24. Maxim
TWENTY-FOUR
MAXIM
A couple of hours have passed, and Sophia seems less shaken. I’ve been careful not to press her, especially since she has been chatting and laughing with Steff. The two of them have been swapping stories from their younger days—how Steff was always the troublemaker, how Sophia often had to bail her out of sticky situations. It’s hard not to smile at the animated way Sophia recalls her memories, her gestures alive with nostalgia.
But no matter how much I enjoy seeing this lighter side of her, I can’t shake the unease creeping under my skin. Something about that guy feels off, like there’s more to him than being a “family friend.” The moment I sat down, I quietly messaged my IT guy to dig up information on Danny. It didn’t take him long to reply, but I’ve been hesitant to look at the results, knowing it could disrupt Sophia’s mood. I’m certain it’ll lead to an argument, but curiosity and unease keep gnawing at me.
Sophia stands from her chair, and instinctively, I do the same. She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“No, stay. I’ll be right back,” she says, her voice light. “Just heading to the bathroom.”
I nod, sitting back down, my eyes following her until she disappears through the glass doors. The moment she’s out of sight, and with Steff occupied refilling her drink, I finally allow myself to open the email. My finger hovers over the attachment before I download the file, the weight of what I might find heavy in my chest.
Name: Danny Manuel De Soza
DOB: 11/24/1990
SSN: 976-36-1245
Born at: St. Casteel Hospital
Education: Attended St. John’s Elementary and Middle School; St. Peter’s High School (did not finish, dropped out in the eleventh grade).
Mother’s Name: Mary De Soza (Alive)
Father’s Name: Carlos De Soza (Deceased, 2021)
Marital Status: Divorced (1/23/2017)
Ex-Wife: Carla De Soza
Children: Charlie De Soza, Ashley De Soza
Current Address: 143 W Pines St., Floridian Way, FL 33124
Religion: Not stated
Employer: Self-Employed
Previous Employer: Military (Four years, honorably discharged)
Criminal Record:
Note: This was challenging to uncover due to his expunged record. I had to dig deep to find what little information I could. My program is still searching, but here’s what I’ve got so far:
·Three DUIs, the last of which involved an altercation with an officer. He was arrested but posted bail.
·History of violence.
·His ex-wife, Carla, has a restraining order against him on behalf of herself and their children.
·The divorce court granted Carla full custody after proving years of physical and emotional abuse.
·As part of the settlement, Danny was mandated to attend rehab. He enrolled at Beachside Lodge in Japan for treatment before returning to the U.S. last year.
I exhale sharply, the air thick with unease. My hand tightens around my phone as I scroll through the damning details. Each word feels like a red flag slapping me in the face. A violent past, restraining orders, rehab—it’s a web of chaos that paints Danny as a threat, not just to his own family, but Sophia too.
The thought of her being anywhere near someone like him sends a surge of protectiveness through me. My jaw clenches as I consider my next move. Do I tell her what I’ve found? Or do I wait, knowing full well this knowledge could destroy the fragile peace we’ve built tonight?
My fingers clench into fists, the urge to stand and confront him flooding through me. But I don’t. Not yet. Not when I know Sophia’s inside, unaware of what I’ve just learned.
Instead, I close the document, not wanting to digest anymore.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the fury swirling inside me. I’ll get the answers I need, but not now. Not until I can figure out how to protect her from this mess.
Steff sits down, catching my attention. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting. I was just doing something for work,” I say, shifting the conversation.
“Are you a workaholic like my cousin?”
“You could say that.”
“Then you guys are made for each other.”
“You could say that,” I reply with a faint smile, though my mind is still tangled in the earlier conversation with Sophia.
She shifts in her seat, like she’s debating whether to share something.
“Something on your mind?”
“I’ve never seen Sophia this happy. I will kill you if you hurt her.” The words leave her lips in a deadpan, serious tone I can’t help but laugh at. But then I see the fire in her eyes and the way her arms cross tightly over her chest.
“I don’t recall making a joke,” she adds.
“You don’t have to worry. Sophia is my life. I would never hurt her or jeopardize the life I want to build with her. I love her more than anything.”
Her eyes widen, and a blush spreads across her face. “In that case…welcome to the family.”
The words bring a sense of relief, though my heart still beats fast from the weight of the conversation. Before I can reply, a voice interrupts from behind me.
