20

Within the week, Viktor had gone back to training preparing for upcoming fights. I had my TV on listening from the kitchen as I scrambled some eggs. Viktor was at some press conference.

"Viktor sources have indicated that your manager has attempted to reach out to WBC World Heavyweight Champion, Adonis Creed about scheduling another fight due to the loss in last month's fight." A reporter asked.

"What loss?" Viktor asked in an icy tone.

"Well it most certainly not a win. Some say a loss is better than a disqualification." The reporter pressed almost smugly. I rolled my eyes moving back into the living room to sit down and watch. Viktor was in a nice suit beside his father and a few others.

"If Creed decides not to fight then it shows his cowardice." Ivan replied. I scoffed.

"Wouldn't be saying that if auntie were watching." I muttered.

"Could Creed's ducking of your fight invitation be because of the news that you are dating his sister, artist Astrid Creed?" another reporter asked. I could see Ivan duck his head some trying to hide his scowl.

"Viktor any comment?" the reporter asked. Viktor lifted his head some and leaned forward to the microphone.

"My relationship with Ms. Creed is my own business." He replied. The crowd roared with more questions of course. A woman spoke up.

"There's been talk that Astrid Creed is pregnant. Is the reason you're marrying here?" she asked. I plucked some eggs into my mouth listening with intent while Viktor leaned in to speak.

"I am marrying her… because I love her." he said in English looking into a single camera. It almost felt like he was looking at me and me alone. I slowly smiled. "And we start a family."

Now more murmurs and chatting were heard.

"Ivan how do you feel about this surprising news? You killed the Creeds patriarch nearly 30 years ago and now your son is marrying the daughter of a Creed." Someone asked.

"If Creed agrees to fight Viktor and he kills him will that the marriage-" I immediately cut off the TV and placed my plate on the cushion beside me. I could feel my heart pumping hard as I curled my fingers together and placed them to my lips in thought as I leaned over some.

Even I was not ready for that press conference and it wasn't even about me. There was a knock on the door that made me mildly jump. I looked at the door curious. I wasn't going to see Viktor today because he was training for an upcoming fight. I quietly moved to the door and looked through the peep hole and my mouth dropped at who it was. I opened the door quickly and smiled happily.

"ALEX!" I gushed and jumped into his arms. He laughed and embraced me. What was he doing here? He was in a grey tight t-shirt and blue jeans.

"Hey cuzzo." he replied and released me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked opening the door wider for him to come in. He entered.

"Took some time off. Already saw mom first and Donnie and B, since I was in the states. Thought I'd come see how you were. It seems there's a lot going on." he replied. I shut the door and sighed, nodding.

"Yes. How is Adonis?" I replied moving my plate of now cold eggs and we both sat down. His eyes were smooth and tired, like Ivan's. He nodded.

"He's heeling, still trying to find himself. And you, engaged and pregnant." he said. I rolled my eyes and leaned back into the warm cushion.

"And you hate me too?" I asked. He gave a confusing frown.

"How could you ask that? I could never hate you… no one in this family hates you." he said.

"Adonis does." I replied sharply and he shook his head.

"He's just sad. He feels like he lost his title and sister all in the same day. He will bring himself out of it." he said. I sighed gently and placed my hand on my forehead as it was a prop between me and the couch.

"But I'm marrying the enemy." I replied. He scoffed.

"And that enemy's father is MY father. How do you think I feel?" he asked. I winced never even considering how he felt. His father killed our father. That had to leave his world upside down.

"I'm sorry… how are you feeling?" I asked and he leaned over some and shrugged.

"I was angry at Mom. I was confused and afraid until I realized my life was happy before Ivan Drago and it will still be happy after Ivan Drago." he said and I nodded. It was nice that he had overcome his feelings through all of this. "I have seen Viktor Drago fight… that man was raised in hatred." I slowly looked up at him wondering where he was going with his statement but he smiled.

"And then he met you. His eyes may be sharp and dangerous, but now they are filled with hope." he said. I gave a smile of content at his words.

"Maybe this is what we need after 30 years of quiet and deep anger toward each other, maybe this is what's needed to end it all. Hell it all truly should have ended when you were born." I replied and he shrugged.

