If I needed any more reason to stay away from Ivan, it’s being provided to me right now. He’s dangerous. His whole world is dangerous.
Just because he can make me leave all sense behind with a simple touch and a kiss isn’t enough reason to dive into this world with him.
Alexander takes a call and steps away. I take my chance to get Ivan’s attention.
“Maybe I should go,” I say, tugging on his sleeve.
He leans forward and gestures to someone behind me. “Take her upstairs. Elana and Megan are up there.”
“Wait, no, I mean I should go home.” I grab him again.
“Not yet. Not until I know it’s safe.” He beckons his minion again.
Alexander gets off the call and Ivan turns back to him. They’ve switched to Russian now, a clear indication neither of them wants me to know what’s happening.
I already know everything I need to know. Kaz went to dinner and got a hole blown into his chest by a rival family. And if it had been Ivan and me at that restaurant? Would Ivan be lying half dead on that metal slab, or would it be me?
Panic grips me again, and I clutch at my throat.
Realizing I’m still there, Ivan turns to me. His eyes soften.
“Hey. It’s okay. He’s going to be all right.” He grips my shoulders, crouching slightly until our eyes meet. “Take a breath, baby. Breathe.”
Nodding because talking isn’t an option at the moment, I slowly draw in air. He takes the breath with me, encouraging me to do another, then another until finally the panic eases away.
“I shouldn’t have let you see that.” He runs the back of his knuckles across my jaw.
He’s mistaking my reaction to seeing Kaz’s injury. Deciding its better we don’t get into any bigger discussion right now, I let him believe it’s the horror of seeing a man shot.
“I’m fine. I really should go home.”
He grasps my chin. “You can’t. Not yet. Stay upstairs with the girls. I’ll take you when it’s safe.”
When I open my mouth to argue, he leans in close.
“Putting yourself in danger is the number one way to find yourself face down over my knee getting your ass spanked. And no amount of tears or begging will make me stop until I’m certain you’ve learned your lesson,” he says firmly.
There’s no mistaking his words or his sincerity.
“I’ll wait upstairs,” I agree.
“Good girl.” He kisses my cheek. “Go on.”
Pulling my stole tighter around my shoulders to ward off the slight chill of the basement corridor, I follow my escort back up to the main house. Once back up on the first floor, I slip my feet back into my shoes.
“Vee.” Megan, Alexander’s wife, gets up from the kitchen table when I’m escorted inside.
“Hi.” I fidget with the stole.
“Ivan’s downstairs, then?” She pulls out the chair beside her.
“Yeah.”
The young woman sitting at the table must be Elana. The youngest of the Volkov siblings. I’ve heard her mentioned, but she’s never been at the club when I’m there, so we’ve never met.
“The doctor’s working on Kaz now; he seemed positive.” I try to sound cheerful, but not too cheerful.
I’m not happy Kaz was shot, just that I’m sure he’s going to be all right.
