Ivan’s head lifts from the stack of papers on the desk as I charge into the office. He must sense something on me because he dips his head, like he knows why I’m here. He shows me to a chair, but I simply wrap my fingers around the backrest.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I ask, squeezing the chair tightly.
“Is there something you want to ask me?” He raises his brows, throwing the ball back in my court. Even sitting down, Ivan is a frightening sight. From the chair, he’s as tall as a regular person standing up. The lines of his face are sharp and unfriendly, and the blackout tattoo on his neck is a stark reminder that he isn’t scared of pain. Still, I’m not afraid of him.
“Matter of fact, there is.” I round the chair and slump down into it, leaning my elbows on my knees. “Where the hell are Luka’s dogs?”
“That’s what you’re here about? The dogs?” Ivan scoffs, leaning into his chair.
The pulse in my head grows debilitating. I can’t stand people hiding things from me anymore. I grit my teeth and take the gun out of my pants, placing it on the desk in front of me. “Cut the crap, Ivan.” My voice is low and dangerous, a clear sign of how far off the grid I’ve fallen. “You know what I’m asking.”
“The dogs are safe, if that’s your worry,” he practically dismisses me, focusing back on what he was doing, and it snaps the last thread of my composure.
I pick the gun up and press it to his forehead. “I’m your boss, Ivan. You’d do well to remember that.”
“Luka is my boss,” Ivan bites out, glaring at me. “He’s the one I’m loyal to.”
“Well, he’s missing.” Ivan’s gaze darts to the side and back. “Or is he?” I remove the gun from his head but keep it in my hands.
“He’syourbrother. You should know where he is, shouldn’t you?”
My jaw clenches as his words hit me straight to the chest. In a way, he’s right. I should know where Luka is. If he was kidnapped, I’m the one who should’ve found him already. If he ran away on his own, I’m the one he should have confided in. But I was so obsessed with staying on top of the family business that I’ve neglected the far more important things. Like my brother, who was grieving our father in his own way, and trying to honor his legacy. He showed his dissatisfaction a million times, and I brushed him off, forcing him to do things he wasn’t comfortable with, like keeping innocent women hostage or sacrificing his business to satisfy our uncle’s stupid demands.
The gun drops onto the desk with a loud thud. I run my hands through my hair, letting out a desperate sigh. “I just… I need to know where he is.” With misty eyes, I look up to my brother’s right-hand man, practically begging. “I thought he was dead, Ivan. I thought he was dead or being tortured. If…” I let out a breath. “If I find out he went away on his own, I’ll be pissed. I’ll yell at him, and he’ll yell at me. But it is a thought much easier than the other one.”
Ivan hesitates for a second. “I don’t know where he is.” He’s telling the truth, that much I know, but there’s more to it.
“But you know more than I do?” It’s not a question, not really. “You know where his dogs are, and who got Sophie’s father arrested.” My palms land on the wooden desk, slapping it loudly. “Just fucking tell me. Tell me he’s okay.”
A beat passes. Two. Then, with a resounding sigh, Ivan talks. “Luka is okay. I’m not sure where he is, but he, the dogs, and Sophie are okay.” He adds Sophie quietly, as if he hoped I wouldn’t hear it.
My head drops to my hands as my eyes prickle with tears. He’sfine. It’s like the iron blanket that has been weighing me down has been lifted from my chest. I can finally breathe again. Just as expected, my next emotion after relief is rage. But I welcome it with open arms. I’d much rather rage about my traitor of a brother than grieve his death.
I let out a sniffle. “The bastard really ran away? With his girlfriend?”
“He loves her, Leon.” I huff. “One day, you’ll know.” He glances at the door, and I know he’s thinking about Nina, who is tending the bar. “You’ll understand.”
My reflex reaction is to scoff. Love being the thing that makes people do crazy things has never made much sense to me. Why would you lose control over such a simple emotion? But then I remember all the stupid things I’ve done since meeting Alex and realize I hardly have any ground to judge others. I clear my throat. “What about our uncle and the two dead guards?”
Once again, Ivan hesitates before speaking. “It’s not my place to share the whole story. That’s for Luka to do.”
“Great, just one more thing someone is hiding from me. Are they working with the Russians? Tell me that, at least.”
“No. Why would they do that?” He must notice my confused face because he continues, “They ran away to keep her safe. Russians wouldn’t do that, and you know it. Luka and Sophie put her father in jail. I think that says enough.”
“But why the hell was Alex sent to spy on me? Who sent her?”
His face scrunches as his head draws back. “What do you mean?”
“She was sent to my casino to get close to me. But I don’t know the reason for it.”
“Leon, I think she was just worried, because Sophie wasn’t home in months. Sophie left her a note on a Petrovic Casino flyer, which is why she was looking for her there.”
I tug at the ends of my hair, letting out a groan. Is it possible? Is it possible that she didn’t know? That she was just an innocent bystander who got caught up in our mess?
I get up from the chair, needing to leave this suddenly cramped space. I’m already at the door when I turn back to Ivan. “Is he coming back?”
“Eventually…probably. He’s waiting for things to settle down here. For the city to be safe for both of them.”
