“Don’t. Will you hold me?” I ask, and he nods, picking me up off the bed, taking me into his arms and taking the spot I was just sitting in on the bed. The bed squeaks underneath his weight, and I hold in a bubble of laughter.
“What else?” I ask, burrowing into his chest, the sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear.
“The man that your sister is with is one of Rossi’s sons…” My body stiffens and Ivan runs a hand down my back, soothing the tension out of my muscles. “She’s okay, Kitten, or at least from what I can tell. Rossi has two sons. Both of them have their own illegal businesses but neither one works with or even talks to their father. Matter of fact, his sons have been trying to kill him for quite some time, almost succeeded once. I’m going to be setting up a meeting to discuss things with him, and maybe I can get him to agree to letting you see your sister.”
“I would love that. I miss her so much. I mean, even if I just got to hug her, it would make my entire year.” With his arm wrapped tightly around me, and my body cradled into his chest, I feel safe, cared for, and loved.
“Nothing is ever going to happen to you, Kitten. You carry my heart inside you and as long as I’m living, I’ll protect you from all the bad in this world.” His words bring tears to my eyes.
“You’ve been doing that since the moment I met you.”
Running a hand through my thick blond hair, he whispers, “Because I know you needed someone to watch over you, guard you… I just never expected to fall in love with you.”
“But you did?” I peer up at him, his gray eyes full of adoration, his face now relaxed, and his body at peace.
“I did, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my forehead.
22
Ivan
It’s not often that I’m worried or nervous about meeting someone and honestly, I’m not really
anxious because I’m meeting with Xander. I’m more worried because Violet is pregnant, and my priorities now center around her even more than before.
It’s important that I keep the peace between Xander and I, even if it’s just for Violet.
“Are you nervous?” Violet whispers, looking up at me. She’s sitting on the edge of the bed with her hands in her lap while I adjust my stupid fucking suit.
I hate wearing this shit. Since going into hiding, I haven’t had to wear one and it’s been great, but now that I’m meeting with Xander, I need to look and act the part.
“No, Kitten, I’m not nervous.” I walk over to her, wanting to take her into my arms, but I can’t because of this stupid meeting. “I just want to make sure you and the baby are okay. This meeting is to secure our future, so while I’m not nervous to meet Xander, I am nervous to see what happens.”
Violet smiles, and her smile alone has the power to bring me to my knees. Since finding out about the baby growing inside her belly, we’ve moved into our own place. It’s nothing fancy, a simple two-bedroom cottage secluded in the woods but it’s ours, and it’s close to Roman so I can still help out at the gym. I don’t know what the hell I plan to do now but I can’t go back to the shit I was doing before.
“Everything will be fine. I’m sure Xander is a nice man. I can’t see my sister being with someone who is heartless. Rossi might be horrible, but you said it yourself his sons are better than he is.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her the things Xander has been known to do. It’s better if she assumes that her sister is in the care of an angel instead of a psycho, which is what he is.
“Xander’s a criminal, Kitten, the same as me, and the same as his brother. Maybe he’s kind to your sister but at the end of the day, he always has his own interest at heart. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t, but I like to think that we all can find our own happily ever afters. I’m sure my sister found hers in him.”
I smile because maybe she is right. Maybe her sister did find love in Xander, the same way Violet found love in me. I guess I’ll find out today. I press a kiss to her forehead and unbutton the top button on my dress shirt. This fucking thing is making me sweat.
“I’ve got to go down to the restaurant. You’re going to go with Roman and sit a couple tables away. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
Violet nods. “Make sure to ask him a lot about my sister. All the questions I told you. Make sure that she’s okay.”
“Of course, Kitten.” I take her hand into mine, feeling like a million bucks with her by my side. We meet Roman out in the hall, and he gives me a once over, a smirk on his arrogant face.
“You look like a lawyer, and you’re sweating like a pig headed off to the butcher.”
“Thanks, you look great, too, asshole,” I respond, shaking my head.
“Why, thank you, I always look good.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I mean, I am the younger, better-looking version of you.”
“Shut up. I need your head in the game. You’re to make sure nothing happens to Violet while I’m at this meeting. Don’t leave the room with her, and don’t let her out of your sight.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?” Violet asks, mischief in her blue eyes. Roman and her like to tease me, even more so now than ever, since I’m a little bit overprotective and a whole lot crazy when it comes to my girl.
“Then Roman will accompany you inside.”
The smile drops from Roman’s face, and Violet snickers under her breath.
“I’m not a babysitter, Ivan. If she has to go to the bathroom, I’ll wait outside the fucking door. It’s not like anyone is going to want to try and go inside with me standing in front of it.”
I clench my jaw, telling myself that someday Roman will understand what it’s like to love someone more than he loves himself. “I don't care what you do so long as she remains safe.”
Roman rolls his eyes. “Let go, I’m starving.”
The elevator pings, and we all step inside.
Once inside, I turn to Roman. “You’re supposed to watch her, not stuff your face.” Of course, he’d be more concerned about his belly.
“Why can’t I do both? Plus, how weird would it look if we just sit in a restaurant and not eat or order anything?” He cocks a dark brow.
“I’m actually a little hungry, too,” Violet interrupts, smiling nervously. The elevator door opens, and we make our way down to the hotel’s restaurant. I keep Violet close by my side, while Roman walks right behind us. I scan our surroundings for anything that looks unusual. Of course, we came here thirty minutes early so no one would see us coming together. That’s what you do; you arrive first and leave last.
The hostess greets us and brings us each to the specific tables we have reserved. Violet and Roman sit across the restaurant but within eyesight of each other. I watch her from a distance when the waitress suddenly appears in front of me, cutting off my view.
“Sir, what can I get you?”
“Whiskey, neat.”
She smiles and nods as she starts to walk away.
“I’ll have the same.” A deep voice makes me look up.