22. Malev

Nearly a week has passed since I last talked to Roman.

Although I have been going to his place to finish up, I didn't see him there.

"Earth to Thea, everything okay?" Dean snapped me out of my trance and I gave him a small smile.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about something... I'm sorry again Dean I just... can't right now." I said again and he shook his head.

"It's alright Thea, I already told you, it was better this way. I wanted to talk to you about this stuff anyway and I think staying friends is better for us." He said and I sighed in relief.

"Thank god, I was feeling really bad..." I said and he gave me a reassuring smile and held my hand, giving it a small squeeze.

"It's okay, but I have a feeling you're not considering you've been out of it since we came here. Is everything okay?" He asked me and I pursed my lips.

I can trust him.

"It's just that someone from Russia is coming tomorrow and I have a feeling there's no good reason." I told him and he nodded slowly.

"Your cousin?" He asked me and I bit my lip slightly and shook my head.

"I call him my cousin but he's actually like a... really close person to me... He's like a son to my uncle, since his father passed away when he was young, my uncle took him under his wing."

"His dad and my uncle used to be childhood friends." I explained and Dean nodded in understanding.

"Okay... I get it.. So what's the problem?" He asked me and I shrugged.

"That's what we don't know... He owns half of Russia and he needs Alex's help but what's confusing me more is that he also needs my help." I said frowning.

"I'm sure it isn't anything worrying. Don't worry, it'll be alright." Dean assured me and I gave him a small smile and finished my burger, looking around the small but cosy diner where we decided to meet up.

The next day, early in the morning, I was driving towards the airport in my Audi, speeding on the highway because I was already late, when my phone rang.

I connected it to the Bluetooth and answered without looking at the screen and almost immediately, a deep and husky voice came through, with a hint of sleepiness.

"Thea where the fuck are you I've been waiting." He spoke and I smiled.

"I'm on the way asshole have patience." I told him and heard his grunt.

"Sweetheart I'll shoot that attitude right out of you. You'd be dead if you were anyone else." He said and I chuckled.

"Well then good thing I'm not anyone else. Wait, I'm here, I see your jet. Come out lazy pants." I said and hung up before he could say anything else.

My tires screeched on the asphalt as I came to a halt beside the plane and sighed at the ginormous amount of bodyguards everywhere.

Trust this guy to make a dramatic entrance.

I got out of my car and walked towards the plane just as it opened and two guards came out, followed by a very sweet sight.

He looked around before his stormy grey eyes fell on me and a smirk made its way to his face.

He fixed his coat jacket and walked down the steps slowly, although I didn't waste any time to run towards him and jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.

"God I missed you." I told him and heard his deep chuckle as he kissed my forehead.

"Me too kotenok." (Kitten) He whispered in my ear as he carried me back to my car, everyone giving us weird looks.

What? I missed the guy.

"Keys?" He asked me and I handed them to him as he put me in my seat and buckled my seat belt and got in himself in the drivers seat.

"How's John? Aleksander?" He asked me and I smiled at him.

"Good... Are you hungry? I'm hungry.. Can we eat something? Please?" I pleaded and he laughed and looked at me with a big smile on his face, the same smile I loved.

"Of course. Tell me where you want to go." He said and I beamed at him and lead him to a fancy restaurant because he wouldn't go near a small one.

And they call me spoiled.

We pulled up at the same restaurant where Roman and I came the other day because I loved the food here. We walked in hand in hand and didn't need to get a reservation since the name Elias could do wonders.

"This place is nice. New?" He asked me and I shrugged.

"I guess, I only came here once before and loved the food." I told him and he nodded as we ordered and sipped on our wine, even though it was still morning.

"Did you tell your brother we're here?" He asked me and I nodded.

"I did, on the way here." I said and raised my glass to my lips and took a long sip, my eyes wandering around when I choked on the wine and sputtered it out, coughing like a crazy person.

What the actual fuck.