"Yeah but it was meant for you two to do it. No one would have met anyone had Adonis not have picked up boxing." he said and I looked down at my knees thinking of Adonis now. I was worried for him. Bianca and Aunt Alicia were worried for him.

"Maybe… I should go see him before I'm too far along that I can't travel." I replied. Alexander nodded.

"That sounds like the mature thing to do." he said. I snorted.

"Yeah because he wouldn't have done it." I replied.

"Now you know that's true." he said and began to stand up. I followed his actions.

"Gotta go?" I asked. With him being a soldier, I never knew how much time I had with him when he visited, so I made every moment count when I could. He nodded.

"Yeah. There's one more person I need to see. Before I head back to Los Angeles." he said. I walked him to the door and smiled up at him. He gave a gentle smile before embracing me. "I will see you soon." I nodded.

"Okay." I replied and closed the door behind him. I smiled even more, happy to have gotten to see my cousin. I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and called my aunt.

"Hey. Next week I will be flying to see you." I replied.

Normal POV

The press were hungry dogs trying to do or say anything to get inside Viktor's head. That's what his father told him.

"Next time you let me do all the talking." Ivan commanded as the two moved through the building where the conference had just ended.

'Like you'd even know what to say.' Viktor thought. If anyone was going to speak on his relationship with his fiancé it would be him. As they moved through the double doors, they made their way across the street and over to the parking lot. As they saw their truck, Ivan squinted some as he noticed a familiar face as he was propped onto his truck. Viktor saw him and frowned immediately. What the hell was he doing here? Ivan stopped a few feet away, and Viktor stopped behind him, his usual look of intimidation plastered on his face.

Had Alexander been anyone else, he may have been afraid of the two men but he wasn't.

"How did you find us?" Ivan asked coldly as if the man before him were a complete stranger. Alexander leaned off the truck.

"I'm an excellent tracker. It's what makes me the best in my division… they even created that division specifically for my skills. There is nowhere anyone can go that I will not find them." he said. Viktor's frown deepened a bit more as Alexander walked closer to the two making Viktor step closer to his father. But Ivan didn't look afraid as he stared his firstborn in the face. Viktor took in Alexander's face. Hard and chiseled like himself and his father. He was tall like them, but his eyes were brighter than Viktor's ever could be. Viktor wondered what it would have been like to grow up with this man. He'd have some type of outlet. Maybe he would have been the fighter raised on nothing but sweat and iron. Viktor finally looked down some feeling mildly defeated for not being an only child. Maybe he was upset that he was still in some way an only child.

"What are you doing here?" he finally asked. Alexander just stared at Ivan getting to know the man with only his eyes.

"If you do anything to hurt my mom or my cousins, there will be nothing in this world that is strong enough to stop me from taking you down… not your government, not its police… not your son." he said, acid-laced into his tone. Finally, Alexander's eyes met Viktor's and the two stared at each other for a moment. Had he not been his finance's cousin, he would have beaten his ass into the ground. But if anything, Viktor respected him for his words for he wishes he could say that to his father. To threaten him to finally let him think for himself would have been a blessing. Alexander only turned and walked over to his car, not caring if either man said anything. His car is silver and shiny.

Astrid's POV

It was after midnight when Viktor came over smelling like he had just gotten out of the shower. As we lied in the bed together, he told me my cousin visited him. We were naked in the bed, staring across from each other, his hand moving to massage the side of my curls.

"I'm sorry he said that." I replied gently and he shook his head as if not bothered.

"He's a strong man… raised in a strong family. I respect him." he said. I smiled gently leaning into his hand some.

"I am planning to fly to L.A. next week to see my family." I informed. He looked mildly concerned.

"Should you be flying? Maybe we should call your doctor." he said and I grinned some.

"The baby isn't even formed yet. I'm not at risk of anything." I replied and he nodded and leaned in close to me.

"I come with you." he said. I was caught off guard by his statement.

"Are you sure? I mean I know you have to train and I don't want to cause problems between you and your father." I replied. He just shook his head.

"I want to do things with you without having to think about if my father approves," he said slowly crawling toward me before he was on top of me. "I like making love to you…" he leaned in and kissed me sweetly. "And fucking you knowing full well he doesn't approve."

The heat between us rose immediately. I needed him again, so I leaned up and kissed him violently.