“It’s refreshing to hear you have such strong feelings about my daughter, Maxim.”
I stiffen. It’s Sophia’s mom.
“Hi, Tia,” Steff greets her with a warm smile, her earlier hardness replaced with affection.
“Hi, sweetie. Can you please give me and Maxim a few minutes?” Sophia’s mom asks, her gaze sharp and calculating as Steff moves to leave. The door shuts softly behind her, and suddenly, the weight of the room seems to double.
Sophia’s mom sits in Steff’s place, her shoulders squared, her eyes narrowing at me.
If I’m being honest with myself, I knew this conversation was inevitable with the way she’d been glaring at me earlier, especially in the restaurant.
“Lovely home you have,” I say, trying to break the thick tension in the air.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Maxim.” She leans forward, elbows on the table. “I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter.”
Straight to the point. My respect for her grows—now I know where Sophia gets her strength. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
“That’s not your choice to make,” I reply evenly. “Sophia is an adult. She can make her own decisions.”
“She doesn’t have a choice in this when she clearly doesn’t know who’s sleeping in her bed,” she snaps. The words strike hard, and I feel my jaw tighten. “The Sophia I raised wouldn’t date a criminal,” she adds, her voice dripping with disdain.
I hide the satisfaction rising in my chest. I knew it. I recognized the look she gave me—she knew who I was from the start. Her furtive glances, the subtle tension in her eyes—she recognized me before I even had a chance.
“That’s a big accusation to make, Ms. Perez,” I reply, my voice cold despite the heat building inside me.
“Cut the crap, Maxim.” She slams her palms on the table, her anger flaring before she catches herself. The tension in the air thickens, and she exhales deeply, visibly trying to regain control.
I can see the pain behind her eyes, and it tugs at my heart in a way I wasn’t prepared for. The weight of the fear she must have carried, knowing what her husband was involved in—and knowing that now, she must face me. She’s afraid, but I understand. I can see it: this woman lost her husband, the love of her life, and now, all she has left are her daughters. Of course, she’s going to fight to protect Sophia.
I force myself to stay calm, even as my anger boils over the thought of losing Sophia. I won’t let anything or anyone tear us apart. Not now. Not ever.
“You don’t need to insult me by pretending we don’t know exactly who you are,” she adds, her voice low and dangerous.
“Who do you think I am, Ms. Perez?” I ask, keeping my voice steady. She can hate me, insult me, and try to push me away, but none of it will work. She stopped being responsible for Sophia a long time ago. Sophia is mine now, and I will protect her at all costs.
“You are the biggest scum on Earth, living your life like you’re God, jury, and executioner all in one. One day—mark my words—one day, you’ll get what’s coming to you.” Her words are sharp, venomous. The hatred spills from her lips, coating the air around us. I’ve been called worse, and it rolls off me.
“Sophia is too good to be with someone like you,” she adds, her voice dripping with disdain.
I lean forward, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I’ve been getting what’s been coming to me since the day I was born into this fucked-up world. No matter what you say or do, it will be futile. Sophia is my salvation, a reward for having to deal with the life I was forced into. No one gets to choose their parents, and no one—not you, not anyone—will damage that.”
Her eyes soften slightly, and I know I’ve struck a chord. “I’m not going anywhere, Ms. Perez. So I suggest you put aside whatever you think you know about me and my life and continue to pretend we get along—for Sophia’s sake. So she doesn’t get hurt.”
Her eyes narrow, and her face flushes with frustration. “She will get over it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I reply, my voice low but firm. “Sophia loves me just as much as I love her.”
“Love is a fickle emotion, Maxim. One day, it feels all-consuming, and the next, it’s gone.”
“You know that more than anyone, don’t you?” Her eyes widen at my words, and she glances around quickly to see if anyone overheard. But when she looks back at me, I can see the sweat beading on her brow, her face drained of color. The truth hits her harder than I expected.
“She doesn’t belong in your world,” she says with a sigh, her voice tinged with defeat. I know she’s ignoring my earlier comment, probably because it struck too deeply. It was a low blow, but I need this conversation to end.
Where the hell is Sophia?
I glance at my watch—over thirty minutes since she went to the bathroom. My heart starts to pound. Worry claws at my throat, tightening with each passing second. What’s taking her so long? I need to find her.
