12

The police came and arrested Viktor and I. At their station, I told them my side of the story. An ex-lover couldn't handle the break up and trashed my home with intent to probably hurt me. Viktor was just a good Samaritan coming in to save a woman who needed helped. Had I not mentioned my last name, along with one witness who said they saw Viktor run in to help and another guy leave, they probably would have found some reason to hold me longer. I didn't see a need to try and talk to Viktor about our stories. He did just happen to come by and decided to help me. I was sitting in the waiting room, waiting for them to return my gun that they had found in the search. Viktor was in another room waiting.

I had so much to think about. My painting, my art, my reasons to enjoy life were destroyed by a man child. I couldn't believe this. A tall figure loomed over me and I looked up to see Ivan Drago looking at me with a scowl. My scowl matched his. He looks like he's pouting almost. He's dipped in black and grey clothes. He didn't have to look like a bum all the time. Maybe he would stop feeling sorry for himself and be a father to his son.

"So this is Alicia's niece. Couples disputes… now you dragging my son into this." he said in a chilly tone. I scoffed.

"You're one to talk." I said venomously. He frowned harder at my words.

"You will stay away from my son. No good will come from you." he said, and I looked up at him not surprised at his words. Is that what your wife said about you and my aunt. That no good could come from being with her. Alexander came out of them. An officer came over and returned my gun and phone to me. He was a chunky man with brown thin hair and a red nose.

"Ms. Creed you must be careful with the company you keep." he said with a smile. It had to be because I was a Creed. I nodded and took my gun from him concealing in its case. I then looked back at Ivan Drago who was watching me with a glare.

"And with all due respect Mr. Drago… your son is a grown ass man." I stated before looking past him and walking around him like he did not exist to me. My aunt would be proud as I used the same tone and just the right amount of sass and attitude. She never liked being told what to do especially by a man and neither did I. I merely walked around him heading to the door. I didn't think it was wise for Viktor to see me with his father, so I couldn't wait for him like I wanted.

None of my family needed to know what happened. Adonis would go after Ricky immediately if he found out. And my aunt would be just as worse.

There won't be enough lawyers in his court to shield him from me!

I remember she stood like a queen in the atrium of the mansion. She was in a beige suit, pearls around her neck and earring. Some kid had vandalized my brother's car in high school. It was one of my father's cars so of course she took even greater offense to that. She definitely sued and won. I had to handle this on my own.

I sent Viktor a text. If he wanted to come over tonight when his dad was asleep, I would be here. If not then that's okay too. I was sure he needed to rest after that unexpected fight. I wanted to thank him in person. I spoke with the landlord as soon as the taxi dropped me off. I told him I would pay for the damages of the glass to my balcony window and to any other damages pertaining to my room only. I even promised him and his friend's tickets to the Drago/Creed fight if he so wished. And he definitely wished. A locksmith came that same day and fixed the door. Surprisingly it was still standing after two large men with great legs kicked it open. Twice.

I was an empty shell as I cleaned up the glass in the apartment. I didn't stop until everything was cleaned. I had to lift the couch myself since it was knocked over. It took hours to sweep up the glass, mop and throw away the large chunks of mess that was my coffee table. Last were the broken frames and pieces of my art. I couldn't ignore them. The Giver had a large rip in her stomach and she wasn't real anymore. Nothing seemed real anymore. I locked my gun away, looked at the blankness of my place. It was clean I guess, but empty and bland. I couldn't sleep that night. Viktor had not messaged me back and like I had texted him, that was okay. He must have gotten in trouble with his father.

How dare you stop training to save some woman who could have been killed. It was around 1 in the morning when I heard a knock. I was curled up in my blankets.

"GO AWAY!" I shouted.

"Is that any way to speak to your boyfriend who saved your life?" I hear him ask teasingly. I didn't want to get up still. I hurried and ran to the door, unlocked it, and ran back to my room.

"IT'S OPENED!" I said. The door opened quietly, and I finally noticed the loud squeaking noise that came from it. My door was opened in my room and so Viktor stood there staring at me. I just looked at him from the side as my head wouldn't leave the pillow. He was in another black hoodie and sweats.

"I'm sorry I got you in trouble with your dad." I said softly. He shook his head and finally came in. He kicked his shoes off and crawled over me and wrapped an arm around my stomach pulling me into him. He didn't smell like sweat and adrenaline. Clean and washed. I melted into him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for… but I am curious as to why former heavyweight champion Ricky Conlan was here in the first place." he said. I nodded and turned on my side to face him. His eyes were soft and gentle, understanding. I didn't want that to change from any secrets or deceit.

