completed drawings.

Not a sneeze.

Not a cough.

Nothing in sight to show her son needed her help. Nothing explaining that the boy was terrifyingly sick.

Valis lied to her. He lied to her about Xander's health.

"Mama?"

Imani blinked away her angry tears, wiping underneath her eyes as she forced a smile at her baby boy. The two year old stood in front of her. Light flickering slippers lighting with every step. He handed her a crayon, pulling her sweater until she walked with him to the black canvas paper on his desk. "Draw mommy!" He nearly begged her as she lowered herself to her knees, resting her behind on the back of her feet.

"How about," soft voice rasped as she kissed his small hands. The feeling of her husband in the room towered her consciousness. Eyes watery as she refused to turn around. Face warm as she felt Xander wipe her tears. "How about you draw me a picture okay baby? Mommy's a bit tired right now."

"Pochemu ty plachesh' mama?" Why are you crying mommy?

She simply shook her head, kissing the boy before standing up and walking away. Valis had lowered his voice, talking softly with the boy as he tried to get some information from him.

It wasn't until Imani took her jeans off that the man had come into the bedroom. He grabbed her, turning her to face him as she bowed him. "Let me go."

"Am I the cause of these tears? Because we came home early- you're acting like a child."

She scoffed, glaring at her husband with teary eyes. "You lied to me about Xander. Made it seem like he was in need of a hospital."

He sighed, watching the half naked woman yank her arm from his hold. The slam of the bathroom door was loud, confirming its exaggerated lock before the shower started.

Knowing his wife would be in there forever. He went to the spare bedroom, using that shower instead. After drying himself he thought of the only valid way to settle her unspoken anger.

The truth may or may not set him free.

Water dripping from his washed hair, skin damp when he returned to a locked door. Hand grabbing the crystal knob, he turned it again and once more.

No.

She can't be serious.

He looked at his pillow and pair of boxers on the floor next to his feet.

The Don scoffed, rushing to his son's room where it was deserted.

Favorite toys? Gone.

Favorite blanket? Gone.

Crayons and papers? All gone.

He went to the connected door and tried to turn it, cursing when he was given no chance of opening it. "Xander?"

The child's teasing laughter was muffled through the door. The Don scoffed in such disbelief, trying to pry the door open before failing once more. The sounds of the TV came on, Xander shouting out different movie names as Imani had clicked through, happily.

The Don knocked on the door, doing it again as the sounds were muted from the increasing volume. "Okay..okay! Ty khochesh' dokazat' svoyu tochku zreniya? Ty dokazal eto, tsvetok!" He tried to shout over the loud volume of a talking sponge. You want to prove your point? You proved it, flower!

He balled his fist, pounding again only to be ignored.

Valis slept alone that night.