Chapter 5

“Can I ask you something?” Violet asked Kyle.

“You can ask me anything.”

Violet liked how open Kyle always was. For the most part, she felt comfortable with her.

“If you left younger siblings back home, would you try to see them? Even if your home life was fucked up and it could be dangerous for you if you went back?”

Kyle chewed on her lip as she thought about it.

“Yes, especially if they were still little. Are you asking me this because you’re thinking about it?”

“Kind of. I have two brothers, they’re seventeen and fifteen. My father always preferred them, so I think they’re ok, but I want to make sure.”

“I can ask Max and Dimitri to check into it for you, so you could put your mind at ease.”

“Could you do it without Anatoli knowing?”

She hated keeping things from Anatoli, but she knew he would get angry and start assuming the worst, and she didn’t want him to know where her parents were.

He would kill them. That could start a conflict, and she wasn’t willing to do that to the Volkovs.

“Are you still going out with us tonight? Please say yes, Violet, you need to get out some.”

“Don’t worry, I’m coming. I think it’ll be fun to get out with everyone. I need a break.”

“You and me both. The men are watching the children tonight, so we’re going to have some fun.”

***

Violet found herself feeling guilty as she was getting ready for her girls’ night out. Anatoli had spent the last thirty minutes telling her that she deserved to have fun.

“Are you sure? We didn’t spend a lot of time together the past few days,” she asked.

“I’m sure. Time apart in any relationship is good. You need to have fun. Just don’t come home too drunk. I draw the line at cleaning up vomit.”

Violet laughed at the disgusted face Anatoli made.

“I promise I won’t be too drunk.”

“Good. And check in with me from time to time. Let me know you’re ok.”

She nodded before turning back to the mirror to finish her makeup.

Anatoli stayed behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?”

“Thank you.”

She wasn’t sure what had gotten into him, but she liked this soft, cuddly version of him. The affection was unexpected but nice.

“I’ll be up when you get home. Have fun and be careful,” he told her.

“Thanks.”

Violet kissed him before putting her makeup away and grabbing her purse.

“I’ll probably be home late.”

“That’s not a problem,” he assured her.

Violet walked to the main house to meet Kyle and Varina. They had texted her to let her know they were ready when she was.

“Thanks for waiting,” she greeted them.

“Girl, don’t thank us. And you look amazing,” Varina said while hugging her. “It’s been such a long time since I’ve gone out.

“I’m going to take advantage of the guys staying home instead of working tonight.”

“Me, too,” Kyle agreed.

Violet felt left out as the only one without children. She knew Anatoli didn’t want them. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t the father type, and that he preferred to be the favorite uncle.

***

Violet had hoped for more of a bar atmosphere, but Kyle and Varina chose a club where they could dance, which she didn’t feel comfortable doing.

“You can’t sit here all night with Logan and Scott,” Kyle protested.

“At least they won’t have a hard time keeping track of me,” Violet joked.

The guys had made them take security with them. Max and Dimitri were still a little worried about people using Kyle and the kids to get to them.

“Please? Just for a little while.” Varina was practically begging, so Violet gave in.

“Don’t get mad if I make you guys look silly.”

“We’ll look silly with you,” Kyle yelled over the music.

Once they were on the dance floor, Violet decided to leave her embarrassment behind and danced like no one was watching. Her life didn’t ever allow her to let go and have fun.

Her father had always kept her locked in the house. He hadn’t wanted her running away because he needed her.

“You’ve been hustling us. You got dance moves!” Varina exclaimed.

Violet smiled at the girls before closing her eyes and letting the music take over. She danced alone, enjoying the beat until she felt a pair of hands go around her waist and she stopped moving.

“Don’t act shy. You and your friends were giving a pretty good show,” a male voice said.

Violet quickly pushed the man away and stepped over to Varina and Kyle.

“I didn’t say you could put your hands on me,” Violet said angrily.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I wanted to dance with you.”

The man had a creepy vibe about him, and Violet didn’t trust him. She usually didn’t trust men because they were all creepy to her, but this guy grossed her out.

He wasn’t ugly, but she felt like he would do questionable things.

“She isn’t into men,” Varina lied, coming to her rescue.

“I’m not picky. I can still dance with her, and I might get her to jump ship,” he argued.

Varina glared at him. “I don’t appreciate you hitting on my girlfriend, and the fact that you’re creeping her out makes it worse.”

“She isn’t your girlfriend. I don’t even believe any of you are lesbians.”

To prove a point and make the guy shut up, Violet pulled Varina into her and kissed her. To her surprise, Varina not only kissed her back but deepened the kiss.

Violet was comparing the kiss to Anatoli, who could be gentle at times, and whose facial hair would tickle her.

This kiss was soft, sexy, and passionate, and for a second Violet was confused because she was enjoying it.

“Damn, that was hot, but you proved your point,” he said with raised hands as Varina broke the kiss. “If you change your mind, I’ll be over in the VIP section.”

The three of them went back to their table and ordered another round of drinks.

“You can really kiss,” Varina exclaimed.

“Thanks,” Violet stated, embarrassed.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed a girl. Sometimes I miss it.”

Kyle and Violet both turned to look at Varina.

“What? I like men and women, but I tend to prefer men.”

“I didn’t know that. Does Ryan know that?” Kyle asked.

“He knows everything about me,” Varina answered.

Mentioning Ryan’s name made Violet think about how she was going to tell Anatoli. She thought about how this could be seen as cheating. She didn’t want him to think of her as a cheater.

“I’m ready to go home,” she said.

Varina and Kyle nodded in agreement.

“I’m actually missing the kids, and I wouldn’t mind having some time with Max and Dimitri,” Kyle said.

Violet had been happy to go out, but this had ended up being too much for her. She just wanted to lie in bed and have Anatoli hold her.