Chapter Six
Ivo finished rubbing his hair dry with the warm towel he’d found in the warming rack—he had a freaking warming rack—and then hung it over the towel rack. It felt good to have clean hair after going through the sewer, not to mention a clean body.
He had been a little amazed to find not only had his clothes been delivered, but they had been put away, neatly folded in the drawers of the fancy mahogany dresser inside the biggest walk-in closet he had ever seen.
It might have been bigger than his two-bedroom apartment.
The whole set of rooms he had been shown to were huge. A large, open living space surrounded a stone fireplace so massive he could have stood inside of it. There was a smaller dining area, but it was still large enough to seat at least six people.
The bedroom was what held his interest the most. Thoughts of trapping Vitki inside the bedroom with him aside, the bed was huge and high and covered in the most luxurious goose-down comforter and soft, silky sheets he had ever seen. Ivo couldn’t wait to snuggle down into that bed.
After Vitki left and Ivo had started exploring, it had taken him a little while to discover the hidden door off the dining area that led into a kitchenette. He didn’t consider it a full kitchen, as it didn’t have an oven. Just a cook top, microwave, sink, and fridge.
All good, as Ivo was starving. He made his way into the small kitchenette. He jumped a little when the door swung closed behind him. Ivo chuckled ruefully, realizing he wasn’t over his jumpy nerves from earlier.
Getting shot at, being run off the road, hiking through a dark, ominous forest, getting shot at again, and then wading through the pits of hell wasn’t for the faint of heart. If anyone thought him weak for feeling anxious, they could pound sand.
Ivo knew part of his issue came from the fact that no one would tell him anything. He knew secrets were being withheld from him, and he didn’t like it. He especially didn’t like it because it was Vitki doing it. Well, he was one of the people keeping things from him. Apparently, everyone knew what was going on except him.
Ivo started to wonder if bringing Max home had been worth it. Granted, he had liked the old guy a lot. Max had given him some of his best childhood memories. He had been there when Ivo became a teenager and discovered he liked boys instead of girls. Max had listened to him, given him advice, and continued to be a good friend. But this—having someone trying to kill him—he didn’t think Max would want that for him.
Ivo didn’t even want to think about Vitki and the feelings the man invoked in him. His emotions were one big chaotic swirl in his gut. He couldn’t figure out if the man liked him or not.
It was obvious Vitki was attracted to him. There had been no mistaking the hard-on pressed against him when Vitki had him pinned to the ground. But it was also obvious Vitki didn’t want to be attracted to him, and that, Ivo had no idea how to deal with.
Ivo grabbed a juice and an apple out of the fridge. He really didn’t want to have anything too heavy in his stomach. As big as the knots were in his gut, he wasn’t sure he could keep anything heavier down.
It was strange to think that less than a week ago, his life had been so different. He worked a nine-to-five job and then took college classes in business management at night. He went out with friends here and there—no one really close—and dated on occasion. Again, no one really close.
Ivo sighed as he realized he could fall off the face of the planet, and now that Max was gone, there would be no one there who would really care. How had his life gone in that direction? When had the daily grind become more important than living his life?
Maybe this trip was a good thing. Minus the attempts on his life, of course. Those he could do without.
Ivo pushed open the door of the kitchenette and stepped out into the dining area. Movement on the far side of the room froze him in place. Ivo’s jaw dropped as he watched the fireplace slide open and a man dressed in black stepped into the room. Considering the man had a mask over his head, Ivo didn’t think he was supposed to be there.
Before the intruder could spot him, Ivo stepped back into the kitchenette. He waited until the door closed behind him before going to search for something to protect himself with. He found a large cutting knife, a frying pan, and a wooden cutting board.
They would have to do.
Ivo backed up until he was against the wall farthest from the door and waited. He put the cutting board and frying pan on the counter next to him but kept the knife gripped tightly in his hand.
Not hearing anything freaked him out more than seeing some guy come out of a hidden entrance in the fireplace. There was just dead silence. It was eerie.
Ivo stood there for what felt like a hundred years. Finally, the curiosity to know what was going on became more overwhelming than his fear.
Well, his fear was still pretty strong, but so was his need to find out who had entered his room and if they were still there. Besides, standing in the narrow kitchenette was starting to feel claustrophobic.
Ivo eased forward. Slowly. When he reached the door, he pressed his ear against it. He was still getting nothing but silence. Ivo pushed the door open just far enough to peek out. When he didn’t see anything, he pushed it open a bit more and then slowly stepped out.
The room was empty.
Ivo lowered the knife in his hand, but didn’t let go of it. He didn’t trust the silence. As of late, he didn’t trust much of anything. He had started to trust Vitki, but now he wondered if that had been a wise decision. The man had deserted him, after all.
Ivo searched the bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, and main living area before deciding whoever had come through the fireplace was gone. The fireplace was back where it was supposed to be, looking as if it didn’t have a chance in hell of moving.
He blew out a breath before turning to take the knife back into the kitchenette. Ivo screamed—he wasn’t ashamed to admit that—when a dark form loomed up in front of him. When the form rushed him, Ivo screamed again and struck out with his knife. He felt it hit something before a loud roar filled the air.
Ivo was tossed to the side. He slid across the floor before hitting the wall with a hardthud. He was winded and a little dizzy from slamming into the wall. When he roused himself and glanced up, Yuval was fighting the intruder in hand-to-hand combat.
