Chapter 8Ivan
CHAPTER 8
IVAN
J enny’s eyes flash with anger, raising her voice when she confronts me. “You’ve been spying on me? Watching my every move? Snooping through my things? What gives you the right?”
I stand motionless, absorbing her fury. Her words cut deeply, but I maintain my composure. “I have every right. Your safety is my priority.”
She scoffs, pacing the room like a caged tiger. “My safety? You’re delusional, Ivan. I quit my job to get away from your criminal enterprise. I’ll file a restraining order,” she says with an edge of wildness, betraying how off-kilter she is.
Her words sting, but I push aside the pain . “A piece of paper won’t protect you from real threats.”
She whirls to face me, cheeks flushed with anger. “Real threats? The only threat I see is you.”
“Not Stephen?” I ask with a hint of mockery. She flinches, and I take a step closer. “You have no idea of the dangers that surround you. The business, Jenny? It’s a front. The Bratva ?—”
“The Bratva ?” She interrupts, her eyes widening in disbelief. “You’re involved with the Russian mafia?”
I nod. “I am the Bratva , Jenny. At least, a significant part of it, and under my protection, you’re untouchable. Stephen, or anyone else who might wish you harm, wouldn’t dare.”
Her face pales, and she takes a step back. “This is insane. You’re insane. I can’t... I won’t be a part of this.”
“You already are,” I say, softening my voice. “From the moment I saved you, you became mine to protect.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No. I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s. I’m leaving, and you can’t stop me.”
As she moves toward the door, I block her path. “Jenny, please. Listen to me. I know this is overwhelming, but?—”
“Overwhelming?” She laughs bitterly. “That’s an understatement. You’ve turned my life upside down, Ivan. You’ve invaded my privacy, manipulated me, and now you’re telling me you’re some kind of mafia boss? How am I supposed to react to that?”
I reach out to touch her arm, but she flinches away. The rejection stings, but I press on. “I never meant to hurt you, kotik . Everything I’ve done has been to keep you safe.”
Her eyes narrow. “Safe? By lying to me? By controlling every aspect of my life without my knowledge or consent?”
I lift a shoulder. “It’s not that simple. The world I live in is dangerous. Complicated. I wanted to protect you from it, but protecting you didn’t keep away Stephen. When my people learned he was flying back, they alerted me. We’ve been looking for him. I saw a delivery driver enter your place tonight without buzzing after he caught the door from a careless resident. He was suspicious, and I knew instinctively it was Stephen. I rushed upstairs?—”
She frowns. “You were, what? Outside my apartment?”
I nod, refusing to be ashamed. “ Da . I had to make sure you were all right after you stormed out earlier, and my car outside was the closest I could get.”
“You’ve been spying on me for who knows how long? This is just… I… At least if I’d known, I could have made an informed decision.”
Her words hit home, and I feel a flicker of doubt. Have I truly done the right thing? In my world, a man protects what’s his, and I’ve claimed many things I wanted without a second thought. None of them were an independent, thinking woman though. “Perhaps you’re right,” I concede, “But my intentions were pure. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”
Her expression softens slightly, but the wariness remains in her eyes. “Intentions don’t justify actions. You can’t just decide what’s best for someone without their input.”
I nod slowly, acknowledging her point. “You’re right. I should have been more transparent, but now that you know the truth, will you at least hear me out? Let me explain everything?”
She hesitates, conflict evident on her face. Finally, she sighs. “Fine, but this doesn’t change anything. I still don’t trust you.”
“Fair enough,” I say, gesturing to the couch. “Shall we sit? This might take a while.”
As we settle onto the plush leather, I see tension in Jenny’s posture. She’s coiled like a spring, ready to bolt at any moment. I inhale sharply and exhale, preparing to lay bare the complexities of my world and my feelings for her. “It all started that night I saved you from Stephen,” I say, carefully watching her face for reactions. “I saw a quiet strength in you that drew me in, but I also saw vulnerability, and I knew then that I had to protect you.”
Jenny stares at me, her eyes widening with recognition. Her lips part in surprise as the memories of that night crystallize. “It was you,” she whispers. “You saved me from Stephen last year.”
I nod, studying the play of emotions across her face. “I did.”
