The Sibirian Express - COMPLETE

Chapter 23

The short time with Ivan was just so good, alothough the shock of Paulis words still run deep. I realize that it may not be right to be in a relationship with Ivan, but I just can't accept the fact that he drags Mickey into it. I took everything I had in me not to start going off on him about how much shit he screwed up in his life to the point where everytime Rocky had to come to his rescue. 

Although I did something positive before leaving, I called Adrian. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Rocky's head isn't in the game. He needs his wife by his side. He needs all the support that he can get right now and well that support is obviously not me and before I distract him even more or before Pauli has the chance to drop the bomb on him before the fight ... No, Rocky doesn't need that at all right now. 

I have watched Ivan train every day for the last 2 weeks. Coach Rimski has done a really good job. Ivan trains like a maniac all the time on machines that I have never seen before but what I've also never seen before is that Ivan is using drugs to help with his strength and endurance. 

I haven't said anything about it, but I don't like the way Nikolai treats Ivan as if he were his personal puppet. He's only interested in media presence. He doesn't even seem to care that Ivan can't concentrate properly with so much turmoil. 

I sit in the training hall and frantically try to write a useful article from my notes while Ivan stands in the ring and beats his sparring partner to a pulp. His technique is good but there are small subtleties that his coach doesn't seem to notice. 

"Try not to stretch your arm out so far", I say without lifting my eyes from my notes but when I don't hear any more noise I look into the ring where Ivan is looking at me questioningly. 

"Your arm", I start and move towards him. "If you extend it all the way, your punch will have more power but your guard will be down longer. Better to hit short."

I hear people behind me saying something in Russian but Ivan takes my advice to heart and boxes as I suggested, which made Nikolai furiouse. 

"Chto ty delayesh? Teve sleduyet slushat tol'ko Rimskogo, a ne etu amerikanskuyu shlyukhu" (What are you doing? You are suppoused to listen to Rimski and only him and definately not some american slut!) but before he has even finished the sentence, Ivan is already just a few inches away from him. 

"You do not call her a slut! Understand!" 

"Who do you think you're talking to? You're nothing without me! You're fighting for us, don't forget that! Nikolai shouts back in horror. He turns in my direction and scowls at me before storming out of the hall, leaving Ivan, Rimski and myself alone.

"Do not say that to Nikolai but your suggestion isn't so bad. Ivan has always been physically superior but we don't want to underestimate his opponent." Wow that is the first time that I'ver ever recieved a compliment from Rimski. 

When Ivan is finally finished with his training we start to make our way back to the hotel. Although I have my own room, Ivan and I have spent most of the time together and I have to say there is something good about being here in Russia. I've gotten to know so many new things about Ivan in the last few weeks that I really have a good feeling that we could actually work out.

"If he talks to you like that again, he will regret it!"

I could hardly calm Ivan down after Nikolai's outbrust. On one hand, I find it admirable that he really stands up for me and stands up to his people, but on the other hand I'm not a fool like Nikolai. Ivan needs to soley focus on his training otherwise it won't work. 

Just like Rocky. 

Both men don't have their heads at 1ßß% in the game and I'm afraid that both will realize that in a painful way. 

"Ivan listen to me! You have to concentrate, please don't let Nikolai get to you. And Ivan, no matter what your people might say ... you have to fight for yourself. Don't underestimate Rocky. When you go into this fight, you only have to fight for yourself. Not for Niklolai. Not for your county ... Not even for me. You have to fight for yourself."

We stare at each other for a few moments before I finally summon up all my courage. On my tip toes, I kiss Ivan more passionately than ever before. 

"Ya, lyublyu tebya, Ivan!" (I love you, Ivan!")

By the look on his eyes, I can see that I caught him off surprise. "Ya, lyublyu tebya, Lexa."