Chapter 28 #2
“Yes, he ordered the hit, but someone else carried it out. Whoever helped lure her out of hiding and killed her will pay.” I laugh bitterly and stare down at my hands, not knowing how to tell my family this but knowing they need to hear it.
“I thought Maxim was her killer. That’s why I married him. To get revenge.”
The whole room is quiet for half a second until everyone starts talking at once. I get it, my family has a lot of questions. My news is a shock.
Andrei’s voice carries above the rest. “Jesus, Kira, talk about putting yourself at risk! Why is it that you’re convinced he didn’t murder her?”
“He can prove it.”
Daniil scoffs. “Not if he needs you alive to keep up his important image.”
Maxim rolls his eyes. “If I had killed Masha, I would have had a good reason and you’d know about it by now. Oleg and I had history, but it’s not a good one. I disliked him as much as anyone.”
"Maxim has no reason to lie," I speak up.
Defending him in front of my family feels strange, but I’ve spent a lot of time considering what motivation Maxim might have to lie, including not alienating Alyona. In my gut, I know deception isn't his style. He’s always been brutally honest, even when it hurts.
Leo’s face falls. “Why didn’t you come to us? We would have looked into it for you. We would have helped you get your revenge so you didn’t have to marry this … this—”
“I didn’t want to burden you with my past. I thought it was the best way.”
“Well, that certainly explains a lot,” Aly says, eyes wide. “I never understood your motivation for marrying him. My father.”
When he glances my way, his eyes hold a trace of softness, a contrast to his usual guarded expression. “Kira is my wife, and I will find out who was behind Masha’s death and help her get the revenge she deserves.”
Andrei shakes his head. “You don’t need to. She’s our sister. We’ll figure out—”
“Did you miss it when I said she’s my wife and, therefore, my responsibility?”
I’ve never heard anyone interrupt Andrei like that and I tense, preparing for Andrei to lunge across the coffee table between us. But my brother doesn’t move, just keeps glaring daggers.
Maxim lifts my hand and shows off the big, honking diamond ring that heralds to the world I’m a taken woman. “My. Wife.”
My heart hammers in my chest—I’m not sure if it’s anxiety or excitement at his possessiveness. Or both.
Aly rises from Leo’s lap, cutting through the silence in the room. “Kira, can I talk to you alone?”
“Of course.” I stand and follow her into a small room, closing the door behind me.
Nerves jump in my stomach because I don't know what to expect.
Before I say anything, she has me wrapped in her arms. “Fuck me. I’m so sorry.” I pull away to find tears in her eyes and her face clouded with worry.
“You have nothing to be sorry for!” I insist. “How were you supposed to know?”
“That’s the point.” Her expression falls. “I knew you married Maxim for some other reason, and I didn’t push the issue. I left you alone with him—a monster.”
I pause, not sure how to explain that he’s not entirely the big bad wolf we thought him to be. “He’s not a monster.” The words fall from my lips, revealing a truth I hadn’t fully acknowledged until this moment. "He's complicated and dangerous, yes, but not quite the nightmare we thought he was.”
He shields me from my nightmare. He made the mayor pay for his sins. He held me when I couldn’t hold myself up. He’s going to hunt down my aunt’s killer. He gave me the best orgasm of my life.
Aly’s brows pull together. “Huh?”
This is not easy to share, but Aly has a right to know that my feelings for Maxim are complicated. “Things ... have changed.” A softness invades my tone. “I’ve seen a different side of him.”
Her eyes take me in from head to toe. When she’s done with her inspection, she frowns. “So you actually want to be married to him? Are you together now?”
“No. Definitely not,” I’m quick to counter.
We haven’t talked about it, but it’s clear Maxim has no desire for this to be real.
“It’s an arrangement until he deals with the Black Company and helps me get my revenge.
And then…” I shrug because I don’t really know what happens next. “We’ll probably go our separate ways.”
Her expression carries a hint of disappointment, as if I've let her down in some way. But I can't lie to her and continue to portray Maxim as all bad, because he's not. “Why would you trust him? After everything he did to you, to us?”
I shift from foot to foot, pulling at my hoodie like that’s somehow going to distract her.
“He’s shown me a different side of himself.
He’s done some shitty things, I won’t deny that, but he’s not all bad.
Give him a chance to explain to you why he did what he did.
To show the other side of him. He’s protected me, he’s taken care of me during a terrible nightmare, he even kicked an attendant off our flight when… Whatever, that’s a long story.”
Her forehead creases. "Honestly, I’m not sure I can forgive him that easily. But if this is what you want, I’ll support you.”
Guilt washes over me, making me question if I'm siding with the enemy. But the truth is, the only thing I care about is Maxim helping me get my revenge. And I guess it remains to be seen if he'll actually deliver what he promised. “The only thing I want is to bring my aunt’s killer to justice,” I answer, truthfully. “After that, we’ll go our separate ways.”
It’s impossible to imagine what happens after this.
Would I like to go back to my old life working with my brothers and having my family and friends close by?
Hell yes. But something inside me has shifted.
I don’t know what’s next or what I want, but I do know that deep down, Maxim has left a mark on me that can’t be easily erased.
“And in the meantime, you’re gonna keep on sleeping with him?” She pulls a face, and I can’t help but smile.
“I’m sorry, this is weird to talk about with you. Maxim is your father.”
“That’s not how I think of him.”
My mouth tips up. “So you don’t think of me as your stepmother?”
She snorts. “God, that’s fucking weird. No.” She heaves a sigh. “Okay, fine. Promise me you’ll be careful. I still don’t fully trust him, no matter what he claims about helping you find your aunt."
I lay a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be cautious," I promise. “But there is something you should know.” Her eyes search mine, waiting. “Maxim didn’t let you go because I offered him an alternative. He let you go because he didn’t want you to be unhappy and he knew that Leo would keep you safe. In his weird way, he cares about you.”
A long, slow breath leaves her lungs as she shakes her head. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Right now, it sounds like a convenient story.”
I understand Aly's wariness of Maxim, and honestly, I'm not sure if time alone will be enough to heal the wounds he inflicted.
But I want her to understand that there's another side to Maxim.
Not for my sake, but because it's tough to believe the worst about your own family.
I should know—my father was genuinely evil.
I don't know what Maxim is, but he's not that.
But now isn't the time to push the issue, so I take the opportunity to change the subject.
“How are things between you and Leo? I’m sorry I haven't been there for you, but I’m always a phone call away.”
Her eyes go soft. “We’re good. We’re really, really good.
I never imagined things would work out between us, but Leo makes me so fucking happy.
We’re planning the wedding, but I don’t even care about that.
All I care about is the life we’re building together.
” She frowns. “To be honest, the only dark spot in my world has been worrying about you.”
“I know, babe.” I wrap my best friend, who is also a full head above me, in a tight hug. “But you don’t have to worry anymore. I’m okay. I’m better than okay. I’m putting some old demons to rest.” Knowing Maxim will use his money and power to find Masha’s killer is a huge relief.
She keeps one arm around my shoulders. “Please don’t get yourself hurt, crazy lady. You have no idea who or what you’re dealing with.”
“I won’t,” I promise, sincerely hoping I can keep my word. And then I take a chance. “Will you stay for tea? I think it would be good for us all to talk.”
Aly twists her lips. “If it’s important to you, I will, but I'm not ready to have a relationship with Maxim.”
“I get it.” I squeeze Aly’s hand. “Just tea for now.”