"So tell me. Are you married? Are you engaged to Vladimir Putin or something? What's the deal? I've never seen you with a man and you're almost thirty."

Neva rolled her eyes to such a degree her ancestors probably picked up on it.

From where she sat out on the balcony overlooking the city, she had a good view into the apartment and could hear Natalia should the child shout for her. Which was important to Neva. While she may not have been the most maternal person alive, she was loyal and she was dedicated to giving her niece the life the child deserved. A quasi-normal life she had not experienced.

"If only," she smirked. "Not that Vlad isn't a close family friend. I am neither engaged or married. If you must know…my father and I have a understanding."

Connor listened closely. It was obvious Neva had his complete attention.

"When I was younger I was engaged. It ended badly. Oh it was bad. My father and brothers still feel bad about it. It was arranged. Let's just say they severely misjudged the individuals character." Neva was flippant about it he noticed. She even seemed a bit amused at how it had ended as she rolled her eyes, sighed deeply and peered into her empty wine glass. "An-eee-wayyy after that Daddy has never brought up marriage to me again. He never questioned my desire to go to college, nor did he protest to my travels. Between you and me, I think he still feels guilty so we have this silent arrangement we do not discuss. I conduct myself in an appropriate manner and Daddy lets me do whatever I want without mentioning family responsibilities, or such unpleasant things."

Pensively he cocked his head to the side.

Though he wondered if the scars on her back had anything to do with what she had just said. Connor needed to do his own research. He needed to prepare himself on whether or not he wanted to ask that question. Jumping into a dark pit was not something he was eager to do, "What about your brother's?"

A cruel smile grew on her lips.

"Oh my brothers…oh how Daddy meddles. They all have arranged marriages in various stages. There is some dissention about that among them, which I find wildly amusing. Going home is like being on a crossover episode of Doctor Phil and Maury. Of course with Olya acting as the moral compass for our family."

Impressed, Connor nodded.

A equally probing question about his family was on her lips when two things happened that brought an end to their evening.

From its place in Connor's back pocket, his phone chimed, while the sound of someone calling Neva's name from within the apartment echoed. Neva sighed and shook her head simultaneously.

Quietly she muttered, "Speaking of the devil…"

Connor wrangled his phone from his pants and saw Doctor David Downey had sent him a text.

Unusual but not out of the normal.

Normally Downey would call him. Naturally his interest was piqued.

Both stood as a man calling for Neva got closer. Reaching up to pat his chest she found it was firmer, more muscular than she remembered and gave Connor's pecs a rub.

Approvingly she nodded, "This is new…anywho, you're going to have to go. Placating my father will require my full and complete attention." With one more patting rub she hopped up and out of one of the balcony chairs then went inside. "In here Dad. Keep it down, Natalia's in bed."

Slightly surprised by the groping Connor remained seated for a second before hopping up. Far from offended, Connor couldn't quite stop the feeling that he had missed another opportunity.

Quickly he got up and followed her inside, where was greeted to the sight of an older, slim, grey haired man that in no way looked like a notorious crime-lord. Ivan the Beast was not a huge man. He was under six feet with fading tattoos on his knuckles and wrists. Defined wrinkles on his face and his buzzed hair did little to make him appear younger. Dressed in a black suit sans tie the man was equally surprised to see Connor.

Neva spoke up before either man could fully size one another up.

"Daddy this is Connor. He works at the hospital that I took Neva to last night. He got the best available orthopedic surgeon to operate on her today. Otherwise Natalia would have had to wait a day or two for surgery by a doctor that might not have been number one in the state. Say thank you Daddy."

Ivan bristled slightly at the sight of the larger male presence. However he did manage a pained smile. "Thank you for looking after my granddaughter. I will be sure that you are properly rewarded for your efforts. Natalia is…my only legitimate grandchild. She is dear to me." His striking dark gaze landed on his daughter. "I'll go see the little princess while you show the doctor out."

There was no room for compromise in his words.

Ivan reminded Connor of a dictator-like nanny he had growing up.

Connor didn't get a chance to say anything. He didn't get a chance to introduce himself, or to shake Ivan's hand.

Neva told her father, "Don't wake her up. She needs to rest."

Waving her off, Ivan headed off in the direction of Natalia's room after giving Connor a look. As if trying to determine whether he wanted to make him suffer before his murder, or not. It was not a friendly look and as soon as he was out of sight Connor made a noise.

"Oh hush, that's Daddy on his best behavior." She sighed, then motioned for him to follow her, "Come on. We don't want to make whoever texted you wait."

Risking one last glance in the direction that Ivan went, Connor followed a bit surprised by the sight of Ivan.

Over his years of traveling the world and working in places afar, he'd met his fair share of dangerous men, along with numerous members of organized crime. It was never the blatantly obvious individuals he encountered that he had to worry about. It was always the quiet ones that didn't flaunt their connections, or place in their world.

One brief meeting with Ivan was all he needed to determine that Ivan was a very dangerous man. Neva may have called him Daddy and spoke of him with a daughters fondness, but he was not a man to cross.

"Do you need cab money?"

Her words ripped him out of his thoughts.

Sneakers were shoved against his chest so suddenly he nearly dropped them and fumbled to grab them before they fell.

"No I don't need cab money!"

With a salute directed at him, she began to unlock all the locks. Which Connor distinctively remembered Natalia locking to include the slide chain. How the hell did Ivan get inside? That was one industrial looking chain lock. Unlike the one in his apartment, forget the ones in hotels he'd stayed in.

Sneakers in hand, a panic began to rise deep within.

Connor didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay. He wanted to enjoy the unconditional companionship she'd given him. Possibilities of being touched again also tempted him.

"Neva?" He placed a hand on the door before she could open it.

"Connor?" She parroted with a pop of her hip, shifting her weight onto one foot.

Unsure of what to say without sounding needy or desperate, two things he most certainly was not. His phone chimed again reminding him that he needed to go. So he sighed, "I'll call you."

She made a skeptical face that did not fill him with confidence.

When he leaned forward to kiss her cheek in the hopes it would assure her of his earnestness, her hand shot up nearly connecting with his face. Not since his teenage years had he experienced such an awkward almost encounter. He nearly died from embarrassment in that second.

Neva on the other hand could hardly believe it.

Her head cocked to the side. Her expression astounded. "Really Connor? That is the best you have for me? After bringing me dinner and pulling however many strings you pulled to get Doctor Sanchez out of his private practice? You really have the worst timing. You should be happy you're gorgeous and have the whole M.D. thing going for you." Grabbing a hold of his long-sleeve shirt near the collar, Neva pulled him down to her in what could hardly be described as gentle, or romantic. She kissed with a ferocity that was demanding. She did not allow him to return the kiss. It completely took him by surprise. When he tried to return the gesture she nipped at his lips, invaded his senses and he swore she gained a more intimate knowledge of his mouth than his dentist.

As soon as it began it ended.

Neva gave him a push and just when he found she'd backed him towards the door, he suddenly found himself outside in the hallway.

Tasting the wine she'd been drinking on his lips and smelling the floral hints of her soap. He swore she had branded his lips with hers. Not to mention his bottom lip stung sharply from where she'd bitten him.

"Don't you dare call me when I'm sleeping. If you call me when I'm sleeping, I'll block your number." Were her parting words right before she shut the door, locks instantly slamming into place. Once the door was shut a grin spread over Neva's face. Pleased with herself she went in search of her father knowing that Connor would stand outside her door for a few moments.

She knew that because she peeked out the peephole right before she began to shout in Russian for her father.