Chapter 0126

Ivan laughs a little and shakes his head, coming forward to take me by the arm. “I’m sorry, Fay,” he says, and I look up to see

real apology on his face. “I shouldn’t have said that — you look beautiful.”

I'm still blushing, though. I never should have worn this dress.

“Come on,” Ivan says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and nodding his head towards the restaurant. “Let’s go get

something to eat.”

I stop in my tracks, though, realizing — quite suddenly — that I don’t want to go in there. I don’t want to go to another mafia

hotspot, the place Daniel took me because his daddy has connections here, where Ivan was able to get a last-minute reservation

because he, too, has connections.

Kent sent me on this date, but I get to decide what happens from here on out. In the end, I’m in control.

Ivan looks down at me, curious about my pause, but I flash him a big smile.

“Actually,” I say, eager. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

He cocks his head, curious. “! thought you wanted to come here.”

“Did Kent tell you that?” I ask.

“I told him to send the car to a restaurant I picked, and he said he was sending you here. Because it’s your favorite.” A slow,

dangerous little smile starts to form on Ivan’s face.

“Yeah well,” I say, wrinkling my nose at him. “Kent doesn’t know me as well as he thinks he does.”

Ivan simply nods, his smile growing, and raises a hand to signal the valet to bring his car back.

Thirty minutes later, Ivan and I are sitting on top of a picnic table in my old neighborhood, our feet resting on the bench and an

enormous spread of tacos set out between us. I directed Ivan to drive here, knowing that my favorite food truck sets itself up on

the edge of this little park on Tuesday nights. It’s dark out, but the owners have strung up some cheerful lights and are playing

some traditional music. It’s not a busy night, either, so lvan and I have the place mostly to ourselves.

It is, overall, kind of perfect.

“This is amazing,” lvan murmurs, taking another bite of a carne asada taco. “How did I not know that this place was here?”

I give him a little wink. “Neighborhood secret,” I say, lifting my beer to my mouth and taking a sip. “We don’t usually let outsiders

in but,” I give him a surveying glance from head to foot, “for you, we'll make an exception.”

Ivan smirks at me. “Gracious of you,” he says, and then takes another bite, finishing his taco and reaching for another.

I smile, pleased that he approves, and nestle a little further into the warmth of Ivan’s suit jacket. He spread over my shoulders

when we got here, intuiting that I might get cold sitting outside. I watch Ivan as he eats, observing the tattoos on his forearms

that are revealed by his rolled-up shirtsleeves.

“What's this one for?” I ask, pointing to an image of the Virgin Mary on the outside of his left arm. Ivan looks to where I’m pointing

and then takes a moment to swallow before answering.

“My dad,” he says, looking seriously into my face. “He died, about five years ago.”

“I'm sorry,” I say, frowning and wondering, suddenly, what his life is actually like. All I know is that he’s the ambitious young

prodigy of the underworld, and that he’s smart and powerful. But I have no idea, really, where he comes from or who he loves.

“It’s all right,” lvan replies, shrugging it

off. “We all have our trauma. ees

a good J He avesthee little

ananng looks me in the eye.

“He'd have liked you, though, for sure.

He loved redheads.” Please read the

original content at .

“Yes, well, we're quite irresistible,” I murmur, flipping my hair back over my shoulder and pretending a haughtiness I don’t really

feel. I’m rewarded with a laugh and I grin back at Ivan.

“Irresistible for sure,” he says, always the flirt as he looks down at the table and reaches for another taco. “But also, apparently, a

woman of mercurial affections.”

My breath hitches a little at this - what does he mean by that? Suddenly, I’m terrified that he knows, somehow, about me and

Kent — about the plans I have for later - commands, really — to meet him after midnight.

“What do you mean?” I ask, anxious but trying to keep my voice nonchalant.

lvan glances up at me as he brings a

plate of shrimp tacos into his lap,

mee at ease. Then, he raises his left

nd-yadleS his fingers at me.

(3 ee says, and I glance down

at my own hand to realize that he’s

right — I’m actually not wearing

Daniel's ring tonight. “Everything all

right with you two?” Please read the

original content at .

I hesitate, wondering how to play this.

I actually hadn't left the ring at home

on purpose ~ I just...ha at com!

r enka ONG after my

shower. But could I use this to my

advantage? Do I want Ivan to know

that I’m free? I hesitate inwardly,

wondering what Janeen would do.

Please read the original content at

.

“Sorry,” Ivan says, and I look up into his face to see that he really means it. “I didn’t mean to touch a sore subject.”