She wraps her arms around herself, processing this revelation. “I knew there was something familiar about you. The way you moved, your accent...” Her voice trails off. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“The timing wasn’t right.” I shift slightly on the cushion. “You weren’t ready to know who I really was.”
“And now?” She backs away, maintaining distance between us. “You think kidnapping me makes it better?”
“I didn’t kidnap you. I brought you somewhere safe.”
“Safe?” She laughs, and the sound is sharp and brittle. “You’re a criminal, Ivan. A mafia boss, who’s been stalking me.”
“I’ve been protecting you.”
“Thank you for saving me that night,” she says, her voice tight. “I mean that, but this?” She gestures around the apartment. “Following me, watching me, buying my job and firing everyone just to, what? Promote me? You’ve crossed every line there is.”
I laugh, the sound rich and dark. “Lines? Kotik , I erase lines. I make them. The world you think you know? It’s an illusion.”
“I’m leaving.” She moves toward the door.
My hand shoots out, catching her wrist. “No, you’re not.”
She tries to pull away. “Let me go.”
“Never.” I draw her closer, my grip firm but gentle. “Stephen’s back in Atlanta. Clearly, he still wants you as much as he hates you for sending him away—though his own actions did that.”
The color drains from her face. “What?”
“He wants revenge. On you, on me—for ruining his plans last time.” I release her wrist but stay close. “It isn’t safe out there for you, but even if it were...” I trace a finger along her jawline. “I’d never let you go now.”
“You can’t just decide that,” she protests, though she doesn’t move away from my touch.
“I already have.” I cup her face in my hands. “You’re mine to protect, Jenny. Mine to keep safe. Mine to...” I pause, letting the implications hang in the air between us while moving closer, almost touching her lips with mine.
Her breath catches as she pulls back. “I don’t want this.”
“Don’t you?” I stroke my thumb across her cheek. “Your body says otherwise, kotik . The way you leaned into my touch, how your pulse accelerated just now…”
“That’s just...” She swallows hard. “Physical attraction doesn’t equal consent.”
“True.” I drop my hands, scooting back to give her space. “I won’t force you to stay. The door isn’t locked, but before you go, ask yourself this—where will you run? Who will protect you when Stephen comes for you again?”
I see the conflict in her eyes. Finally, she speaks, her shoulders slumping in a posture of defeat that irritates me despite me wanting her to stay. “I don’t know what to say. This is too much.”
I shift forward to put a hand on her knee. “I know it’s overwhelming, kotik , but now you understand why I did what I did. Why I couldn’t let you go.”
She shakes her head slowly. “Understanding doesn’t equal acceptance, Ivan. You’ve still violated my trust and my privacy. How can I ever feel safe around you knowing what you’re capable of, even if you’re offering me somewhere safe from Stephen?”
Her words wound me, but I refuse to back down or let that show. “Because despite everything, I’m the one person who will always put your safety above all else. Even above my own life.”
Jenny stands abruptly, pacing the room again. “That’s the problem, Ivan. You’re so focused on protecting me that you’ve forgotten to respect me as a person. My choices, my autonomy...they matter.”
I rise as well, following her movements with my gaze. “You’re right. I’ve made mistakes, but I’m willing to change, to do better. Just give me a chance, Jenny.”
She stops, turning to face me. Her expression reveals myriad emotions I can’t quite decipher. “I don’t know if I can. This is all so...complicated. I need time to process everything.”
I step closer to Jenny, my voice softening while I try to reassure her. “I understand your fear, kotik . I may be dangerous, but unlike the men from your past, I would never harm you.”
My gaze drifts to the window, and I gesture across the street. “Look at your apartment. Think about the broken door, and Stephen’s break-in. That’s the immediate threat you’re facing.”
She flinches and turns away. The set of her shoulders reveals the conflict warring within her—fear of Stephen’s escalating violence battling with her unease around me. “I...” She hesitates, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t know what to do.”
I place a gentle hand on her shoulder, coaxing her to turn back to me “Stay here tonight. In the guest room. You’ll be safe, I promise.”
She looks up at me, uncertainty clear in her eyes. “Just for tonight?”
