9

I thought I would hit the back of my head square on the ground, but Ivan wrapped his arms around my back and with his other hand his hand rested in my hair to cushion my fall. He tightened his body so his large form would not fall on me. I was panting from the panic of the fall and I just stared up at him as he stared down at me and I was just at a loss of words for a moment. I could see his eyes looking down at my lips.

"Try it and I'll bite you." I said with a bit of snarl and his eyes snapped up and locked on my face and he slowly shook his head.

"I did not mean to kill him… what I said in ring was-"

"True. It was for political gain and Ivan you gained it big time." I said my eyes swelling with tears and he just shook his head.

"I did not want this to happen." he said and I just looked away.

"Please get off me." I said and immediately his weight was gone off me for a second and I sat up slowly as he stood over me. He raised his hands for me to take and I slowly stood on my own. He looked genuinely hurt and now I just stared up at him.

"You have to go." I said.

"No." he stated firmly and I shook my head holding my pointer finger up.

"You don't get to be here for me. You have not earned the right." I said and he looked down as if he was a child being scolded.

"Da. You are right." he said softly looking up at me. "I thought I was entitled to things when I got here. I thought I could win and have you at the same time. I did not expect to kill your brother during our fight. But I cannot take it back." I just stared at him no comfort coming from his words.

"So what you came to pay your respects? Because my brother isn't in this church he in the ground outside." I said pointing to the closed doors. He ducked his head some as his eyes followed my fingers. I nodded slowly. "Right, because what would that look like, the Russian boxer coming to pay respects to famous boxer Apollo Creed. It would raise so many questions."

Immediately he took my hands in his and holding them to his chest.

"And I would do it if it would bring you even an inkling of peace." he said kissing the tops of my fingers and I just wince and how passionate he could be right now. But I knew I could not ask him to do that. The publicity it would bring and the rumors it would spread. I would never have peace. I closed my eyes and looked away slowly.

"I look at your face and I see the truth in your eyes… I see the regret and pain you feel." I said slowly opening my eyes and now looking back at him. "But I also see my brothers bloody face and your fist causing that blood. I see his life ending when you closed his eyes."

I could see the pain that formed in his eyes and he watched as I slid my hands from his hold and they just slipped through his hold and I backed away from moving toward the doors.

"Go away Ivan… stay away." I said shaking my head at him and he just watched with pain in his eyes as they were in my eyes as well. I just turned and left the church.

Days past into weeks and after settling everything with my brother's will, I stayed with Mary Ann, because she did not want to be alone. Soon it was like Apollo never existed. I brought Mary Ann some breakfast and sat with her in her bed while she ate. She was a wreck and I would see her through it as much as I could. She ran her fingers through her hair.

"How did it come to this?" she asked with a tired tone. I shook my head unable to answer and she looked at me with red eyes. "Was it foolish of me to think that somehow Apollo would…. In a different way?"

She couldn't even say the word. I winced holding her hand.

"I thought maybe he would get a sickness or if the lord was willing, he would die of natural causes in his old age." she said her voice cracking and tears streaming down her face. I closed my eyes and looked away unable to look her in the face. Shame was spreading over my face. I embraced her for a few minutes before leaving her to sleep. I was walking to the front door and opened it to see Rocky with his fist up about to knock on it. I smiled.

"Hey." Replied softly and he smiled.

"Hey. How is she doing?" he asked motioning his head over me. I nodded.

"She's getting there." I responded and he nodded and looked at me worriedly.

"Yeah how 'bout you?" he asked. I nodded slowly.

"I'm getting there." I said gently and he nodded.

"Well I was just stopping by to see if you all needed anything." he said and I shook my head.

"We're good." I lied. Truth be told, I didn't know what I needed at the moment. He nodded and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah… you know it's like a bad dream, I try and wake up each time and it never seems to work." he said. I nodded and looked down.

"No matter how many times you try and change the outcome it just doesn't change." I agreed and he nodded.

"Yeah…well if you need anything call me." he said and I nodded and he left just like that. I returned to my quiet little cabin and checked the mail as I was used to. I found another small white envelope with no name or address on it. I knew who it was from. His face was painted everywhere on the TV. The Russian boxer was getting publicity as if he were my brother. I heard no one would challenge him and of course Koloff was boasting at how afraid we Americans were. I walked into the cabin and placed the letter on the table with the other 12 letters. I couldn't open them. It would feel like even bigger betrayal to my brother if I did.