I stand up abruptly, the anxiety making it impossible to stay seated any longer. “I respect your willingness to confront a criminal, as you called me, to protect your daughter. But do not mistake my lack of rebuttal for anything less than the love I have for Sophia. I will not hurt her by disrespecting you, but I will not always be so lenient. You have your issues with me, and I have my issues with you.”
Her eyes widen in disbelief. She’s shocked I would have any issues with her. Well, I do—many. But mostly, it’s about her other daughter. “I’ve put those aside for Sophia’s sake. I think you should do the same.”
With a final push of my chair, I turn and walk toward the house, her eyes sending daggers with her gaze.
It’s a testament to my love for Sophia that I didn’t curse this woman out the moment she stood in front of me. I know so much about Sophia’s family, secrets I’ve kept locked away, things I’ll tell her one day when she’s ready. Like how close her father and I were—he wasn’t just the family doctor, he was family. I saw him as a father figure. That’s why it hurt so damn much when he passed. He trusted me with secrets that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to share even with her.
“Let go of me!”
The sound of Sophia’s voice begging reaches me first, followed by the unmistakable thud of something hitting the floor. My heart races as panic mixes with fury. I rush to where the noise came from, gun drawn and ready to kill anyone who dared hurt her.
But when I round the corner, I stop dead in my tracks. Sophia has a man pinned face-down on the floor, her knee pressing into his neck, arms twisted behind him. She’s in complete control. The lessons I’ve been teaching her have paid off. She’s able to defend herself. My heart swells with pride, and damn, I didn’t think it was possible to love her more, but here I am, falling even harder.
Her hair falls around her face like a dark waterfall as she leans in close, whispering something I didn’t expect: “Fucking dead.”
Jesus, that turn of phrase sends a rush through me. I’m not prepared for how much I love this side of her. My body responds before my brain can catch up. I’ve never wanted her more.
I lean casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. The guy’s begging for his life, but Sophia doesn’t budge. She presses her knee harder into his back. His cry of pain fills the room.
“If you keep screaming like the little bitch you are,” she taunts, her voice dripping with disdain, “someone’s gonna hear and see how easily a woman can overpower you. Your ‘bad boy’ persona is about to get ruined.”
The man whimpers in response, “Bitch.”
I have to bite back the urge to intervene, to protect her, but it’s clear she doesn’t need saving. Not now.
“How original,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. With one hand, she pulls out her phone, dialing someone. That’s when my phone rings.
Her head whips around so fast, I’m sure it gave her whiplash.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asks, her eyes narrowing, trying to read me.
“Long enough to see my woman be a total badass,” I say, my voice thick with admiration.
Sophia beams at my compliment, and damn, if it doesn’t make my chest swell.
“I had an amazing teacher,” she says, a hint of pride in her tone.
“He sure is amazing, isn’t he?” I wink, and she rolls her eyes, muttering something about my ego. But when her gaze meets mine again, the love, admiration, and raw tension between us is undeniable.
“I don’t deserve you,” I admit, moving closer, not stopping until I’m right in front of her. I gently grab her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. “But I’m a very selfish man, and I will never let you go.”
“Let go of me!” Danny sobs, his voice breaking through our moment.
My eyes narrow as I study the man beneath her. That’s Danny. I’m not surprised, but it doesn’t make me any less furious.
“What did this fucker do?” I ask, my voice low and dangerous as I look back at Sophia.
She stays silent for a moment, her gaze dropping to the floor. She won’t look at me.
“Sophia,” I growl, my patience slipping. She’s not telling me the full truth. “I will not ask again. What did he do to you?”
“Fine.” She exhales a defeated breath. “I was coming out of the bathroom—” She says ‘bathroom’ in a higher pitch than the rest of her words. It’s a subtle slip-up, but I notice. She’s lying. “When he confronted me, trying to push himself on me. I kept asking him to leave, but he wouldn’t listen. He lifted his hand like he was going to touch me, but I stopped him before he could.”
My jaw clenches so hard, I swear I’m about to dislocate it from the pressure. Breathe, Maxim. Get control of yourself. She did what you taught her. She defended herself.
“Please, let me go,” Danny begs again, his voice pitiful.
I walk up to him and kick him in the balls. The scream that follows fills the room with a satisfying sense of justice. It doesn’t solve everything, but it helps.
