Chapter 27 #2
He lowers his voice. "Blue hurts herself?"
My pulse skyrockets again. Defensively, I ask, "How do you know about that?"
Concern floods his expression. "She told me you stop her from hurting herself. What does that mean?"
"I can't disclose her personal information to you."
"You aren't supposed to sleep with your patients either. So explain to me what she meant, or I'll take you back to Adrian and leave you to fend for yourself," he threatens.
I clench my jaw.
"Speak," he snaps.
I slowly offer, "She cuts and stabs herself."
Confusion flickers on him. He peers closer. "Why would she do that?"
I collect my thoughts and answer, "People deal with their emotions in different ways."
"Why do you not sound alarmed?" he asks.
I sit straighter. "I'm not excusing it, but I understand it. When the inside gets too loud or too empty, pain becomes something concrete she can control, something that cuts through the chaos and makes her present again."
Maksim shifts. "Is she suicidal?"
"No. I don't believe so. For Blue, it isn't about wanting to die.
It's about surviving moments that feel unmanageable and having no safer tool at hand.
Shame and fear trap her in it, and the relief is brief, which is why it can repeat.
What she needs is safety, consistency, and someone who doesn't disappear when it gets hard. "
"And you thought it would be smart to date her?"
I sarcastically laugh. "No. I can assure you I did not."
"Yet you got her pregnant."
The same rush of adrenaline from earlier comes back. I blurt out, "I did not intend to, but I won't lie and say I'm upset about it."
He stays quiet, assessing me, then declares, "Pain explains behavior. It does not excuse chaos. You added chaos to our family."
I nod. "For that, I am sorry. But I am not sorry I fell in love with Blue. And I'll protect her to the best of my ability."
He snorts. "You can't protect yourself."
"My protection is different from yours. I protect her from herself. And that is something you will never understand unless you're in the thick of it," I argue.
Maksim turns his head slowly, eyes cutting toward me with a sharpness that makes my spine straighten. "Do not assume what I understand. I understand power. I understand damage. I understand consequences."
"I'm not questioning that. I'm telling you what keeps Blue safe."
The SUV hums beneath us as traffic flows past. The city feels distant, unreal, like I'm watching it through thick glass. Maksim studies me in silence for several seconds, the weight of his attention heavy and deliberate. He finally declares, "You believe you are essential to her."
"I believe consistency is. I've become part of that for her."
His mouth tightens. "She does not need a man to orbit and abandon her."
"I'm not leaving her. Not now. Not when things get hard. Not when it scares me."
Maksim exhales through his nose. "It's easy to speak words."
I counter, "They're backed by action. I didn't run. I didn't fold. I'm still here."
His gaze flicks to my wrists, still red and raw. "Barely."
"I'm not pretending I'm invincible. I'm saying I'm committed," I argue.
Silence stretches for a long time. Chicago slowly reappears, and I realize we weren't even in the state.
Maksim warns, "Things in our family don't go outside of it. Understand?"
I meet his gaze. "Yes."
"Good."
The SUV races through the city, then turns, slows, and glides into a secured underground entrance. Gates slide open. Cameras track us. The engine idles before cutting off.
Maksim opens his door first. "We'll continue this conversation later." He steps out.
I follow, legs stiff but holding. The air in the garage is cool and smells faintly of oil and concrete. My body stands heavy, adrenaline gone, and exhaustion settles deep into my bones.
The elevator ride up is quiet. Maksim stands with arms crossed. I stare at the numbers as they tick upward, my thoughts circling one thing and one thing only.
Blue.
The doors open into a penthouse, light spilling across polished floors. The space is quiet, controlled, immaculate.
Blue jumps off a sofa with a brunette and rushes toward me, her glassy eyes wild but filling with relief. Her hands hit my chest hard enough to make me rock back a step, then curl into my shirt like she's anchoring herself. She sobs, "Red."
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me, holding her tight. Her body shakes. Her face presses into my shoulder. Her breath comes fast and uneven.
My voice comes out rough. "I'm here."
She clutches me harder, fingers digging into my back like she's afraid I'll vanish if she loosens her grip. I hold her until the tremor in her body eases just enough to breathe again.
"I thought he killed you," she whispers.
"I know. But I'm fine," I assure her.
She pulls back just enough to search my face, eyes darting to my cheek, my wrists, the tension still locked in my shoulders. "What did he do to you?"
I hesitate, then claim, "Nothing. I'm fine."
Her jaw tightens. She jerks her head toward Maksim. "What did he do to him?"
Maksim deadpans, "You told me to bring him back. I have. I can't be responsible for things that occur when I am not there."
"I'm fine," I reassert.
"You aren't," she claims.
"I am. I'm here. With you," I state and tug her into me.
Her breath shudders. "I couldn't lose you."
I caress her hair. "You didn't."
The woman clears her throat gently.
Maksim steps closer, his presence impossible to ignore.
"Sit," he says, not unkindly but firmly.
Blue hesitates, then nods, letting me guide her to the sofa. She stays pressed against my side, her hand sliding into mine.
I lace our fingers together and sit.
Maksim stands in front of us, arms crossed. "This situation is not resolved. It is contained. You will need to sort this out with your father."
Blue stiffens. "He better not touch him again!"
Maksim reiterates, "You need to work this out."
Blue's shoulders sag, and she leans harder into me.
Maksim's gaze shifts to me. "You will stay here tonight. You will not leave this building without my knowledge."
Blue shrieks, "Is my father going to try to kidnap him again?"
Maksim shakes his head. "No. But best to let things cool off under my watch. Don't you agree, Dr.?"
I affirm, "Yes. That sounds best."
He says to Blue, "And you will rest."
She bristles. "I'm not a child."
He smiles. "No. But you are pregnant and exhausted."
Her lips part.
I squeeze her hand gently. "Blue. You're pregnant?"
She exhales, tension draining just enough. "I'm sorry. I lied. I'm not pregnant."
"What?" Maksim asks.
She swallows hard and meets his gaze. "I'm sorry. I needed to make sure Red came back to me alive. I-I didn't know how else to make you get him."
Maksim looks up, shaking his head. He says something in Russian.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Maksim. I didn't mean to make it worse," she claims.
Disappointment hits me. "So we're not having a baby?"
She slowly meets my gaze. "No. I'm sorry."
"That sucks," I say before I can stop myself.
Her face lights up. "You would have been happy?"
"Yes. Of course."
Her lips curve.
Maksim rises and paces.
The woman goes over to him. "Stop pacing. Let's have dinner and figure out how to best handle this."
Blue shakes her head. "I don't want food."
"You need it. Both of you. I'm Aspen, by the way."
"Nice to meet you. Red." I nod, wondering how we're going to make this second wrong right in Adrian's eyes.