"What wrong Kotenok?" He got up from his seat and rubbed my back soothingly as I wiped my face with a napkin, my eyes on the same person.

"You have got to be kidding me." I whispered under my breath.

"You okay?" His Russian accent came thicker as he looked at me with worry in his eyes and I nodded, tearing my gaze from the person in front of me and to the one with me.

"Yeah, I just thought I saw someone." I said and he nodded, obviously not believing me and went back to his seat as we continued eating our food, although I could feel his gaze on me the entire time.

"Okay what's wrong?" The man in front of me asked as he paid the bill and I shook my head.

"Nothing, I'm fine." I lied and he searched my face.

"You're a good liar kotenok." He whispered, leaning close to me and I shrugged when he leaned in even closer.

"But I can still see right through you." He whispered in my ear and I frowned, looking up at him.

"Mind your own business." I told him off playfully and he rolled his eyes before offering me his arm, which I took and held onto his hand as we walked out. My eyes scanned the area again but I didn't see him anywhere and sighed in relief.

"Who are you searching for?" I heard his voice and my head snapped to him.

"N-no one." I said and looked away, hearing his deep chuckle.

"If anyone is bothering you, you tell me kotenok. Got it?" He said firmly and I nodded, still refusing to look into his eyes.

"Got it." I assured him and saw his satisfied face before we made our way to the front of the restaurant, when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

I really can't deal with this right now.

"Going somewhere, princess?" He spoke and both of us froze.

"Heather." The man beside me spoke and I gulped, knowing the tone too well.

Oh he's angry.

We both turned around together and my eyes widened when I saw the two people in front of me.

I heard the click of a gun and immediately put a hand on the arm of the man beside me before he could pull it out of his waistband.

"No, Ivan." I warned him and he glared at me.

"Why the fuck did he call you princess, kotenok?" He asked me lowly and I gulped, glancing briefly at Roman who was looking between us both and then his eyes fell on our arms and hands joined together and his jaw clenched tightly.

"Malev." Roman spat venomously and Ivan's eyes went to him and his lips curled in distaste.

"Angelo." He spoke with poison in his voice and I sighed, holding Ivan's face with both of my hands and turning it so he was facing me.

"Ivan, look at me, calm down. Let's go, yeah?" I asked him and he frowned.

"Why is he here?" He asked me.

"He lives here Ivan, and as for the restaurant, I don't know. Now come on." I told him and dragged him away from Roman and Enzo before he shot them.

He kissed the top of my head and glared at Roman once again before following me out reluctantly.

Thank god.

We got in the car silently and I decided to drive since Ivan would probably do something rash and I really wanted to live right now.

"Now, will you answer my question kotenok or do I have to torture it out of you?" He asked me and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't mind him, Ivan. He does that, a lot." I told him and he nodded.

"Has he done anything to you?" He asked me again suspiciously and I sighed.

"No Ivan, he hasn't. Well if you don't count me working for him." I said and his eyes widened.

"Why the fuck do you work for him?" He asked me.

"I'm a designer, darling, I'm doing his house." I told him and he pursed his lips.

"Oh come on Ivan." I whined and he sighed.

"Does he know you're Russian?" He asked me and I shrugged.

"I swore at him and cursed him in Russian, so I guess so?" I said and Ivan chuckled.

"Good. Now he won't mess with you." He said and I frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked him.

"He knows who I am very well kotenok, and now that he saw you with me, he won't annoy you if he knows what's good for him." He said and looked out the window.

"Oh." That was all I said as I continued to drive back home in silence and the soft sound of music playing on the radio.

We reached home in fifteen minutes since I was basically racing down the road. Pulling up in the driveway, I saw dad and Alex coming out of the house.

"Aleksander." Ivan gave my brother a side hug and Alex frowned.

"Alexander." He corrected and Ivan rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." Ivan said and greeted my dad as well, and we all went inside.

