for so long, I failed to see what was right in front of me. I failed to see the love that poured from deep within her but there was no missing it now, and if I had to, I’d kill everyone and do anything to make sure she remained mine.
Mine and safe.
19
Violet
A little over a week had passed since Roman rescued us and helped patch up Ivan’s wound, which was finally healing. I knew this because he kept trying to get me to have sex with him while I kept denying him, even though I wanted him just as badly. He needed to be healing, letting the wound close completely, but all he really wanted was for me to be wrapped around him.
I’m sitting in one of the many living rooms this place has, reading a book that we had gotten when we went on a grocery run. I don’t particularly like being here, and I don’t really like Roman, but I’m happy he and Ivan are finally getting along better. Roman still hardly interacts with me. Most of the time, he pretends I’m not here, and I am fine with that. I would much rather him not look at me than give me the death stare he gave me at the gym the first night I met him.
I started seeing a change between Roman and Ivan a few days after we got here. Roman seemed to have warmed up to Ivan being here. Maybe he remembered that he is still his brother after all. I see them joke and laugh more often and that makes some of the coldness Roman gives me bearable. I tell myself he’s misunderstood, heartbroken over the loss of their sister, but I’m sure there is something deeper going on.
“Come here, Kitten,” Ivan calls from the kitchen just on the other side of the room. I hear male laughter and hushed voices. I don’t like when he uses my nickname in front of all the men who live here. I don’t want them to know what he calls me. I just want it to stay between us, as our own little thing.
Placing the book down on the table in front of me, I get up and pad into the kitchen, noticing that everyone is occupying the space. I feel exposed with everyone’s eyes on me.
Mac and Devin greet me with smiles. Roman completely ignores me, as he always does. He doesn’t even look up at me when I enter the room.
Ivan reaches for me, pulling me into his side, a smile creeping onto his lips. “We’re going to order pizza before the fight tonight. What kind do you want?”
I can see the disgust fill Roman’s features, and I don’t understand why he dislikes me so much.
“Cheese is fine.” I shrug. I don’t tell Ivan I’m not hungry, or that I haven’t been feeling good lately. If I do, he’ll worry, and I don’t want him worrying about me when there are lots of other things going on right now. This Xander guy has been calling Roman to get ahold of Ivan. The fear of something bad happening to Ivan again consumes me. Maybe he should just call him, telling him he doesn’t want to be a part of whatever it is he’s calling about.
“On it, Kitten,” Devin jokes, and I smile at him. Devin and Mac have grown on me. They’re nicer and far easier going than Roman.
“Tonight at nine is the fight. It’s invite only, but since you’re arriving with me, you should be fine.” Roman is speaking directly to Ivan, and I turn my face into Ivan’s shirt, inhaling his deep scent, trying to calm the chaos coursing through my veins. “As long as you keep her at your side at all times, then everything should be fine. If you lose her in the crowd though…” Roman’s voice trails off, the warning not missed, not at all.
“I won’t let her out of my sight, so we don’t have shit to worry about.” Ivan’s voice is strong, deep, and he pulls me closer, making it hard for me to breathe.
“Good, because if something goes down, I can’t help you. I’m there to fucking fight and earn a paycheck. Not to babysit you or her.” I feel Roman’s eyes on me, they burn into my skin, making me feel as if he can see deep inside me.
Devin calls to order the food, and not shortly after is it delivered. After we eat, we get ready