"Before I met you, Ricky and I… got together whenever I was in Liverpool. He had made a habit of showing up here unannounced. He wanted to be more. I didn't." I said turning to reach over to my dresser and grab my phone. I opened it to my messages and showed him the numerous texts of him wanting to see me and me not responding. "After I met you, I stopped messaging him. So when he showed up today and I told him I was seeing you, he got upset."

Viktor looked my phone over taking it from me gently. His eyes moved up and down as he scrolled, but he just shook his head and gently tossed my phone onto the floor. He took my face in his hands and kissed me passionately and heatedly.

"I don't care about your past relationships. They are the past." he said and I smiled against his lips, happy that his feelings didn't shaken for me. I found tears falling down my face and I sat up and wiped them.

"I'm just glad you were there… I can't believe he destroyed my art." I replied. Viktor sat up slowly with soft, sad eyes.

"I am sorry he ruined your art." he said as his thumbs gently scaled across my cheek wiping my tears. "But maybe this isn't a bad thing?" I sniffled some and looked at him now confused.

"Why would you say that?" I asked lightly, and he shook his head looking away as if trying to find the right words to not upset me.

"Maybe… this is a new adventure for you. For us. I know your art is not something you can replace. But maybe you can create newer works of art. And I help." he said. His words sunk into my brain as I thought about it. Maybe he was right. I had had those paintings for years now. "It can be something we can do together. You can run with me… and I will make art with you."

So now we can both do something the other likes. I never would have thought of something like that. I mean I could get do a little running and getting back into shape. And together and I could make beautiful works of art together. I started to smile and lean into him gently pecking his lips.

"That sounds perfect." I whispered, and he smiled and leaned in to me kissing me lovingly. As much as I wanted him to take me, I was too tired and sore from being tossed to the ground like a doll by Ricky. So we just stayed up and talked for a bit.

"So tomorrow- well today is my rest day. Maybe we can do something later?" he asked curiously and I looked at him and then at my ceiling before nodding. But my eyes dropped when I realized that it wouldn't be a good idea.

"Your father has demanded that I stay away from you." I said and he tilted his head some before nodding and looking at the ceiling.

"I know. But just like him I am determined to be with the woman I want to be with." he said. I blinked rapidly and looked at him.

"He's trying to get back with your mom?" I asked. He gave me a soft look, but it was not a gaze it was just a stare. I stared back at him confused, searching his eyes for the answer before gasping gently.

"You know." I replied and he nodded.

"I found the letters she sent to him." he said. I nodded slowly sighing gently and looking at the ceiling.

"I wanted to talk to you about it. But I didn't know if it was appropriate to just bring it up." I said gently and he nodded.

"It's okay… My dad has never spoken to me about it, but when I saw your cousin, I knew he looked just like my father and your aunt if they had child together." he said. I leaned over and touched his face moving him to look at me. He did, but his eyes were numb and cool.

"How do you feel? Are you okay?" I asked. He closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

"I want to be champion. Nothing will stop me from that." he said. "Besides, I glanced at one of the letters. Your aunt really loved him the way I wanted my mother to love my father." he said a single tear streaming down his face. I hurt for him now, and gently I wiped his tear away and kissed the moist spot that the tear had been.

"Just know you always have me." I promised and he leaned in to me gently curling his face into my chest.

"Would you like to come to my place? My dad normally hits the bars by noon and is gone for hours." he says. I nodded lightly.

"Nothing would make me happier." I said gently. He left an hour later promising to text me. Once the sun was up, I pulled my hair back and began to eye my bare walls. New paintings could go here. I didn't expect to be done mourning my others paintings so soon. But the fact I get to challenge myself, made things exciting for me. Once Viktor came back, he and I drove to his place. He only thirty minutes away from my place. I parked and stepped out not seeing the white beat up truck that usually hunted Viktor on the road when he ran. We met around the front and his hands laced into mine. Casually he led me inside the small apartment. Once we stepped in there was a small kitchen to the right, clean but not a woman's touch clean.

A doorway led into a small living room with a brown couch across what should have been a tv. But there was not. There was just a wall. I noticed a large blanket over the couch. Not even a pillow was there. I looked at him stunned, my eyes asking if he slept there. He just looked down with embarrassment. That douche bag.

"Show me his room?" I asked and he shrugged and casually led me to the back of the apartment where a small bed room was. The sheets weren't made and there was a closet with some clothes inside it. I looked to my left to see the bathroom and a dresser on the wall beside the bathroom. I just nodded.

"I'm sorry my place is not big." he said and I looked at him and shook his head.

"I don't care about your place. I care about you." I replied leaning up to peck his lips of which he replied after smiling. I pulled back before showing a look of viciousness along with a sly smirk.

"Now fuck me on your father's bed."