“I failed you," he answered. “Not just you. I failed the boss, too.”
“You didn't know what would happen,” I tell him. “Nobody could know what would happen.”
“Regardless,” Yuri continues, “boss is gonna have my balls because I messed up.”
“You’re right, Yuri,” Ivan says as he walks up to the car. There’s a tone to his voice that I’ve never heard before, and it sends a chill through me. “We will discuss your failures later. You are to stand outside my office at the estate until I decide to address what happened today.”
“Yes, boss,” Yuri responds.
“You will also stay here and help the clean-up crew. Dmitri will drive the car home,” Ivan continues.
“Yes, boss,” Yuri says, hanging his head in defeat.
Ivan climbs into the backseat with me and pulls the door closed. A different man sits in the driver’s seat, then starts the car.
“What’s going to happen to Yuri?” I ask, looking Ivan in the eyes. I see rage reflected back at me, and I realize this is a side of him I haven’t seen before.
The boss.
“He will be punished.” Ivan’s voice is so low, it scares me and I shiver.
“What are you going to do to him?”
“Nothing he doesn’t deserve for allowing you to be taken.”
“He didn’t know!” I exclaim loudly. “He didn’t think something like this was a possibility.”
“That’s the problem,lyubimaya. He didn’t think. As a result, you were placed in harm’s way, and that goes against what he was tasked to do.”
“Promise me you won’t hurt him,” I plead as I grip Ivan’s arm. Ivan turns away from me and looks out the car window.
“I won’t promise that to you. I will only promise that there will be consequences for what happened today,” Ivan responds.
I don’t say anything else after letting out a frustrated sigh. I don’t get why Ivan would want to punish Yuri. He isn’t the one who kidnapped me in Public Garden. He helped get me back.
I must be having an adrenaline crash, because all of a sudden I get incredibly tired and struggle to keep my eyes open.
“Come here,lyubimaya,” Ivan says, gesturing for me to come closer. He extends his arm, ready to wrap around my shoulders.
I’m a little hesitant to do so because of his anger towards Yuri and the rage I can see in his face. Exhaustion wins out, and I allow him to pull me close. The leather and wood scent he wears continues to be a comfort I can’t resist. When he wraps his arm around my shoulders to pull me closer to his body, he places a soft kiss on the top of my head.
I sink into the warmth radiating from him, and between that and the vibration of the car as it drives away, I’m soon fast asleep.
“Lyubimaya, wake up,” I hear Ivan saying as he gently shakes my shoulder. “We’re home.”
I push myself up to a sitting position and look out the window. My surroundings are unfamiliar, but through the window I’m staring at the most beautiful home I’ve ever seen. There’s a covered porch with columns, and warm lights coming through the windows.
Ivan gets out and rounds the back of the car to open the car door on my side, holding out his hand to help me out. I step out of the car while still clutching the blanket Ivan wrapped me in. I can see a little more of the house, and realize it’s even bigger than what I could see out the car window. There’s a separate garage with what looks like an apartment over it.What kind of business is Ivan involved with if he can afford a place like this?
Ivan holds my hand and starts walking towards the door. I take a small step, but immediately stumble, my body still tired. Ivan bends down to pick me up, one arm around my back and the other under my knees, so I’m cradled against his chest. I get tingles, and I can’t tell if it’s from the adrenaline coming down or the feeling of being held in Ivan’s arms.
“Where are we?” I ask him, taking in these new surroundings.
“My home outside the city,” Ivan answers. He carries me up the short set of stairs and into the house.
“This house is insane,” I tell him, marveling at how big it all is. “Ivan, you said we were going home. This isn’t my home.”
“It is now your home, as it is more secure than your apartment building.”
