Dangerous Devotion

Chapter 6 : 𝓓𝓸 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻

ʙᴀʙʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ
ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, ʙᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ
ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ғɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴏᴜʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʀᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ
ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ

         ʀᴏʜᴀɴ 

𝙶𝚒𝚘𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚒

A sharp vibration jolts me awake, piercing the thin veil of sleep I’d barely managed to catch over the past two nights. Groaning, I grab my phone from the nightstand, blinking against the harsh glow. Vivi. It’s seven-thirty in the morning, and I’m barely lucid, but my instincts are on alert. Something must be wrong.

"Hey, Vivi. What happened? Is everything okay?" My voice is rough, still heavy from sleep.

There’s a pause long enough that I check to make sure the call didn’t drop. A heavy sigh follows, one that only comes with real trouble. My jaw tightens. They did something again, didn’t they? Won’t they ever let her live in peace?

Before I can ask who’s been messing with her, she speaks up, voice drained. “Nothing. Just wasn’t feeling well, and I need to finish this assignment, and I need a place to work without distractions."

The familiar frustration builds in me, and I’m about to unleash it on whoever disturbed her, but she beats me to it. "So, I'm here, outside your apartment. Sofia's with me."

I rub my face, trying to shake off the last of the grogginess. "You know the code, Vivi. You don’t have to call first."

The words are out before I remember: I haven’t told her about Ivanova. And Sofia is with her... Sofia, who just happens to idolize Ivanova. I’m suddenly bolt upright, cursing under my breath.

“I know, but I wouldn’t just come in without letting you know,” Vivi murmurs, the slightest hint of apology in her voice. “Were you asleep? Sorry if I woke you.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come on in,” I reply, ending the call.

Rushing out of bed, I knock on Ivanova’s door. No answer. In the dim light spilling from the kitchen, I spot her, moving with a grace that’s both quiet and commanding. She’s wearing one of those oversized white shirts that skims her thighs, showcasing long, toned legs. I watch her for a second longer than I should, my gaze lingering on the smooth arc of her shoulders.

She catches sight of me, pauses, her gaze flickering downward. I follow her eyes and realize I’m standing there in nothing but a pair of low-slung pajama pants. I smirk, catching her eye.

"Like what you see?" I ask, voice low.

Her gaze doesn’t waver, but there’s a glint in her eyes. “I’d be lying if I said no, Mr. Romano. Good coffee deserves a good view, doesn’t it?”

I chuckle, though my amusement fades quickly. “My sisters are here,” I inform her. “Figured it’s time for you to meet them. Make things less awkward tomorrow.”

Her brow lifts. “They’re here already?”

“Yeah,” I reply, glancing towards the door.

She nods, unbothered, and sips her coffee, still unreadable. And I hear the front door swing open, Vivi’s voice carrying through the entryway. I’m so focused on their arrival, I don’t even notice Ivanova moving closer until she's by my side, her hand on my shoulder, fingers grazing my back.