Page 50 of Dark Seduction
Finally, Elena breaks the quiet, turning in her seat to face me.
"How are you holding up, Dalia?" Her voice is soft, concerned.
I let out a slow breath, the scene from the tapas bar still vivid in my mind. "Still shaken," I admit, my voice a bit unsteady. "I’ve never had a gun pointed directly at me before."
Elena nods, her expression sympathetic but with a wry twist to her lips. "You always remember your first time.”
I can't help but arch my eyebrows. "Is that what it means to be an Ivanov?"
"It would seem so," she replies, her smile fading as she turns back to look out the window. “It would seem so.”
I look at Yuri. "Where are we going?"
Yuri glances at me briefly in the rearview mirror. "Ivanov Holdings HQ," he responds. "Lev's called an emergency meeting."
His words settle over me with a heavy weight, the night’s events clearly just the beginning of what’s to come.
As we pull up to the looming facade of Ivanov Holdings HQ, the seriousness of the situation hits anew. Before the car even fully stops, guards are rushing toward us, their movements precise and alert. Doors are pulled open, hands quickly reaching in to assist Elena and me out of the vehicle.
We’re ushered into the building, the guards surrounding us as if we're heads of state. Their presence is a solid wall of protection, and I find comfort in their efficiency as we’re led to a private elevator.
With a smooth ascent, we reach the C-suite, the atmosphere charged, the quiet of the floor punctuated only by our footsteps.
The main conference room is up ahead, its lights spilling out into the hallway, the only signs of life on this otherwise deserted executive level.
Despite everything, a flutter of excitement stirs in my stomach at the thought of seeing Lev.
As we step inside, I’m struck by the sight. Lev’s brothers, along with Vladimir, Vanya, and many other formidable-looking men who I assume are high-ranking Bratva soldiers fill the room. Their faces are stern, their postures alert. I scan the room quickly for Lev, but he’s notably absent.
Luk is the first to reach us, embracing his sister in a hug.
"Thank God you're both safe," he says as he lets go.
Then Vanya comes forward, his smile a mix of relief and worry as he turns to me. "Dalia, we're so glad you're okay," he says, drawing me into a warm comforting embrace.
Yuri grins. “Don’t forget your favorite driver made it out in one piece too.”
Vladimir’s next, and his hug is intense—almost too much for me — but I go with it, knowing he means well.
It’s clear everyone’s running high on emotions.
Just as we’re catching up, Lev walks in the room. He looks all business, his face set in a serious and grim expression.
Lev’s presence immediately shifts the atmosphere. At first, he's silent, pacing slowly at the front of the room like a caged beast, each step measured and heavy. The uneasiness builds with his every move, drawing all eyes to him.
After a moment, he stops pacing and turns his attention toward Elena and me. His approach is slow, deliberate, as he reaches out to take my hands. His gaze is intense, burning with barely restrained anger as he searches our faces.
"Are you both okay?" he asks.
"We're fine," I assure him, and I can feel the slight tremor of his hands, the controlled strength and fury in his grip.
He lets go of my hands and looks over to Yuri, his expression softening slightly. "He told me everything," Lev says. "Thank you, Yuri, for saving the lives of Dalia and my sister."
Yuri just nods, brushing it off with a slight smile. "All in a day's work," he replies, though the weight of the night is evident in his eyes.
I'm relieved to see Lev, to feel his concern, but there's a part of him that's frightening in this moment.
The rage simmering just beneath the surface is palpable, and it's clear he's struggling to keep it in check. This man, driven by fierce protectiveness, is both comforting and fearsome.