Chapter 14
Fourteen
Maxim
The cigar smoke wafts around me, thick through the atmosphere as I sit in a booth, waiting on Aria and her mother. I’ve invited them both out for a late lunch, using it as an opportunity to get to know her mother more, since I haven’t seen her very much.
I tap ash into the crystal tray, grinding my jaw as I stare at the grainy security footage on my phone once again.
The group of gunmen running inside the church, wedding guests running and hiding as quickly as they can, and Aria's tear-stained face—it all replays in an endless loop. A week has gone by without a single lead on who tried to kill us. We’re still uncertain if I was the target, or if it was my bride… but I’ll get my answers.
My phone buzzes and Aria’s name pops up. I scroll over to my messages and see something I didn’t expect.
From: Aria
Running late. So sorry! Patient’s parents are asking questions and I have to take time to explain.
I shoot her a quick text back.
To: Aria
Don’t worry, take as much time as you need. Your mother hasn’t arrived yet.
Exhaling a stream of smoke, I glance around the space and still don’t see her mother.
Oh well, it will give me more time to watch this video.
I’ve been looking at every single detail: how the gunmen entered the church, if they communicated with each other before shit hit the fan, if any of the guests didn’t seem surprised by their arrival.
So far, nothing has screamed out at me. I’ve even spoken to my father about it, who again has told me nothing new. He doesn’t have any leads, yet he’s looking into things. I think I’ll have better luck finding who’s responsible for this myself.
I’ve yet to speak to Aria’s father, but I will within the next week or so. Hopefully, by then one of us will have some sort of idea about what’s going on.
I’m very eager to see Aria’s mother and learn more about her.
It’s been made apparent to me that Aria was raised by her mother, and has picked up a lot of habits from her.
Because of that, I want to know the kind of woman her mother is.
All I’ve heard are a few stories from Sasha, who I am learning to accept.
He and I wouldn’t typically get along out in the real world. He’s a little softer than my liking, but I think that’s only because he nor Aria have ever been overly involved in the Bratva. I’m certain the more his father brings him in, the more he’ll toughen up.
I take a sip of the brandy in front of me and savor the flavor, honestly taken aback that Aria and her mother were okay with having lunch here.
This restaurant is unlike any other I’ve been to in the city.
It’s a luxurious Italian joint that allows you to purchase cigars and smoke them in specific areas, not to mention they have the rarest of alcohols.
When I suggested where we should go to eat, Aria seemed to get a kick out of it. She told me she didn’t care, but I feel as though her mother will either love it or hate it.
I know Aria would rather be here than be late, but what she’s doing deserves time.
Since we got married, I’ve learned so much more about what it is that she does on a day to day basis.
It blows my mind, truly. I could never imagine working in a field where death is layered through every aspect of your day.
Then again, I suppose mine is in a different way.
An older woman is being brought over to my table, a waiter only a few strides in front of her. “Sir, it seems some of your party is here. You are waiting for one more, correct?”
I nod and rise, “Yes, I am.”
“I will bring them here as soon as they arrive,” the man tells me with a thick, heavy Italian accent.
As he walks off, Aria’s mother smiles widely. “Maxim, it is good to see you.”
I pull her in for a warm embrace, “It’s good to see you as well, and nice to finally have time to chat. We didn’t have a lot of time at the wedding.”
She laughs lightly as she releases herself, “Yes, well, that turned somber very quickly. I’m just glad the two of you are all right.”
I return to my seat and she sits across from me. “Likewise. Things could have gone so differently.”
She nods over and over again, “Yes, it could have. I’m glad it didn’t. Before we dive into anything, where’s Aria?”
I take a sip of my brandy, “She’s at the hospital going over some things with some parents. I’m going to naturally assume she has to deliver some not so great news and they’re discussing treatment options.”
Her mother frowns, “You know, I was overjoyed when she told me she wanted to be a doctor. I thought about how important of a job it was going to be, and how she’s the first physician to ever come out of my family…
but when she told me her specialty my heart sunk.
Constantly surrounded by cancer…it has to be sad. I can’t imagine how sad it really is.”
I know what she’s saying. Aria doesn’t talk too much about how things are every day, but on the good days, she shares the positive news with me.
She obviously doesn’t give me patient information, but she will talk about what type of cancer they beat, how long they’ve been fighting, those sorts of things.
“I don’t know how she doesn’t take the sadness home with her every day, but she doesn’t. Your daughter is one of the strongest people I know,” I offer a soft smile, wanting her to feel my genuineness.
Her mother sucks in a deep breath and sighs heavily, “That’s because of the shit her father put us through when she was a child.
She’d never admit it now, but she always wanted him to be around, for him to come to her soccer games, take her to the daddy-daughter dance…
but he never showed. He only came around when it was convenient for him, and that took a toll on all of us, including my amazing children. ”
“It sounds like he was a real tool.”
She cracks up laughing and snags my brandy, taking a sip. “Oh, you’re not wrong there. Her father is a selfish asshole, and one I will never be able to rid myself of, even if we’re not romantically linked anymore.”
