Page 83 of Ruined

"I invested in you," he corrects. "And I expect a return on my investment. One that Rivera interrupted when he took what belongs to me."

I stare at Ivan, my mind racing to make sense of everything.

"But why send men to take me that night?" I ask, my voice steadier than I feel. "Why not just call me? We had a contract—I would have met with you."

Ivan's lips curl into that infuriating grin as he takes another sip of his drink. The ice clinks against the crystal.

"Because I knew about Rivera's... interest in you." His eyes flick over me, assessing. "I've been watching him watch you for months. The way he followed you, how he sat outside venues while you performed."

My stomach twists. "So?"

"So I knew he wouldn't stay in the shadows forever." Ivan sets his glass down with deliberate precision. "Men like Rivera don't just observe what they want—they take it. And I couldn't allow that."

"I don't understand."

"It's quite simple, Evelyn." Ivan leans forward, his elbows on his knees. "I've invested considerable resources in you. Your reputation. Your career. Your connection to me opens doors that would otherwise remain closed."

He stands, straightening his already perfect suit.

"So you sent men to grab me off the street? To what—lock me away somewhere?"

"To bring you back under my control before Rivera could claim you." Ivan's voice hardens. "I needed to remind you of our arrangement before he poisoned you against me."

"Our arrangement was about music," I snap.

"Our arrangement was about whatever I decided it was about." His smile vanishes, replaced by something cold and calculating. "You signed the contract, Evelyn. You're mine until I say otherwise."

The possessiveness in his voice mirrors Noah's, but where Noah's claims stir something deep inside me, Ivan's make my skin crawl.

"I'm not property," I say, but my voice lacks conviction. After all, haven't I been treated exactly like property my entire life? First by my father, then by Ivan, now by Noah.

"We're all property to someone," Ivan says, as if reading my thoughts. "The difference is who holds your leash."

"Stop," I say, cutting through Ivan's self-satisfied speech. "Just stop talking. I don't care about your investments or your business dealings." My voice grows stronger with each word. "I want to see my sister and Michael. Now."

Ivan's smirk fades, replaced by something colder. "You're not in a position to make demands."

"Then what am I doing here?" I step forward, emboldened by desperation. "If you brought me here as leverage against Noah, fine. But at least let me see that Jessica and Michael are alive."

Ivan studies me for a long moment, his ice-blue eyes weighing the odds. "What I find curious is why Rivera was at your apartment that night in the first place." He leans forward. "Why was he there, Evelyn? How did he know my men would be coming for you?"

My mouth goes dry. "I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that was coincidence?" Ivan stands, closing the distance between us. "Rivera just happened to be there the exact moment my men arrived?"

"I don't know why he was there," I insist, holding my ground even as he towers over me. "I'd never met him before that night."

"Yet you've been quite comfortable in his bed since then, haven't you?" Ivan's voice drops to a dangerous whisper.

Heat floods my face – from anger or shame, I'm not sure. "You kidnapped my sister. You took my friend. What I've done to survive isn't your concern."

Ivan's eyes narrow. "You're lying about something. I can always tell." He turns abruptly, gesturing to his man standing by the door – broad-shouldered with a shaved head. "Dmitri." The man steps forward, his expression blank. "Take Ms. Anderson to the basement and lock her up," Ivan orders. "Perhaps some time alone will improve her memory about Rivera's convenient timing."

Panic surges through me. "No! I told you the truth! I don't know why he was there!"

Dmitri grabs my arm, his fingers digging into my skin.

"When you're ready to be honest with me," Ivan says, straightening his cuffs, "perhaps we can discuss you seeing your sister."

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