76 White Angels, Dark Shadows

- VANESSA -

The instant we walk in the club, I'm assaulted by so many startling issues that need attention, I don't know what to respond to first. But Ivan ends up taking precedence, because he grabs me and guides me toward the bar. 

"My father is here," he says in my ear, voice grim. 

Great, so he's afraid of his father, too. Not even Ivan has control over this situation, but that shouldn't surprise me. He doesn't exactly scream control, despite how much power and influence he enjoys in this environment.

"And you look like sin on legs in here. Normally that would be great, but not tonight." 

He takes my hand and steers me through the crowd, and I'm again in the conflicted position of feeling both safe and in danger by his presence. It's like ingesting one poison in order to fight off another, and right now Ivan is a necessary poison if I want to stay away from Matvey.