POISON IVY

CH 19

DIMITRI

"Roza."

I wasn't expecting to see Rose when I walked into Adrian's house, but I should have known better. He texted me earlier in the day and told me he had something of Victors that he needed me to look over. It wasn't uncommon for us to work on the weekends, but I hadn't seen him in the office since Tuesday. I had nothing going on once I helped Ivan move out and really didn't want to be alone.

She looked just as shocked as I was when I walked in. Sydney looked like she was going to kill Adrian.

"Syd, why don't we leave these two alone?" Sydney looked over to Rose for confirmation and she nodded her head. Then got up to leave the room.

"She's my sister now so you better make this right." She whispered in my ear as she left with Adrian and he shut the door behind them.

I stood there not knowing what to do, I wasn't prepared to see her. Over the last few days I had come up with several apologies, but at this moment I had nothing.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare, comrade?"

"Is it ok if I sit next to you?" I wanted to test the waters and see if she was still mad at me. Honestly I just wanted to grab her and hold her in my arms.

"Sure." She patted the spot next to her. I walked over and sat down next to her, but not too close.

"Twilight?"

"Don't judge it's my comfort movie and this is New Moon not Twilight."

"Same thing." She rolled her eyes at me and laughed. This was a good start. We were having a conversation without her yelling at me. It didn't matter to me what we were talking about, just that we were talking.

"Roza, I really am sorry."

"I know and I haven't been really fair with you." I started to interrupt her and finish what I was saying but she stopped me.

"Let me say a couple of things first." I nodded.

"I've had a few days to think this over and have been talking to my therapist. I know this wasn't your fault and you were put in a bad spot. Who would have imagined that you work for my dad? You never intentionally meant to hurt me. Trust is a hard thing for me and I had begun to trust you. When I found out you were keeping something from me I felt like you broke that. "

"Ro…"

"Let me finish. I should have let you explain instead of just running away like I always do. I've got a lot I still need to work on, but one thing I do know is I don't want to ruin what we had or what we could have over this."

"I don't either." I grabbed her hands.

"I want us to start fresh, no secrets."

"No secrets." She looked me in the eyes, oh have I missed those beautiful brown eyes of hers.

"I've really missed you, comrade"

"I've missed you too, Roza." I wanted to kiss her so bad. As if reading my mind she scooted closer to me placing her lips so close to mine.

"I'm going to order pizza." Adrian popped his head through a crack in the door. We quickly scooted apart like teenagers being caught by their parents.

"Really Adrian? You could've text one of us to ask instead of barging in here." Rose said.

"Did I interrupt something?" He wiggled his eyebrows. Rose picked up a pillow from the couch and threw it at Adrain's head.

"Adrian." She yelled playfully.

"So pizza?"

"If we say yes will you leave us alone?"

"Why do you need to be alone? You two want to kiss and make up?"

"Adrian." We said at the same time.

"What, I'm just being a concerned older brother."

"You're being nosy, not concerned. Now will you please go order pizza, better yet go pick it up, so we can be alone."

"Fine, remember Belikov, that's my sister, all you should be doing is kissing." He finally shut the door and we were alone again.

"Is this what it's like having a sibling?" She asked.

"Yes."

"I think I liked it better when I was an only child." She joked

"Being a brother is new to him, give him a little bit of leeway. I'm the same with my sisters when it comes to any of their boyfriends."

"So you're my boyfriend now?

"That's, that's not what I meant." I stuttered.

"Relax,Comrade, I was just messing with you." She scooted back over towards me.

"Maybe."

"Are you saying you would like me to be your boyfriend?"

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

"I am, Roza, would you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course, comrade. Now kiss me already."

"I'm glad I ordered more just for you little sis."

"Adrian, what did I tell you about saying things like that?" Sydney playfully smacked him across the back of his head.

"I find her appetite kind of sexy."

"Of course you would. Now that you two have made up you're making me sick."

"Come on big bro you're the one that invited him here."

"She's right honey. You did want them to make up."

"And we did." She leaned over and kissed me.

"What is this pick on Adrian day?"

"Isn't that what little sisters do? Annoy their older brothers?"

"Yes, yes they do." I answered her.

"You have like what, three sisters Belikov?"

"One older and two younger."

"You should see the pictures of him playing dress up with them."

"No, no he shouldn't."

"Oh yes I should."

"Oh come on, comrade, just show him. It's really a sweet picture."

"Did you just call him comrade?"

"Yes I did, that's his nickname."

"I don't even want to know what you would come up with for me." Adrian commented.

"Lord Ivashkov, addy, dre, bubby."

"Lord Ivashkov, really?"

You do have that air about you."

"She's not lying." I added.

"Really Belikov? Remember I'm not only her big brother, but your boss."

"Technically, your dad is."

"Whatever, I'll forget what you said if you show me that picture."

"Comrade, just show him the picture."

"I'll make it up to you." She whispered in my ear.

"I'm going to regret this." I got my phone out of my pocket and searched till I found the one Rose was talking about.

"This is the best thing I have ever seen. Mister stoic Russian all dolled up with dolls." Adrian laughed and laughed till he fell off his chair.

ROSE

I was mad at Adrian at first for inviting Dimitri over and now I was thankful. I needed that push to put us in the same room because I was never going to make the first move.

I had the best time today hanging out with Adrian,Sydney, and then Dimitri. I never thought that I wanted or needed a family after my mom died. Now that I have a brother and a sister in law I feel like a void has been filled. One that I never knew needed to be.

It was late when we finally decided to call it a night. I still wasn't cleared to drive yet, so Dimitri offered to take me home.

"So have you thought about when you want to meet your dad?"

"Not really, I just know I didn't want to do it right away. It's still a hard concept for me to believe that I actually have a dad. My mom worked so hard to keep me away from him. She only ever told me bad things about him and that's hard for me to forget. Plus what Adrain told me I'm kind of scared."

"I've known your dad for a long time, remember how I told you I beat up my dad when I was thirteen?" I shook my head yes.

"You're dad was known in our community as Zmey. Loose translation means snake. When I beat my dad up Ivan was scared that he was going to do something to me so he found your dad. Thankfully he was in Russia doing some business. Anyway Ivan made a deal with him to take care of my dad."

"He didn't kill him did he?" He laughed.

"No, he just made sure he would never come back to harm us or my mom again. He even helped my mom get on her feet, since she had never worked and stayed at home with us kids. When Ivan and I came to America to go to school, he offered us jobs once we graduated."

"I didn't know all that. Now I feel bad for ever thinking he was dangerous."

"He can be, but ever since he had Adrian he turned it all around. He earned that reputation and it has stuck, but it does help him get what he wants."

"Did you know he was the one that put Jesse in the ICU?"

"I did, I found out before our date. But please don't think I was keeping that from you too."

"When I told you I forgave you I meant it. This was an impossible situation for us to be in."

" Do you think that Jesse will say anything?"

"No I don't."

"What if he does? I don't want anyone else to be in trouble because of me." He grabbed my hand.

"Hey, don't you worry about that. You focus on getting yourself healed. You have so many people on your side fighting for you."

"Thank you." He pulled into the parking lot and parked the Jeep. He got out to open the door for me. We walked silently up to my loft. I put in the code to open my door. I didn't want our night to end.

"You want to come inside?"

"I would love to, only if you are sure about it."

"I am."