I nod. “Just for tonight. Tomorrow, we can figure out our next steps.” I’m lying as I say that, but I embrace it. I need her to stay, so I know she’s safe, and I don’t want to lock her up to make it happen—but I won’t let her leave. Not tonight. Not ever if I can convince her to stay.
Jenny takes a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Okay. One night.”
Relief washes over me, but I keep my expression neutral. “Thank you for trusting me, even if it’s just a little.”
I lead her to the guest room, pushing open the door to reveal a spacious, elegantly appointed space. “Everything you need should be in here. Towels, toiletries, and even some clothes that might fit you.”
Jenny eyes the room warily. “You planned for this.”
“I like to be prepared. Get some rest, kotik . We’ll talk more in the morning.”
As I turn to leave, Jenny’s voice stops me. “Ivan?”
I look back at her. “Yes?”
“Thank you,” she says softly. “For keeping me safe. Even if your methods are...unconventional.”
I offer her a small smile. “Always. Sleep well.”
I close the door behind me, leaving her to settle in for the night. As I make my way to my own bedroom, my mind races with plans and contingencies. Keeping Jenny safe is my top priority, but earning her trust will be a long, difficult process.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts. I pull it out, seeing Marcus’s name on the screen. “What is it?” I ask, keeping my voice low to avoid waking Jenny in the next room.
“We’ve got a problem,” says Marcus, his tone tense. “When I arrived to handle Stephen, I found the two guards knocked out. Stephen’s gone.”
I clench my jaw, anger rising. “What happened?”
“The guards claim Stephen had help. Say other men jumped them, but they can’t provide descriptions.”
“Useless,” I spit out. “Fire them. Send them back to Russia to face the FSB.”
“Understood,” Marcus replies. “What about interrogation? To make sure neither is the mole?”
I pause, considering. The memory of vodka on their breath when they finally arrived after I stopped Stephen’s attack on Jenny flashes through my mind. “Do it. I think they’re just sloppy drunks, but we need to be certain. You handle it. I might kill them if I do it myself.”
“Got it, boss. I’ll take care of it.”
I end the call, my mind running. Stephen’s escape complicates things. I move to the window, gazing out at the city lights. The night air is cool against my skin when I open it slightly, letting in the sounds of traffic below.
My thoughts drift to Jenny, sleeping in the next room. The urge to check on her is strong, but I resist. She needs rest after everything that’s happened.
A soft knock at the door pulls me from my reverie. I open it to find Jenny standing there.
“I heard voices. Is everything okay?”
I debate whether to tell her the truth. Lying would be easier, but it would only damage the fragile trust between us. “Stephen escaped,” I say finally. “My men lost him.”
Her face pales, and she takes a step back. “What? How?”
“It seems he had help. We’re looking into it.”
Jenny wraps her arms around herself, shivering despite the warmth of the apartment. “What does this mean? Is he...coming after me?”
I move closer, fighting the urge to pull her into my arms. “I won’t let that happen. You’re safe here.”
She looks up at me, her eyes wide with fear and something else I can’t quite name. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. No one will harm you while you’re under my protection.”
She nods slowly, seeming to draw strength from my words. “I think I’ll go back to my room.”
I watch her go, brooding. I change into more comfortable clothes and pour myself a glass of vodka. The liquid burns pleasantly when I sip it as my thoughts wander. Jenny’s presence in my apartment feels right, like a missing piece falling into place, but the road ahead won’t be easy. Stephen’s threat looms large, and Jenny’s trust in me is fragile at best.
As the night deepens, I pace, unable to settle. Every creak and groan of the building sets me on edge. Is Jenny sleeping peacefully? Or is she lying awake, regretting her decision to stay?
Again, I resist the urge to check on her. She needs space and time to process everything that’s happened. Pushing too hard now could undo any progress we’ve made.
Instead, I settle into my office, pulling up the security feeds from the building. The halls are quiet, with no sign of Stephen or any other threat. As dawn breaks, I finally allow myself to relax slightly. We’ve made it through the night. Now comes the hard part—convincing Jenny that her place is here, with me, where I can keep her safe.
Whatever she decides, I won’t let her leave because Jenny is mine to protect, mine to cherish, and mine to keep.