“What are you planning on doing with him?” I ask, turning to Sophia.
She shrugs, not showing a hint of hesitation. “I’m not sure. Let him go?”
Let him go? Is she fucking serious? Let him go?
No. He deserves worse. My fist tightens, but I hold myself back. “Let him go?”
She digs her knee deeper into his back. “I think he learned his lesson.” She looks down at Danny, her voice cold as ice. “Didn’t you, Danny?”
“Please, let me go! I swear, I won’t do anything like this again. Please!” Danny’s voice cracks, desperate and full of bullshit. This man’s got a rap sheet for abuse. The next woman he targets won’t be as lucky as Sophia. He’s trying to save face, but I know exactly what’s going on. He needs to boost his bruised ego thanks to what Sophia just did to him.
I hear the sliding door open. Shit. Someone’s coming. I need to get Sophia out of here before this situation escalates. I extend my hand to her, but she stands on her own, pushing herself up without my help.
A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. She’s not trying to prove anything to me. No, she’s proving to herself she can handle things. I couldn’t be prouder. There’s something about her, something different—healthier, stronger, more alive. Her glow is back, and it hits me harder than I expected.
“Someone’s coming,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper as she looks past me, eyes wide.
I scan the room quickly, mentally calculating her options. The bathroom’s out—whoever’s coming could be headed that way. But then my eyes land on a slightly open door: Robert’s home office. I look at Sophia, raising an eyebrow. What was she doing in there? I remember the door being closed when we left the bathroom earlier. She’d once told me her mother doesn’t go inside; it’s left just as her father had it before he died.
“Go back into your father’s office,” I say. “I’ll take care of this snake.”
Sophia’s breath hitches. Her gaze flickers between me and the door, but she doesn’t argue. She knows what I’m asking, and I’m certain I’ll get the answers later. “Go,” I urge.
She walks inside, and as the door clicks shut behind her, I turn my attention back to Danny. He’s already trying to get up, using the few seconds I gave her to slip into the office to make his move. Big mistake.
I grab him by the throat and lift him off the ground, a few inches of space between him and the floor. His hands claw at my wrist, but it’s useless.
“The only reason you’re still breathing is because we’re in her house,” I whisper into his ear, my voice low and lethal. “Get your affairs in order, because you’re as good as dead. You’re a fucking cockroach.”
The smell of urine hits me before I even look down. He already soiled himself. Pathetic.
I lock eyes with him, watching the color drain from his face. Sweat beads on his forehead, his lips trembling. “She’s not like your past victims, Danny,” I continue, my voice a cold promise. “Mark my words. You’ll pay for what you did to her and so many others.”
I release my grip, and he crumples to the floor, gasping for breath. “Now go,” I say, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Enjoy the little time you have left.”
I don’t give him another glance as I make my way to the office. The door creaks open, and I find Sophia sitting in a chair, her gaze unfocused, lost in thought. Her eyes are filled with tears, but she’s holding herself together, in control.
“The moment I would get home from school,” she says softly, her voice distant, “Dad was here. I’d come inside and spend hours reading my silly little romance books while he worked. My sister used to call them that. It used to drive me crazy.” She lets out a hollow chuckle, no humor in it. “I have so many memories in this room.”
Her eyes take in the space, the weight of her words hanging between us. My chest tightens at the thought of all she lost.
She stands up abruptly, taking a deep breath, as if trying to shake off the tension that has been building. “Can we go home?” Her voice is steady now, though I see the faint traces of sorrow still lingering behind her eyes.
I’m careful not to press her on her father, not yet. She’s holding so much pain, and I don’t want to force her to relive it right now. But I will ask her later about the office and what she was doing there. If I ask now, she’ll shut down, and I don’t want to add to her burden.
I clear my throat and offer her my hand. “Alright. Let’s go home.”
She pauses, searching through her purse before pulling something out. “I think this belongs to you,” she says, handing me the toy.
I freeze for a moment—damn, I completely forgot about it. With everything going on with Danny and her mom, I’d completely lost track of it.
Sophia smirks, her eyes glinting with mischief. “It was a waste having it inside me if you weren’t going to play.” She chuckles as she walks past me, teasing, “You owe me, Volkov.”
A grin tugs at my lips. “Oh, I know, baby. I owe you big time.”