Chapter 3

“The man who took Violet and brought her to Cannin’s event. Can you find him?” Anatoli asked Ryan.

“I probably can. It may take a while.”

“I figured. I’m hoping he can give me more information than the files do. Most of the people in those files are dead, so it’s hard to find more information.”

“What exactly are you looking for?” Ryan cautiously asked.

“Her family and what they did to her. I want them to suffer more than she does. She deserves revenge.”

“Give me a few weeks and I should have something for you,” Ryan said.

“Thank you.”

“While Ryan is working on that, we need you to oversee our shipment that comes in tomorrow,” Max said.

“That won’t be a problem. Can we send the girls off for a spa day? I don’t want Violet sitting at home alone all day.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Kyle could use some time away. She hasn’t gone out since having Anton,” Dimitri stated.

“Kyle would stay home every day with Evie and Anton if we let her. How are you and Violet? I heard the argument earlier.”

“Better. She went back to the house and slept, and we agreed to talk tonight. Hopefully, she’ll finally let me in. I’m tired of seeing her suffer,” Anatoli answered.

“She’ll let you in when she’s ready. She hasn’t had anyone take care of her before. It’s hard to get over that when you’ve relied on yourself for so long.”

Anatoli agreed with Dimitri. He knew how it felt to have no one to rely on. He had been in that position until he met Max and Dimitri when they were kids and their parents took him in.

He owed a lot to the Volkov family. He wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for them.

“Anyway, the shipment will be early. We’re hoping for midday, but if it changes, you’ll be notified,” Max concluded.

“Is there anything else you need from me?” Anatoli asked.

“There’s a big job coming that I’ll need to pull you in for, but we’ll discuss that later.”

Anatoli nodded before saying his goodbyes and making his way back to Violet.

***

Violet was nervously pacing their living room. She regretted her decision to include Anatoli in this part of her life. She wanted to leave it in the past, but her brain wouldn’t let her forget it.

She quickly sat down when she heard the doorknob jiggle, trying to act like she wasn’t nervous.

But Anatoli saw through her. He quietly took off his jacket and his shoes before sitting next to Violet on the couch.

“I don’t want you to think less of me,” she started.

“What you went through is not your fault, and I would never judge you because of your past.”

Violet nodded before taking a deep breath.

“I’m the oldest of three children and the only girl. Because of this, I was a target for my father because he wanted all boys.

“At first, my mother tried to distract him or tried to take the punishment for me, but it ended up being too much and she just allowed it to happen.”

Anatoli took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“He used me to get what he wanted. I had to help him with drug drops, entertaining his ‘friends.’ I’m glad he had a no-touching rule.

“He thought he could use my innocence to get a big payday, and he tried it because he owed money. That’s how I ended up with Kyle. She saved me from a horrible life.”

Violet couldn’t look at Anatoli, so she continued to stare at the floor as she spoke.

“This one time I spilled coffee on one man that was over, and he locked me in a room for a week, only feeding me sparse meals.

“My father let the guy beat me with a belt before locking me away, and every other day, that guy returned to beat me.

“I was ten, and that wasn’t the first time he let someone else torture me,” she continued.

“You don’t have to continue. I have an idea of what you went through. I only wanted you to trust me enough to tell me,” Anatoli told her.

“What I told you is mild compared to some of the other things. He quickly learned that I could take part in things without actually losing my virginity.

“One of my nightmares is about the first time he made me participate in something like that. I was fifteen.”

“Do you know where your father is?” Anatoli asked.

“No, and I don’t care.”

“I want to kill that bastard. If I find him, or anyone else in your family, I will rip their throat open and watch as their soul leaves their body.

“I will enjoy every moment they suffer and pray to any god that exists that they will be tortured for eternity for what they did to you,” he said angrily.

“I’d rather leave them in the past, Anatoli. I don’t want them to be a part of my future. I want to forget about them and build a life with you.

“I’m hoping that telling you this will make my nightmares stop.”

Anatoli pulled her to him and held her.

Even though she wanted to leave her past behind, Anatoli would not rest until everyone who caused her pain was dead. He would do it behind her back if he needed to.

“I’m sorry I have so much baggage. I wish I could be normal for you,” she sobbed.

“You’re perfect the way you are, Violet.”

Anatoli kissed her, and while he couldn’t say the words she longed to hear, he could show her how much she meant to him.

He picked her up and placed her on his lap, still continued kissing her. When Violet let out a moan, he moved his hand under her shirt before lifting it over her head.

“Let me please you,” she said.

Violet didn’t give Anatoli time to answer before she started working on his pants and palming his erection.

He wanted to be with her, but he felt guilty, especially after her confession, so he grabbed her hands, brought them to his lips, and kissed them.

“I just want to hold you, lyubov.”