I stood frozen. Eyes wide with disbelief and something that I couldn't form in words. His words, they hit a nerve where no one had ever touched. Judas Romanovski. How could I tell him.
Couldn't he understand it all would get him in trouble? Judas was no merciful man. Ivan would get under his radar and that was the last thing I wanted.
The tension in my body was as thick as the fear crawling up my spine.
Ivan's eyes bore into mine and his grip on my wrists tightened to the point it was almost painful. My heart pounded and the blood rushed in my ears. I had to get out of this. Somehow.
"I do not owe you any explanation." I breathed out avoiding his eyes and trying to jerk myself from him grip but he was too strong. So I just gave up with a sigh and stared up at him. "Let me go."
His lips twitched in a mockery of a smile as he leaned forward. "Do you not? Or are you just hiding something?" He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my skin. "Because last I checked, people don't avoid their friends unless they have something to hide."
I stiffened. "You're not my friend."
That hit a nerve. His grip tightened briefly before loosening. His eyes glinted with something darker. "Funny. I remember you asking me for help once. You said someone was stalking you. And don't you dare fucking lie cause I know a liar when I see one. And now? Look at you. Changed. Cold. Distant." His gaze flickered to my neck again. "Marked by some man. What happened, Sera?"
Sera. I swallowed hard.
"Nothing happened. Just let me go, you dammit!"
But he didn't budge. Instead, he leaned closer, his face inches from mine. "Not until you tell me the truth."
"I told you. I was busy. That's it."
His jaw clenched, his eyes hard. "Busy with Judas Romanovski."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, my heart beating even faster.
"Don't play dumb, Seraphina," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm not an idiot. Judas fucking Romanovski... everyone knows who he is. And I know what he does."
I swallowed hard, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "How do you-"
"He's a goddamn mafia kingpin!" Ivan snapped, cutting me off. "Do you think you can just hide shit like that from me? From anyone? I notice things. I know people. And I've been watching you."
The accusation hung in the air between us. My skin crawled. "He's not-"
Ivan's laugh was cold and humorless. "You really think I don't know? Jesus, Seraphina, the man is fucking dangerous. Ruthless. You're in over your head, and you know it."
I shook my head, panic swelling in my chest. "No... no, it's not like that."
"It is like that!" Ivan barked, his voice echoing down the empty hallway. "What the hell were you thinking? Getting mixed up with him? Do you know what he does to people? How he breaks them? You're a fucking fool if you think you can come out of this unscathed." Tears welled in my eyes as I stared up at him, and just for a second, a tiny minute second his eyes softened.
"I said I can help you. And I will stay true to my words. You mean something to me, Sera. More than you can even realise." Hands that were soft and gentle roughly caressed my cheek.
My breath hitched and my chest tightened as his words washed over me, unexpected and heavy. I hadn't heard that name-Sera-from his lips in so long, and the way he said it now… it felt like he truly cared. When I knew I shouldn't feel that way.
'You're just a pawn, little bird. My pawn.'
No. No, no, no. Why was I suddenly recalling his words? He didn't controlled me. He didn't had any right to invade my head.
I shook my head trying to get myself away from him but he just pulled me to him. This time he was gentler. And I nearly cried. I knew this was fake gentleness but why… why did his touch felt so warm.
Or was I too quick to judging him?
The pads of his fingers grazed my skin, the pressure firm, like he was grounding himself through me. I wanted to pull away-needed to-but the moment his hand touched my cheek, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.
I swallowed hard, unable to look away from his intense gaze.
You mean something to me.
Did I truly meant something to him?
'You're my whore, ptichka.' I shut my eyes.
The words echoed in my head, carving a hollow ache deep in my chest. How could I mean anything to him after hiding things from him? How could he still care?
His thumb brushed against the corner of my mouth.
"And I won't let some bastard destroy you," he whispered. There was a fire in his green eyes, something dangerous and possessive, and it both terrified and scared me.
