Chapter 31
“Shhh, it’s okay. It’s me.” Lev’s voice lingers moments after he speaks. “Stay right here; don’t move, Max. Just stay here.”
I nod, though I’m not sure he can see me in the darkness.
I’m left against the wall. Keith moans at my feet. He grabs my ankle, but I kick him off then kick again. I must hit his face, because there’s a crunching sound, then he cries out again.
There’s commotion, another flash, and finally silence.
The lights flicker back on, and pure chaos is laid out in front of me.
Michael lies on the floor at the feet of the Armenians, a bullet hole in his forehead and a pool of blood beneath his head.
The two Armenian men stand over him, the younger one holding a gun in his right hand. His nostrils flare as he glares down at Michael’s dead body.
The older, holding another gun, stares in my direction, toward my feet.
Marco is laid out over the table, his head turned at an odd angle. His neck has been broken. His lifeless eyes gaze off into the distance.
Tony lies on the floor at the back door. His shirt is soaked with blood, his chest full of bullets.
I close my eyes, unsure if I want to see the rest. There’s no sound at my feet where Keith was groaning.
When I open them, I see him, lying before me, one bullet in his neck. I jump away from the blood spreading across the floor toward me.
I check for Joey and find him standing in the same place. He’s staring at Keith on the floor, his mouth hanging open.
Lev’s at my side in the next breath, wrapping his arms around me, holding me to his chest. I grab hold of his shirt and press myself into him.
“You’re okay.”
“I am.” I need his strength. Need his warmth and his love.
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” He kisses my forehead, my cheek. “This isn’t your fault.”
“Keith’s dead.” I cry into his shirt.
Lev grabs hold of my face, wiping away tears from my cheeks. “I know.”
He hugs me again. I get a glimpse of Elana.
Kaz has her in an embrace, while Alexander and Ivan are holding her hands.
“They did come,” I whisper.
Lev pulls back; checks to see what I’m talking about.
“Of course they did.”
“She was dating Tony DeAngelo.”
“They know. They won’t hurt her, Max.” He assures me when my body goes rigid. “They’re going to take care of her.”
“He’s dead, they’re all dead.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “But you’re not. And I’m not.”
“No, we’re not.” I hug him again.
“Max?” Joey’s voice breaks through all the horror running through my mind.
Lev releases me, but only to give me enough space so I can see him.
“Joey.”
“Look. I didn’t think Marco was going to actually— fuck, I thought he was just saying shit.” His face is red. His eyes full of unshed tears. “I didn’t think they’d hurt you, Max. I swear. I thought he was full of it.”
“He wasn’t.”
“No.” He frowns, his gaze dropping to Keith laying lifeless only a few feet away.
Joey swallows, wipes his hand across his mouth as a tear rolls down his cheek. The tension in his shoulders softens.
“He didn’t mean it, Max. What Keith said, he didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, he did.” I swallow back the pain. It’s not as sharp now, with Lev at my side, holding me.
He sucks in a deep breath and shakes his head, like he can shake off the last hour.
“What do we do now?” Joey asks, shuffling from one foot to another.
“We?” I tilt my head.
“Yeah, Max, what do we do, you and me? You’re not going to walk away without me, right? I mean…”
I look to Lev. His jaw tightens, his whole body stiffens, but he keeps silent.
I’ve wanted my brothers back since this whole thing started.
From across the room, I can see Elana squeezing her brothers’ hands so tight her knuckles are white. She betrayed them by dating Tony, and they’ve already forgiven her. They came in guns blazing and took out everyone who would have harmed her.
Lev laces his fingers through mine, a small gesture of support. Whatever I decide, he’ll stand behind me. He’ll stand with me.
“I’m not leaving here with you,” I say, my heart hurting as I speak. “I’m leaving with Lev.”
I turn up to look at Lev. “If that’s all right.”
Lev squeezes my hand harder. “Your place is with me, Maxine. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Maybe a few more until it really settles in my brain.”
He pulls me close, kissing my temple. “I’ll tell you every day from now until forever. If that’s what you need, that’s what you’ll get.”
“But, Max, we’re family.” Joey reaches for me, but when Lev cuts a glare at him, he drops his hand. “You and me. We’re family.”
“Keith was right. I was just the girl stupid enough to hang around, hoping you’d see me as family if I did everything I could for you. But that’s not family.”
Joey swallows, his eyes fill with panic.
“No. Not to me. That’s not how it was. Max—"
“I just— I need some time, Joey. Give me that, okay?”
It takes everything in me not to wrap my arms around him and promise everything is going to work out. I can’t take that responsibility on me. Not now. He has to stand on his own feet now.
Hurt washes over his expression, but he raises his chin. “Yeah. I can do that, Max.”
“Vas.” Lev calls.
Vas steps over.
“Take Joey here to his apartment, make sure he stays there.”
“You got it.” Vas grabs Joey’s arm and pulls him along.
“What are you doing?” I question Lev.
“I’m keeping him safe until I can have a conversation with the Armenians. Joey did some really stupid shit. I can keep him alive, but only if he does what I say.”
Exhaustion washes over me, mixing with the grief of losing my brothers, and the terror of almost being killed by a lunatic mobster.
“C’mon, I’m taking you home.” Lev sweeps me up into his arms. “Just rest.”
I lay my head against his shoulder, feeling for the first time, a sense of safety, and the warmth of love.