Yuri glanced at the cars in question and laughed. "They should. If I'm not mistaken, that sedan is probably holding a couple of plainclothes police officers. I'm sure they're enjoying their staring contest with Kostya."
Still laughing, Yuri strode toward the locked entrance and hit the buzzer. A few moments later, Vivian came across the intercom and unlocked the door for him. Derek kept close as they made their way to the second floor. Nikolai used the ground floor as storage but the second he'd converted into a massive studio space for Vivian's twentieth birthday. It was the kind of gift a man gave to a woman he loved but Nikolai maintained that he only viewed Vivian as his ward. Yuri wasn't convinced.
"Hey!" Barefoot and wearing a paint-splattered apron, Vivian greeted him at the entrance. She glanced at Derek. "I see you've brought reinforcements."
"This is Derek. He's one of my private guards." Yuri gestured toward the windows. "I see you've got two sets of babysitters on you."
Vivian rolled her pale eyes. "Is that ridiculous or what? I stepped outside of my apartment this morning to go run and walked right into Kostya. I came home from the run and found two of Eric's off-duty buddies watching me."
Yuri didn't like the idea of Vivian's detective cousin sticking his nose in where it didn't belong but he couldn't blame the man for wanting to look out for his family. The detective had saved Dimitri and Benny's life and had given Ivan a chance to make things right with the Hermanos and Albanians so Yuri hoped the man would stay out of it this time around as well. Lena's father's life depended on it.
"Derek, why don't you have a seat over there?" Vivian pointed to a cozy corner with a couch and reading material. "The small fridge has water and soda if you're thirsty."
"Yes, ma'am."
Vivian crooked her finger. "Yuri, this way."
He followed her to a corner of the warehouse she'd set up for photography. There was a simple stool sitting against a gray backdrop. "I suppose I'm sitting here."
She nodded. "I doubt you have as many tattoos as Ivan or Kostya so this won't take long. You can put your jacket and shirt on that table."
A quiver of discomfort pierced his belly as he started to undress in front of his girlfriend's best friend. Clearing his throat, he asked, "May I see the other pieces in the collection?"
"Sure." She shot him a playful smile. "Would you like me to turn around while you take off your shirt? I promise I won't peek."
He chuckled. "Funny."
"Sorry. You seem tense."
"The last few days have been rather intense."
Vivian's expression turned sad. "I couldn't believe it when Nikolai called me this morning to tell me about Lena's dad. That's just awful. She tried to play it off when we talked earlier but I can tell she's terrified." Picking up her camera, Vivian added, "I'm really glad she has you in her corner, Yuri."
His eyebrows rose with surprise. "Are you? Even after the way I messed things up on Monday?"
She shrugged. "I realize you made a mistake. I know you'd never deliberately hurt her. I've seen the way you've watched her over the past few months. I know that look."
Yes, I'm sure you do, he thought silently.
"I know Lena is really good at projecting this tough, badass bitch character when she's scared but a lot of it is bravado. Yes, she's more than capable of taking care of herself, but she needs someone to lean on, Yuri."
"I want to be that someone. I've made it clear that I'm in this for the long-haul with her."
"But she's giving you that mistrusting, uncertain vibe?"
He nodded. "I can tell she's been hurt badly by her parents. Her father seems to have broken so many promises to her and her mother ran off and died."
"Yeah," Vivian said, her voice unnaturally tight. "She definitely has some issues that you'll have to work out together."
"She's worth it. Hell," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I'm not exactly baggage free here. I've got my own hang-ups."
"We all do, Yuri." She pointed to the stool. "Ready?"
Naked from the waist up, he sat down and straightened his back. "Like this?"
"Yes. Just so you know—I'm not doing any face captures. I'm only interested in your tattoos." She moved closer and held the camera up to her face. "Do you have a story behind this tattoo?" The camera came down to reveal her smile. "Obviously it's about brotherhood."
"I had it done while I was in the military. Dimitri and I were stationed in different areas. Nikolai and Ivan were in prison." He absentmindedly touched the tattoo as Vivian crouched down to snap a photo from a different angle. "It made me feel close to them again. It reminded that our bond could survive anything."
Vivian finished her quick photo session. "I like that description. I'm going to find a way to incorporate that feeling into the painting."
His part finished, Yuri grabbed his shirt and slipped back into it while Vivian uploaded the pictures and made some notes in a spiral notebook. She glanced over at him as he fixed his cufflinks. "Thank you for doing this. I've been so lucky to have such great friends willing to sit for these photos."
"I'm happy to do it. I'm glad you consider me a friend."
"Well, you are my best tipper at the restaurant," she said with a cheeky grin.
He laughed and teased, "I think you're setting the bar for friendship a bit low."
"Probably."
"Since we're friends, perhaps you wouldn't mind helping me with something?"
"That depends. What kind of help?"
"It's for Lena." He slid his arms into his suit jacket. "She was wearing this really beautiful blazer this morning—"
"The poppy red one with the black piping?" Vivian interjected.
"Yes."
"I love that color on her. Isn't it great?"
"Very," he agreed. "I noticed that her left wrist looked a little bare. I wanted to get her something pretty."
"Something pretty?" Vivian leaned back against the table. "Like jewelry?"
"Yes. Gold, I think."
"And you want me to—what? Recommend something?"
"I thought you might know if there's a piece she's had her eye on or maybe a certain style she prefers."
She reacted with mock shock. "You're asking me for advice on how to woo a woman? I thought you were supposed to be some internationally renowned playboy."
Yuri took her playful jabs in stride. "It's different with Lena. She's not just any woman. With anyone else, I'd go to my jeweler and ask for something bright and gaudy and obscenely expensive. I want to get it right with her. I want something that’s special to her." Letting some vulnerability into his voice, he said, "I want this to be perfect for her. Please?"
Vivian's expression softened. "We went window shopping a few weeks ago. I'll make you a list and some recommendations."
"Thank you."
She picked up a pen and her notepad and gestured to the far wall. "Why don't you look at the paintings while I make this list?"