Deadly Vows (Avilov Bratva #2)

7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Aleksandr

The sound of my fists pounding against the heavy bag echoed through the gym. Each strike was a release, an alleviation of the storm within me. Sweat dripped from my brow, and my knuckles throbbed with the intensity of my rage. The rhythmic thud of my blows was almost hypnotic. Vic killed Mikhail and had taken Talia and the children. Vic had dared to touch what was mine. He had made a grave mistake.

I paused, taking a deep breath and wiping the sweat from my forehead. The bag swung back and forth, a poor substitute for the man I wanted to destroy. My thoughts were a tangled mess of rage. I needed to find Vic. I needed to make him pay.

As I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing, the door to the gym creaked open. Talia stepped inside, her presence a welcome distraction from my dark thoughts. Her eyes, filled with worry, met mine.

“Aleksandr,” she began softly. “The children are scared. They don’t want to leave the mansion.”

I felt a pang of guilt. Sasha and Maxim were too young to be caught up in this nightmare. They deserved to be children, to play and laugh without fear. But Vic’s actions had stolen that innocence from them. First, he kills their father, and then he kidnaps them. I couldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t let him put fear into my family.

I walked over to Talia, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We won’t let Vic control us. We’ll show him that we’re not afraid.”

She nodded, but the worry in her eyes didn’t fade. “What are you planning to do?”

“We’ll take the kids out,” I said, my voice firm. “We’ll go to the arcade and then get some ice cream. They need to see that life goes on and that they can still have fun despite everything.”

Talia’s lips curved into a small smile. “That sounds like a good idea. They need this.”

As we made our way to the children’s rooms, I couldn’t help but wrestle with my feelings for Talia. She was more than just the mother of my unborn child. She was a beacon of light in the darkness surrounding me as pakhan . But admitting that to myself, let alone to her, felt impossible. I had convinced myself that keeping her at the mansion was solely for the safety of her and our child. It was easier that way.

We found Sasha and Maxim huddled together on the couch in their playroom. Olga was reading a story to them. Their faces lit up when they saw us, but the fear in their eyes was still evident. I crouched down to their level, forcing a smile.

“How about we go out today?” I asked, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible.

Sasha clung to Maxim tighter, shaking her head no. Maxim shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.

“There’s an indoor arcade not far from here, and then we can get ice cream.”

Maxim’s eyes widened with excitement, but he kept his face expressionless. “Can we play all the games?”

“Yes, we can play all the games,” I assured him.

Sasha, always the more cautious one, looked to Talia and Olga for reassurance. Talia nodded, her smile more genuine now.

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” Olga smiled.

“We’ll all go together; even Nanny Olga will come.” I held out my hand to Sasha, hoping she’d take it. She stared at it momentarily before sliding her hand into mine.

“Okay,” she said, “but I want an ice cream sundae with whipped cream, a cherry, and sprinkles.”

“Anything you want, printsessa.” Sasha jumped into my arms, her green eyes sparkling like emeralds.

Maxim held Talia’s hand all the way to the SUV. The drive to the arcade was filled with the children’s enthusiastic chatter. Nikolai drove, and I looked at the side mirror to scan for any signs of trouble. My paranoia was at an all-time high, but I couldn’t let it ruin this day for them.

The arcade was a cacophony of flashing lights and cheerful noises. Sasha and Maxim ran from game to game with Olga, their earlier fears forgotten. I stayed close to them, my eyes cotinually scanning our surroundings. Talia stood beside me, a comforting reminder of why I was doing all this. Nikolai kept one eye on the children and the other eye on the crowd.

Maxim dragged me to a racing game at one point, insisting I join him. I couldn’t help but laugh at his eagerness. For a few precious moments, I was just an uncle playing with his nephew, not a man consumed by vengeance.

Maxim jumped up and down as the game ended, with a broad grin on his face. “You were so fast, Uncle! Let’s race again!”

“Of course, and this time, I’ll let you win.”

Maxim snorted and put on his game face. Sasha giggled, standing next to her brother. “You can beat him,” she encouraged, smiling from ear to ear. I turned to find Talia watching me, a soft smile on her lips.

“You’re really good with them,” she said, her voice tinged with admiration.

“They deserve better than this,” I replied, my tone grimmer than intended. “They deserve a normal life.”

“And you’re doing your best to give them that,” Talia insisted, touching my arm gently. “You’re a good man, Aleksandr.”

I wanted to believe her, but my past painted a different picture. I gave her a tight smile and changed the subject. “After this game, let’s get them some ice cream.”

The ice cream parlor was a burst of color and sweetness. As they devoured their treats, Sasha and Maxim’s faces were smeared with chocolate and whipped cream. Talia laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. It was a sight that warmed my heart, making me momentarily forget the dark cloud hanging over us.

As we sat at the table, enjoying our ice cream, Talia leaned close to me. “Thank you, Aleksandr,” she said softly. “This means a lot to them. And to me.”

I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. My feelings for her were a complicated mess, tangled up in my need to protect her and the unborn child. I loved her, but admitting that was a weakness I couldn’t afford.

The drive back to the mansion was quiet, the children exhausted from their fun day. As I carried Sasha to her room, her thin arms wrapped around my neck, I felt a fierce protectiveness wash over me. I won’t let anyone take away our happiness.

Once the children were tucked in bed, I was alone with Talia in the hallway. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine.

“Aleksandr,” she began hesitantly, “I... I need to tell you something.”

I felt my heart rate quicken. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving mine. “I... I care about you. More than I probably should. And I know you feel the same way, even if you won’t admit it.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I was terrified of what that meant for us, for our future. I took a step back, trying to regain my composure.

“Talia,” I said, my voice strained, “you don’t know what you’re saying.”

She shook her head, tears welling up in her hazel eyes. “I do know, Aleksandr. I know you care about me. I see it in the way you look at me, the way you protect me. You don’t have to be afraid to admit it.”

I turned away, my heart pounding. “I’m not afraid. I’m just trying to keep you safe. Keep the baby safe. That’s all that matters right now.”

“Aleksandr,” she said softly, her voice breaking my resolve, “keeping us safe doesn’t mean you have to shut yourself off from us. From me.”

I closed my eyes, struggling to control my emotions. “I can’t afford to be weak,” I hissed.

She stepped closer, her hand gently touching my back. “Loving someone isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength.”

Her words hung in the air, and I wanted to believe her. But the fear, the doubt, was too strong. I turned to face her, forcing a smile. “Let’s just focus on keeping everyone safe. That’s what’s important.”

Talia sighed, a look of disappointment flashing across her face. “Alright. But just know that I’m here for you. Always.”

I let her walk away. As I stood alone in the hallway, I made a silent vow to find Vic and make him pay for his sins until I squeezed his last breath out of him.