"So how's Russia?" Dad asked Ivan who was now puffing smoke. I made a fake gagging sound and they all looked at me.

"Put that out asshole." I told Ivan who didn't give me any mind.

"Get out then." He retorted back and I rolled my eyes and got up.

"I'll be in my room if anyone needs me, I have to catch up on some work." I said and they all nodded as I skipped up the steps and plopped down on my bed.

Dialling Jane's number, I waited very patiently for her to pick up and when she did, I rejoiced because Jane hardly ever picks up her phone.

"Thea, hey." She spoke yawning and I chuckled.

"Hi. Tired?" I asked her and she hummed in response.

"Is your cousin home from Russia?" She asked me yawning once again and I laughed.

"Yup, we just came back." I told her.

"And you won't believe what happened." I said and that seemed to wake her up because I heard sheets rustling.

"What? Did you kill someone?" She asked me and I laughed.

"No, but I did see Roman and Ivan almost shoot each other if that's as interesting." I said and she gasped.

"No way." She said and I chuckled, relating the whole story to her.

"That's badass. Two hot guys, one Russian and one Italian, fight each other to the death for the hand of a young maiden." She said playfully and I scoffed.

"Yeah right." I said and sighed.

"Anyways. I was thinking we could go out today. Beach, maybe?" I asked her and she squealed.

"Hell yeah, we can have a party and invite people from college and your cousin and brother can come too." She said and I thought about it for a moment before smiling.

"Yeah... that's actually a great idea except Ivan seems tired today so... how about tomorrow? It's a Sunday anyway." I said.

"Yeah that sounds good. I'll invite people then and you can arrange it? I'll help obviously." She said.

"Yeah you do that and I'll do my thing. Anyway, I have to finish some assignments but we'll talk later, yeah?" I asked her.

"Yeah, totally. Bye!" She said and I laughed before hanging up.

At dinner, we all talked about our lives and exchanged some really lame jokes with each other.

"So how's college life kotenok?" Ivan asked me and I shrugged.

"It's good. A little drama here and there but good anyway." I said and he frowned.

"Anyone bothering you?" He asked me raising an eyebrow.

"Just this girl, Olivia. Rich spoilt brat." I said and Alex chuckled.

"You talking about yourself?" He asked me and I slapped his arm playfully.

"Shut up Aleks." I mocked him and he scowled while Ivan chuckled.

"So this Olivia girl, what problem does she have with you?" Ivan asked me and I shrugged.

"I honestly have no idea. I guess it was because hot guys flock around me and not her. Especially when Alex came that day and kissed my forehead, she though we were a couple or something, and then even Ro-.." I started but then stopped myself before I blurted out stuff I wasn't supposed to.

That was close.

"What?" He asked me and I shook my head.

"Just jealous probably." I said and they all laughed.

"She thought we were a couple?" Alex asked him and I nodded when he scrunched up his face in disgust.

"Any guys I should know about?" Ivan asked me.

"Not really, no." I said sipping on my water and he nodded.

"What about Dean?" Alex asked me and Ivan looked at me questioningly.

"Yeah well, we both decided we were better off as friends." I said and they both nodded in unison.

"Oh and before I forget, there's a party at the beach tomorrow and you guys are supposed to be there." I said and Ivan frowned.

"Why?" He asked me.

"No reason. I just want two hot guys around me to get attention of all the other hot guys." I said smiling cheekily and Ivan scowled.

"No guy is coming close to you without a bullet in his head." He said.

"And I'm guessing that includes you too?" I asked him smiling and he smirked.

"No, I'll be the only hot guy around you kotenok." He said smugly and Alex frowned.

"I'm definitely hotter than you Ivan." He said.

"Nope. Ivan's definitely hotter." I said and Alex scowled while dad and Ivan chuckled.

"Deal with it Aleks." Ivan told him and he flicked him off while we all laughed at their childish antics.

Tomorrow is going to be lit.