I should have pulled away. I should have screamed at him, told him that I didn't need his help, that I didn't need him. But instead, I stood frozen, heart racing, my body betraying every rational thought in my head. I could feel my pulse in my throat.
Maybe he could. He could help me.
Ivan's thumb traced my lower lip, lingering there. His voice softened, almost a caress. "Sera… I'm trying to save you."
Save me? From what? My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest, but his touch, the way his fingers brushed my skin, it was... grounding.
"I don't need saving," I whispered, though the words felt weak, unsure. "I can handle this. I can handle him."
Ivan's chuckle was low, almost pitying. "No, you can't. Not with someone like Judas. He'll break you, little by little, and by the time you realize it, you won't even recognize yourself."
His words wormed their way into my head, burrowing deep. A chill crept up my spine. I couldn't look away from him, from the intensity in his eyes.
"I won't let that happen." His grip tightened slightly, but his tone stayed sweet. "You think you're strong enough, but I see you. I've always seen you. You're fragile, Sera. Too fragile for someone like him. I can protect you. I can make all of this go away."
I blinked, his words swirling in my mind, sinking into me like poison wrapped in silk. It felt… comforting. How could something so terrifying feel so comforting?
"You don't know what it's like with him," I muttered, my voice cracking.
Ivan leaned in closer, his breath warm on my skin. "I know more than you think. I know how he operates. I know the darkness in men like him. And you… you're too good for that. Too pure. You don't belong in that world."
My chest tightened. Did I? I hadn't thought of myself as pure in so long. But the way he said it… it almost made me believe it.
He was close now, so close I could feel the heat of his body against mine, his thumb grazing my lips again. "I could make you happy, Sera," he murmured, his voice a soft lull. "I would never hurt you like he does. You mean more to me than that."
I swallowed, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I… I don't know-"
"Shh." His hand moved to cup my face gently. "You don't have to know. That's what I'm here for. To take care of you. You can let me. Just let me in, Sera. Trust me."
Trust him. Could I? His touch felt so warm, his words so sincere. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was fragile. Maybe Judas would break me if I stayed. Maybe Ivan could help me.
His other hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me just a fraction closer. "You don't have to be strong anymore. Not with me."
My breath caught. His words… they felt like safety. His hands, his touch, everything was wrapping around me like a blanket, and I couldn't tell what was real anymore.
"You can trust me, Sera," he whispered again, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. "You don't need him. You need me. Let me take care of everything. Just... trust me."
A tear slipped down my cheek, and his thumb caught it, his gaze softening even more, like he cared, truly cared. My chest ached, and my thoughts spiraled in confusion. How could I mean something to him when I'd kept things from him? When I'd run to Judas instead of him?
"I don't… I don't know how to do this," I whispered, my voice trembling.
Ivan smiled, that sweet, almost tender smile that made my stomach twist. "You don't have to know. Just follow me. I'll protect you from him. From everything. I'll make sure no one ever hurts you again."
The way he said it, like a promise, like salvation-it made my heart stutter.
"You're safe with me, Sera. You'll always be safe with me."
I nodded, just barely, my heart fluttering in my chest. Maybe... maybe he was right. Maybe Ivan was the only one who could save me from Judas.
"I won't let him ruin you," Ivan continued, his voice a soothing balm, his hand still cradling my cheek. "You're too precious for that. Too precious to be wasted on someone like him."
Precious. The word hung in the air like a lifeline, like something I desperately wanted to believe. Maybe I was. Maybe, in Ivan's eyes, I was precious.
"I won't leave you," he murmured, his lips brushing my forehead, so soft, so gentle. "Not like he will."
I shut my eyes, the confusion and fear swirling in my chest. His words were making sense, wrapping around me, drowning out the doubts.
"You're better off with me," he whispered, his lips just grazing my skin. "I can make everything better, Sera. I can fix this. Just let me."
And for a moment, just a brief, fleeting moment, I believed him.