Cocking a brow, my curiosity gets the best of me. “What do you mean by that? He shouldn’t be your problem anymore, considering you aren’t involved.”
She cracks up and finishes off my brandy. “See, that’s the thing. You’d think that, but it’s not true. He’s determined to torment me my entire life. The last one though, that’s fucking ridiculous.”
Ah, the whole keeping her captive until Aria married me thing. “Yes, I let him know my thoughts as soon as I heard about what he did. That was some next level bullshit.”
She licks her lips and stares at me plainly, “You’re just coming to the shitshow, sweetheart. Nikolai is a mess.”
If Nikolai’s such a mess, why am I married to his daughter?
The more I learn about this family, the more questions I have.
She clears her throat and gets straight down to business, leaning over the table. An overwhelming floral scent hits me like a ton of bricks. “So, tell me, how is marriage treating the two of you?”
I clear my throat, buying myself a moment. “I’d say it’s going rather well. Better than I expected, and I think she could say the same.”
She leans back against the cushion and smirks, “I hope she says the same, or we’re gonna have some issues really fast, buddy.”
I see how these women are so similar now, and it’s amusing. Aria inherited every bit of strength and resilience from her mother. Aria’s essentially a carbon copy of her mother, mixed with her father’s features. I’m glad Aria takes after her mother, though.
I crack a smirk, “I’m sure her report will be just as positive.”
Her lips sculpt into a sly smile, “Like I said, you’d better hope so.”
It’s refreshing to see a mother care so warmly for her children. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced such warmth coming from my own mother. Instead, most of my life I’ve been met with coldness, Vera too. We’re merely pawns on the chess board for our parents, needed, but never truly appreciated.
“I’m not worried in the least bit. We’re both adjusting well to our complicated situation, and I know everything is solid between us. Arranged marriage or not, we fit together exceptionally well.”
“Complicated,” She waves a hand in dismissal.
“You’ll never forget that word, for as long as you live.
There will constantly be power plays, turf wars, vendettas, and those who try to come in between your love…
don’t let them succeed, Maxim. From what I’m hearing, you can tell what a great catch my daughter is, so don’t fuck it up. ”
I chuckle, happy Aria has such a fearless mother. “I assure you, the last thing I want to do is fuck anything up.
Nicolina arches a perfectly painted on brow and cackles, “You know, I don’t think I ever introduced myself. At least formally I didn’t. My name is Nicolina,”
The waiter comes up, interrupting our conversation and asks if we’d like anything to drink.
I order another brandy, and Nicolina does the same.
To be honest, it’s a breath of fresh air to see how her mother is.
We even put a couple of appetizers in while we wait, and soon enough he’s walking off in the direction he came in.
“Well, I appreciate you letting me know your name. Didn’t think you’d want me calling you mother,”
“Who calls their mom’s, mother?” Nicolina cracks up yet again, and I smirk.
“Me and my sister, but we were raised in Britain…so things are a bit more formal there.”
She arches both of her brows, “Russians raised in Britain? Isn’t that a bit odd?”
I’m about to respond when I notice a flicker of movement in my peripheral. In walks my wife, gliding through the restaurant as swiftly as she can. I wonder if there’s a reason she’s moving so quickly.
She goes up to the hostess area and the hostess walks her over to our booth. She thanks the woman and immediately hugs her mother, then comes over to greet me. We share a sweet, normal kiss and her mother smiles brightly, eyes darting between the two of us.
“I’m starting to think this isn’t for show at all.”
Aria whips her head around to face her mother, “Sorry, what?”
Nicolina cranes her neck, “I thought the two of you had a ruse going on. You were trying to one up your father’s by acting like you’re the epitome of love…
but it seems as though there is something genuine between you both.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m not complaining.
I’ve always wanted you to be happy, dearest,” Nicolina pauses and looks right at me, “and it looks like you’re very happy. ”
Aria smiles and looks at me while she responds to her mother, “I am happy. Surprised, but happy indeed. I think the two of us compliment each other very well,” Aria takes a seat beside me and I throw my arm around her shoulder.
“I’m only just bearing witness to you both together, but I’d say you do compliment each other. Your husband and I were chatting before you got here.” Nicolina explains.
Aria laughs, “Good things I hope?”
I glance down at her and smirk, “Oh, you’ll never know.”
She opens her mouth and leaves it in a small ‘o’. “Come on, you’re not going to tell me anything?”
“How are we supposed to form a friendship if we can’t trust each other? Trust isn’t formed by running along and telling people about private conversations.” Nicolina quips, obviously getting a kick out of this.
We weren’t even discussing anything that shouldn’t be repeated.
Nicolina licks her lips, “I do need to ask, how is marriage treating you?”
Aria cranes her neck, looking between me and her mother. She doesn’t know what the hell to expect from us, and I think I’m going to enjoy this. “Good, why?”
“Oh, someone might have said you weren’t enjoying it.”
“What? It’s fine! The best it could be, honestly.”
I crack up because I see Nicolina is someone who likes to playfully stir the pot. As long as she does it in jest I’m fine, but if she ever tries to do anything out of line I’ll have a bone to pick with her.