The Don And His Flower

49

"Imani."

Travis called her name, getting ignored slightly. The woman fisted the letter, taking his lighter and burning it as she did before. "What do I do?"

She shook her head, watered eyes as she felt the cold flesh of her face get irritated. "We wait until he comes. For now, think of ways to help him sneak in. We'll go from there."

Whatever popped up in her head was wiped away as she tried to walk away. Travis grabbed her arm, stopping her from walking away. "I'm not going to die over a Kholodov, Imani."

She snatched her arm from him, glaring at him with a raised eyebrow. "I know what I'm doing. Just do as I say, and we will all be fine."

The soldier bit back the roll of his eyes, sighing as he brushed past her. Turning back around, she took three steps before meeting his back face first. A small wince had her looking up at the man.

Following his gaze made her heart stop.

Valis Kholodov.

Her husband.

Standing a few feet away in a composed stance. His hands were crossed as he took his eyes away from Travis, looking at his wife.

"Volodos had been telling me but I didn't believe him. So, would you care to explain why you are here alone with my wife without my knowledge?" Valis looked at Travis. The soldier said nothing, bowing his head as his shoes became a better interest. "No? Not a single word? Hmm."

His attention turned to his wife. A woman that just burned his brother's letters to ash. "Flower. Care to explain why Xander is home alone? No maids, no adults in sight. You left him completely alone, to be with Travis Morcan?"

Imani shook her head, the misunderstanding trying to be voiced as she lost her words. Two nearing soldiers stood behind their Don, awaiting their orders. "Home. Now."

Imani stayed put, defiant to her husband's words. What was he going to do? Valis took mere steps, hand gripping her arm before yanking her forward. The gasp was faint. A small rasped yelp following as she was pushed again, almost meeting the snowing grounds.

Travis must've assumed that Valis was going to push her down, considering how he stepped between them. Imani covered her mouth, watching how fast Valis flipped them to the cold grounds. With a heaving body, Valis gripped the soldiers jacket.

"Who sent you here, rat?"

Imani ran, hands going to her husband as she attempted to pull him off. The soldiers that stood by simply pulled her off of her husband. Keeping her in place as she tried to stop him. "Valis."

He ignored her, eyes focused on Travis Morcan who kept his own composure. "You think you can take my wife from me?"

Imani watched as Valis pulled the soldier up, pushing him against the tree. "Do you see the position you've found yourself in?"

Valis threw him back to the ground, kneeing on the back of his neck. "Valis! Valis stop it." She wiped her tears, watching the blade come from his pocket.

The slicing of the soldier's skin was muffled by his yells. Valis looked at Imani's face as he carved and butchered the man's hand. "You don't get the luxury of touching my wife. Do it again, and banishment from Sontarc will be the least of your concerns."
Getting up he barely spared the pained man another look before stepping towards his wife.

The soldiers finally let her go. Standing like statues as she pushed through them, running off in tears. There wasn't a trace in guilt from how he's just treated her. Valis knows the thoughts or possible fears of her committing such adultery were just that. Thoughts and fears.

He knows Imani wouldn't disrespect herself or him by doing that. She couldn't say the same for the soldiers who lust after women like her. Valis looked over his shoulder, looking at the blood that stained the snow.

"Take care of his wounds. And Morcan,"

He grimaced a smirk on his lips, looking at the anger in the bleeding soldier's face. "Keep your hands to yourself."

***

Cheating.

Valis thought Imani was cheating on him. It was the only reason why he lied to her about Xander's health. Why he didn't eat her food, it was the only reason.

He wanted to know who it was with.

He assumed so much, it was all wrong.

Imani listened to the door open briefly before closing.

With a wipe of her loose tears, Imani ignored the man who walked into the kitchen. Turning her back, she bit her scowl as he pushed her against the sink. Ignoring his eyes, she gripped the cold bottle in her hand. "I know you aren't cheating on me Imani, get those thoughts out of your head."

"You just butchered his hand, Valis."

"No man is allowed to touch you. Do you intend to tell me why you were alone with him? And what exactly was it that you had 'another one' of?"

She scoffed out a sigh, looking up at him. "What are you talking about?"

"You're text. I'm assuming that it was meant for Morcan. So, another what?"

The small realization dawned upon her face. Face warm as she felt trapped, interrogated. "I'll call Adeline and cancel soon." She pushed from his body, head bowed as she tried to walk from her husband.

His steps blocked her, denying her chances of escape.

Such fragility.

Stupid fragility that'll be the death of Valis Kholodov one day.

His hand moved up, touching her skin as he caressed underneath her chin. "Tell me Imani. I'm not a man who will accept such deception. Not from a woman who I am in love with. Tell me, tsvetok." Flower.

"No." She whimpered softly, ignoring the tension as she craved her bed. The late afternoon was more than enough to barricade her into the warm sheets that she loves.

"I don't want to find out from someone else Imani. Tell me what you've hidden from me. Save me from the aches I'll face."

Imani reluctantly sighed, nodding slowly before looking up at the man she loves dearly. This would hurt him, it would. To know what dangers may lie ahead of them. To know that someone who may be so close in his heart, may be someone he might kill.

It's what he's always done, consequences be damned.

"Nikolai."