"Why so many hours this week?"
"Supplies," Vivi said. "I'm working on something new and beautiful but it's different and bigger. I need more canvas and paints. It all adds up."
"Something for a new show maybe?"
"Maybe," she said coyly. "You'll have to wait and see."
"Tease!"
"Ha! But, speaking of teasing, be careful with Ivan. If he's interested in you and you're interested in him, it could get complicated, Erin. He's not the only one that's vulnerable right now."
As always, she gave wise advice far above her twenty-one years. "Duly noted, Vivi."
We said our goodbyes. I headed back into the bathroom and slipped into the grey t-shirt and black boxers Ivan had lent me. One of his men was supposed to bring me some things from my apartment but he hadn't returned yet. Ivan's boxers were huge on me so I fished around in my purse for a couple of silver snap hair clips and used them to gather and pinch the extra fabric on one side of my waist.
Satisfied with my borrowed clothing, I left the bedroom in search of Ivan. He'd fixed me a sandwich earlier in the kitchen and had given me a quick tour of the place on the way up to the guest room. In the hallway off the living room, Kostya spotted me. Without a word, he pointed to a room at the end of the corridor. I nodded and smiled, silently thanking him for his help.
I rapped my knuckles against the paneled door and waited. Ivan said something in Russian I didn't understand. His tone sounded inviting enough so I twisted the knob and pushed the door open. I found Ivan sitting behind a desk. The bright white glow of two computer monitors sitting on the far right side of his desk painted him with light. He seemed irritated with something. I just hoped it wasn't me.
He didn't look up until after I'd closed the door behind me. His eyes widened slightly when he caught sight of me leaning against the door. "Erin."
"Hey." I gestured to the door. "I can go if you're busy."
He shook his head. "No, I'm just working out some training issues at the gym. Losing three fighters opened up some spots. Now I have fighters asking to be shuffled around to different trainers and others trying to get into the gym."
"I see."
His interested gaze roamed me. The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile. "You look better in those clothes than I ever have."
I laughed nervously and played with the front of the cotton shirt. "Thanks by the way."
He waved his hand. "It's no trouble."
"You know it is," I countered. "I've caused you a lot of trouble in the last, oh, eight hours or so." I hesitated before asking, "Do you regret it?"
"Helping you?" He shook his head. "No."
"Are you sure?"
Ivan studied me a moment. Finally, he flicked his thick fingers. "Come here, Erin."
Mouth dry, I crossed the distance between us. Ivan pointed at the empty spot on his desk. I hopped up onto it and self-consciously tugged the hem of his borrowed shirt down against my thighs. He leaned back in his chair and asked, "What are you going to do after we find your sister?"
I considered his question. "Vivi just asked me the same thing."
His brow furrowed. "Short girl? Black hair? Works at Samovar?"
I nodded. "She knows you."
"She should," he said with a laugh. "I always tip well."
I smiled at him. "I'm sure she appreciates it."
"She better," he joked. "Every time I leave there, my wallet is noticeably lighter."
I was surprised by the way smiling and laughter softened his harsh features. I rather liked this new glimpse into Ivan. Maybe he was all tough and scary on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside.
With a long, slow exhale, I said, "I don't know what I'm going to do after we find Ruby. I'll probably try to talk her into rehab again."
"It won't work." Ivan spoke with such certainty. "She has to want to change. She has to want to kick the drugs. You can't do it for her."
I picked at the hem of the shirt. "I used to think that if I just loved her more and supported her and showed her that she had so many reasons to get clean she would. Now I'm not so sure."
"Look, I've never been addicted to drugs or alcohol but I know how hard it is to make a change. I know how difficult it is to walk away from a certain kind of life and start a new, different one. It's terrifying."
I lifted my gaze to his. "You mean when you left the mob?"
Ivan's unwavering gaze held mine. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Why did I leave?" He sucked in a noisy breath. "I'd never enjoyed that life. Some men do. It was never one I wanted. It was a necessity."