Chapter 0164

“It's time, miss,” he says, his voice serious. “He wants you home. Now.”

“Oh?” I ask, biting my lip with disappointment. “No breakfast?”

Slowly, the guard shakes his head. I turn my attention back to Ivan, but his eyes are on the guard.

“Can you give us a minute?” Ivan says to Kent’s man, using a tone that reminds me that Ivan, too, is the head of a criminal

organization. The guard hesitates but Ivan twists his head a little, his mouth tightening, letting the guard know that it wasn’t really

a question. Sighing, the guard goes back inside, closing the door behind him.

“Can I tell you something Fay? Before you go?” Ivan asks quietly, his voice more serious than I’m used to, and definitely too

serious for dawn. “Just between us?”

I cock my head to the side, some instinct in me prodding me to pay attention, so I sit up and look him in the face. This is...

different, than the carefree Ivan I know, who always acts like he can handle anything. Instead, now, there’s real worry in his eyes.

“Okay,” I breathe. “Sure.”

“You need to be careful, Fay,” Ivan urges, his voice tentative. “I wanted to tell you this last night — but we got distracted. And now

time is short, so I’m sorry that this is abrupt, but...things are changing in the criminal sphere. Something big is coming — I don’t

want you to get caught up in it. But you’re very close to some of the big players in this war. I’m worried that you could get swept

away in it.”

I feel myself go pale as I listen to him, fascinated. I knew that there was...discord between the families, but I never thought...

“Are you one of these players, Ivan?” I hear myself ask, my voice steadier than I thought it would be as my mind races to think of

Kent — of Daniel —

“lam,” lvan says quietly, nodding slowly and raising a hand to cup my cheek. “I can protect you, if you...if you'll let me.”

Slowly, I reach out and take his other hand, needing to know more. “Are you suggesting that... maybe Kent can’t?”

“Fay,” Ivan whispers, leaning closer to me. “I can’t — I don’t want to say anything that will make it worse, or get you into hot water

at home. But...” he looks at me seriously, his eyes locked on mine. And then he swallows, like he’s made a hard decision, and

speaks all in a rush.

“Kent's going down, Fay,” Ivan insists, moving his hand from my cheek to behind my neck, wrapping his fingers softly in the hair

at the nape. “He’s on the wrong side of — of everything. You have to get out of that house while you can. If you come with me, I

can protect you.”

I move away from Ivan suddenly, shocked — scared — glancing over my shoulder towards the door, my heart starting to race.

“No,” lvan says, urgent, his hand slipping from my neck to my shoulder, pulling me back. “Not right now — there’s time —

everything's fine, I didn’t take you out of there last night to like, make a move while you were gone.” Ivan shakes his head and I

watch him closely.

“Just think about it,” he concludes

softly, his eye wide. And deep do

everything in dslsekethdt. this is

rio) a Bley Yor power. Or if it is, that

beneath that play is a real concern

for me. A desire to keep me safe.

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“Thank you, Ivan,” I say, biting my lip. “I will think about it.”

And then I lean forward, pressing a

kiss to his mouth, lettin emygelf) (1)

linger Qniust arhamnen with my

ads osed, wondering if this...

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But then I pull away and stand up. He watches my every move.

“I have to go,” I whisper, holding his gaze for — well, maybe for too long.

And then I turn, and leave, nodding to

the guards in the house to lett

know I'm egdy and 63 Wath out the

dodk, fk ow lvan is behind me,

watching my every step. Please read

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