Once I was in my room, now cleaned up, I showered and got dressed up in one of my black dresses. I just wanted a drink. I pinned my hair up, slid on my sparkling heals, and left back into town. I went inside the first bar I could find. It was busy and loud and somehow I tuned it out. I ordered scotch and as much I wanted to down it and others after it, I knew I had to drive and I was by myself so I didn't want to make myself vulnerable to the lecherous men who came over and asked me out numerous times. I just wanted to feel different on the outside than how I felt on the inside. It was getting dark, and I didn't know what time it was. I didn't care really. I gently sipped my drink knowing I should probably down it, but I don't know alcohol. I was a moscato girl really.

"You know a pretty girl shouldn't be drinking alone." I hear a smooth talking man say. I looked over my shoulder to see a tall, dark and handsome man staring down at me flashing me a smile. I shrugged.

"I prefer being alone." I said turning back to my drink, but he leaned over the table.

"Hey now what's got a cute face like you so down?" he asked. 'My brother was murdered by a man I was surprisingly in love with.' I slowly looked at him with a death glare.

"You don't even want to know. Now please leave me alone." I said trying to get lost in the crappy bar music I was hearing. Now I felt a hot hand on the small of my back.

"Now come on sugar, let me buy you a drink and help you forget about this night." he said. A taller figure came up behind him and I watched as a smooth white hand landed on the man's right shoulder causing him to jump from utter shock and look over his shoulder to see the blue eyed Russian devil. He was in his sweat pants and hoody. My eyes flexed as I could see the blankness in his eyes as he stared at the guy.

"The woman is not interested." he said coldly, his accent heavy and angry. The stranger looked him over as if trying not to show how intimidated he was.

"Ay man why don't you back off. This ain't got nothing to do with you. Get your own girl." he said aggressively. I arched a brow impressed with his attitude. He obviously didn't know who he was talking to. Ivan looked up and rolled his eyes before just moving around the man, his shoulder clearly knocking him out of the way before he grabbed me and swung me over his shoulder causing me to gasp at how easy it was to just man handle me. Ivan glared at the man.

"She IS my girl." he stated before carrying me from the bar, and it seemed no one was going to stop him either. Once we were out of the bar, I began to struggle.

"Put me down!" I snapped and he did so quite easily. I backed away from him.

"What are you doing here? Are you following me?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Went for a job. I promise. Came to get…water." he said looking the bar over with mild disgust and I just stared at him. I didn't care if he was telling the truth or not. I just turned and began to move down the sidewalk in the direction of the car. Ivan began to follow me.

"Stop following me." I said.

"No. It is late. Women should not be walking alone." he said and I just scoffed.

"Oh now you care?" I asked.

"I have always cared." he said. Sadly, I wanted his company up to my car. I had to walk through an alleyway to get here and during the day it was okay, but now I couldn't be sure. "Say something please."

"What do you want me to say?" I asked looking up at him. He shrugged.

"That you hate me, that you want to hurt me or you want me to die. Anything to get your pain out." he said. I shook my head.

"My pain was buried with my brother and I would never wish death upon anyone. My brother died doing what he loved, even if he was retired." I said gently and quietly.

"But you do hate me." he said watching me and I just looked up at him as I turned the corner into the wide alley way.

"Doesn't matter. Soon you will go back to Russia a hero." I said and now I felt his hand grab mine and gently he backed me into the wall.

"You will always matter, Alicia. No matter how much time goes on, you will always matter to me." he said and I looked away shaking my head trying to block out his sinful voice.

"You should say that to your wife." I said.

"Then it would be a lie. My wife knew about us." he said and I looked up at him now quickly.

"How?" I asked and he smiled and slowly pressed my hand to his lips kissing them causing a bolt of electricity shoot up my spine. A feeling entered my body that I had not felt in a long time. Now he pressed my hand to his nose and inhaled.

"Your scent is very intoxicating and noticeable and mixed with the sex we ad… it will never go away." he said lowly, and I knew that tone all too well.

"A-and I assume you didn't deny any accusations?" I asked and he looked at me slowly let my hand go.

"I did not." he said and I shrugged quickly.

"It doesn't matter. It's all the past." I said and he nodded very slowly and looked down.

"Yes. She likes to remind me." he said lowly. I looked him over not knowing what to say. I wouldn't admit anything that would cause him to take advantage of me. Like he would ever do that, no he just had to touch me and I would melt again.

"Let's just get me to my car please?" I asked and began to turn from him.

"Hey home boy!" I heard someone yell and we both whipped our heads back to see the guy from the bar coming down the alley with a few men behind him. "Yo we got some unfinished business!" My eyes widened as I watched the men stalk down the ally. My heart began to pound hard in my chest and before I knew it, Ivan's hand had pushed me slowly behind him. He was so large, I almost couldn't see the other men coming to look for trouble.

Author's Notes

Hello yall here's an update, hope everyone is enjoying the story. Also, I will be updating suicide squad very soon and other fanfics!