Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Maxim
The next day, members of The Pantheon attend the Society’s weekly meeting at the private headquarters.
The grand room is filled with the most powerful men in our world. Pakhans, cartel leaders, politicians, and billionaires who control empires from the shadows.
Ivan, the president, stands at the head of the table and raises his glass toward me with a broad smile.
“First of all, let me congratulate Maxim Orlov on his recent wedding,” he announces to the entire room. “It’s unfortunate we weren’t invited. We would have loved to celebrate with you.”
I incline my head respectfully. “Thank you, Ivan. It was nothing personal. We wanted something intimate. Unfortunately, even that small gathering was attacked.”
A ripple of surprise and murmurs spreads through the room. I keep my gaze locked on Adrian the entire time I speak.
The bastard is trying to look concerned, but I catch the small, smug twitch at the corner of his mouth, the glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Every last doubt I had disappears. He was behind it.
Ivan clears his throat. “I hope you find whoever was responsible. And thank God your wife is safe.”
I nod once, jaw tight. “She is. And I will find them.”
The meeting moves on to other matters, territory disputes, new alliances, shipments. But my mind keeps circling back to Adrian.
I’m furious with myself for missing him at the bar last night. We were so close. If I had caught who he was meeting with, this would already be over.
After the meeting ends, one of the Mexican cartel leaders, Diego Morales, approaches me.
“Orlov,” he says, extending his hand with a sharp smile. “Now that you’re officially part of the Society, I think it’s time we talk business. We’ve been watching your operations. Impressive. We’d like to form a stronger alliance.”
A smile spreads across my lips as I listen to him speak.
“...open major expansion routes into Mexico. Your networks and ours could be very… profitable together.”
We speak for several minutes, discussing logistics, percentages, and protection deals. This is exactly why I fought so hard to get into the Society. Power. Connections.
By the time I get back home, a splitting headache is pounding behind my eyes. The long day, the meeting, and the constant rage simmering under my skin have finally caught up with me.
I walk into our bedroom and hear the shower running as Calina takes a shower. For a brief moment, I consider joining her, but before I can decide, the water stops.
A few seconds later, Calina steps out of the bathroom with nothing but a white towel wrapped around her chest. Her hair is wet, droplets sliding down her shoulders.
She looks so soft and simple like this. Beautiful in a way that hits me somewhere deep.
She walks straight up to me, rises on her toes, and brushes her lips against mine, gently.
“How did the meeting go?” she asks softly.
I sigh. “It went as expected. Adrian was there. He had this smug little look on his face the entire time I talked about the attack. I’m certain he was behind it.”
“We'll get him when he least expects. He's so sure of himself because he has no idea you're onto him. Proud men are always bound to make mistakes. He'll slip.”
I bring my hand to her still-wet face. “How did I end up with such a smart wife?”
A smile spreads across her beautiful face. “You got lucky.”
“I sure did.”
She searches my face for a moment, then tilts her head. “What’s wrong?”
I blink. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
She gives me a small smile. “I can tell.”
That surprises me. I’ve spent years perfecting a poker face that fools everyone else, yet my wife can read me so easily. It’s both unsettling and strangely comforting.
I rub my temple. “I’m coming down with a splitting headache.”
“Oh,” she says, concern flashing in her eyes. She moves to her bedside drawer, pulls out some tablets, and hands me two along with a glass of water.
“These work like magic. Take them.”
I swallow the pills without question. That's how much I’ve come to trust my wife.
She watches me carefully, then says, “How about you go take a shower? When you come out, I’ll give you a massage. It should help with the headache.”
I pull her closer by the waist, pressing a kiss to her damp shoulder. “How about you take a shower with me?”
She laughs softly and shakes her head. “I just took one. I need to dry my hair. Go on.”
I reluctantly let her go and head into the bathroom. The hot water helps ease some of the tension in my muscles, but the headache still lingers.
When I step, towel around my waist, she’s already changed into a soft pajama set, looking cozy and sweet.
“Come sit on the bed,” she says gently.
I obey, sitting on the edge. She crawls behind me, and I hear the soft sound of her rubbing oil between her palms. The scent is warm and soothing.
Then her hands are on me. She starts at my neck, massaging with firm, skilled fingers, working her way up to the back of my ears and down to my shoulders.
The pressure is perfect. No one has ever taken care of me like this before. Not once in my life has anyone touched me with this kind of quiet devotion, not out of fear or obligation, but because they wanted to.
My eyes close as her thumbs work into the tight knots in my shoulders. The headache slowly begins to fade under her care. I let out a long, heavy breath, leaning into her touch. And soon I start to feel drowsy.
Calina
Maxim is now fast asleep beside me, his breathing deep and even. I, however, am wide awake.
I napped earlier in the afternoon, and whenever I do that, falling asleep at night becomes nearly impossible.
I lie there for a while, staring at the ceiling, not wanting to disturb him. Eventually, I carefully slide out of bed, slip on a silk robe, and tiptoe out of the bedroom.
The house is quiet as I head downstairs to the kitchen. I make myself a bowl of popcorn. Once it’s ready, I decide to go to the theatre room to watch something mind-numbing. Anything to help me relax.
The theatre room is on the lower floor where some of the guards stay. I walk quietly down the hallway, bowl in hand, when I hear a low voice coming from one of the rooms.
I pause.
“…I'll send the file the moment I have access to it, but I need more time.”
The voice is hushed, almost whispered, like the person doesn’t want to be overheard. My heart picks up speed. Who is sending a file? And to whom?
Curiosity gets the better of me. I quietly creep closer, pressing myself against the wall just outside the slightly ajar door, trying to listen.
The voice continues, “...I need to be careful.” I strain to hear more, but suddenly the conversation stops.
Before I can move, the door swings open.
Dimitri steps out.
He freezes the moment he sees me, clearly not expecting to see anyone.
“Hey Calina, what are you doing here?” he asks, his voice filled with suspicion.
Of all the people I expected to see, he was the last. I open my mouth, but no smooth lie comes out. My eyes drop to the bowl of popcorn still in my hands. I lift it slightly, forcing a small smile.
“I… I couldn’t sleep. I was on my way to the media room to watch a movie.”
Dmitri stares at me like he’s trying to read something on my face.
Finally, he nods slowly. “Would you like me to walk you there?” he offers.
“No need, I will find my way. Thank you.”
I turn and walk away as calmly as I can, feeling his eyes on my back the entire way. The moment I step into the theatre room and close the door behind me, I let out a shaky breath.
I sink into one of the large recliners, the bowl of popcorn forgotten in my lap. My mind keeps replaying the hushed tone of his voice, the way he looked almost… caught.
Could Dmitri be the mole?
The thought makes my stomach twist. Maxim trusts him with his life. He told me how he pulled both Dmitri and Viktor off the streets, how they grew up together in that harsh world.
I saw the look in Maxim’s eyes when he spoke about them, real loyalty, almost brotherly love. If I bring this up again after what happened last time, I might ruin the fragile peace we’ve found.
But what if I’m right?
If Dmitri really is working against Maxim, I need to know before I say anything. I need proof.
The question is… how?
How do I investigate someone as close to Maxim as Dmitri without getting caught myself?