Chapter Twenty-Five Maksim
Once Sarah had gone to check on her parents, I texted Oleg and Vasily to come into the house. Since the door was wide open, they didn’t bother knocking. As they stepped into the archway of the living room, Vasily gave a low whistle. “Jesus, he obliterated this place.”
With a grimace, I replied, “Sadly, yes.”
Shaking his head, Oleg asked, “How the hell was it possible considering he looks like he barely weighs a hundred pounds?
“Probably drug-fueled,” Vasily replied.
“He needs to detox and get evaluated for the right meds,” I remarked.
Vasily nodded. “We’ll get him to the compound.”
I clapped him on the back. “Thank you.”
The two made their way over to Silas’s sleeping form. Although they were used to roughing up men, they delicately lifted Silas off the floor. “I’ll get him, and you get the car door,” Oleg said.
Nodding, Vasily eased Silas into Oleg’s arms. Immediately, Oleg’s face crumpled, and I could tell he was fighting his gag reflex. “It’s okay. I know he smells horrendous. Make sure they get him cleaned up as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
As they started out of the house, I fell in step beside them. Glancing around the street, I searched for any curious neighbors who might’ve heard noises and came out to get a front row seat to the drama. Thankfully, the front lawns and porches were empty.
Once Silas was loaded into the back of the SUV, Oleg whirled around and vomited onto the grass. When he was done retching, he swiped his mouth on the back of his hand before shooting me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He shook his head. “I’ve smelled blood and shit and intestines, but nothing has hit me like that.”
“I know. It was almost like decomp,” I replied.
“Exactly.”
“Glad I dodged it,” Vasily mused, to which Oleg playfully punched his arm.
“To make up for it, you can ride next t-to him on the way t-to the compound.”
Vasily’s eyes popped comically wide while Oleg snickered. To put him out of his misery, I replied, “I’m joking. Put all the windows down, and have one of the guys call our detailer asap.
“Anything else?” Vasily asked.
“After you take care of him, I’m going to want two cleaners here ASAP. I don’t want Sarah’s mother to have to lift a finger.”
“Yes, sir.”
As they loaded up, I glanced back up at the house. I wondered how the conversation was going between Sarah and her parents. I hoped her father wasn’t too rattled.
After the guys pulled out of the driveway, I made my way back inside the house. When I got to the foyer, Sarah stood with a woman who looked like an older version of herself. “Maksim, this is my mother, Grace.”
With a smile, I said, “D-Despite the circumstances, it’s nice meeting you.”
When I extended my hand, Grace threw herself at me, wrapping her arms tightly around me like I was the life preserver that had been thrown to her at sea. For a moment, I just stood stiffly with my arms at my side as Grace sobbed hysterically.
It had been twelve long years since the last motherly figure had their arms around me.
It was two nights before Father had murdered Irina. I’d been spending the night with Dima. We decided to go to the movies, and she’d given us both big bear hugs before we left. Even though we towered over her and weighed twice as much, nothing felt safer than being in Irina’s arms.
As I fought those memories, Sarah stepped forward to try to peel her mother away, but I shook my head. “She’s fine.
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, I then tentatively brought my arms up to wrap them around Grace. Her fingers twisted tighter into my shirt. With my own emotions clawing to be freed, I desperately sought a way to comfort the both of us.
Swaying the two of us back and forth like Irina used to, I said, “Shh, it’s okay. He’s g-going to b-be okay.”
My words only caused her to weep harder. When I glanced up, Sarah had her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to keep herself from coming undone. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
I wanted to be able to comfort her as well as her mother. She looked so broken and defeated standing there all alone. As if she could sense my turmoil, she whispered, “I’m okay. Stay with her.”
“Grace? Where did you go?” a voice called from down the hall.
Immediately, Grace froze, her cries turning into snubs and shudders. When she brought her head from my chest, she stared up at me. A look of horror crossed her face. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she apologized.
“It’s okay.”
She shook her head wildly back and forth. “Goodness, what must you think about me falling apart like that?”
“Even the strongest wood b-breaks sometimes, but it d-doesn’t mean it was weak. Just t-tested,” I reasoned.
“That’s a beautiful thought.”
I clenched my jaw trying to keep the sob in my throat from overflowing. When I managed to tamper it down, I replied, “My late mother, Irina, used t-to say t-that.”
Sympathy radiated in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“T-Thank you.”
“And just who is this with his arms around my wife?” Sarah’s father demanded.
Grace tittered nervously. “After all these years, are you still jealous when a young, handsome man gives me attention?”
To my surprise, Hollis smiled. “Of course, I am.”
Sarah swiped her eyes. “Dad, this is my friend, Maksim.”
“Did she say fiance'?” Hollis asked me.
Fucking hell. The sadness overtaking me got blown away with his words, only to be replaced with horror. “Uh, no, sir. I’m just Sarah’s friend,” I quickly replied.
He eyed me up and down. “Pity. You’re a strong, strapping young man. The kind she needs.”
“Dad,” Sarah said, her eyes wide with horror.
“What? Can’t a father want his daughter to be happy?”
“Yes, but–”
After eyeing me again, Hollis wrinkled his nose. Motioning to his neck, he said, “You could do without all that coloring on you.”
While I merely chuckled, Sarah argued, “Dad, there’s nothing wrong with Maksim’s tattoos.”
“It makes him look like a gangster.”
A strangled noise came from the back of my throat while Sarah bit down on her lip to keep from laughing. Grace patted the front of Hollis’s shirt. “I kinda like them.”
“Gracie, what’s gotten into you?” Hollis teased.
She giggled. “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to help myself tonight.”
Hollis started to bypass me to go in the living room. Since I didn’t want him to see the disaster inside, I stepped in front of him, blocking his view. “It was nice t-to meet you. Sarah has told me so much about you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. She talks a lot about you.”
As Sarah’s face fell, I smiled at Hollis. “You and your wife d-did an amazing job raising her. She’s smart, kind, and successful. Her p-patients and their parents adore her. I know you’re very p-proud of her.”
A broad smile curved on Hollis’s lips. “She is the sunshine of my life. She always has been and always will. My beautiful, little girl.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Sarah said, her voice overwhelmed with emotion. I wanted to go over to her and draw her into my arms. To do anything that might give her some comfort after this shit-show of a night. But I was too afraid to leave my spot and have Hollis see the living room.
“Hollis, didn’t you say you were hungry?” Grace asked.
His silver brows show up. “I did?”
She nodded. “Back in the bedroom, you said you wanted some of the leftover roast.”
“Right. I did say that.”
“I’ll go heat you up some.” Glancing between me and Sarah and me, she asked, “Would you two like some?”
“No, thank you, ma’am,” I replied while Sarah merely shook her head.
“Okay then.” Taking Hollis by the arm, Grace began leading him to the kitchen.
Once they were out of sight, I went over to Sarah. Before I could ask her how she was holding up, she exhaled a ragged breath. “Well, that was…”
“Chertov b-besporyadok,” I answered.
“What does that mean?” Sarah asked curiously.
“A fucking mess.”
She threw her head back with a laugh. “I would so agree.”
With a grimace, I replied, “I d-don’t want to discredit what you and your parents went t-through tonight.”
“You’re not.” She rubbed her forehead. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat matters. It’s a complete mess. Both literally and figuratively.”
“I’m so sorry, Sarah.”
She gave me a weak smile. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. You have t-the weight of t-the world on your shoulders.”
“Trust me, I’m used to it. I’ve lived in fight or flight mode since I was a teenager.”
“It doesn’t make it right,” I argued.
“Neither does a young man having his birthright taken from him because of a stutter,” she said softly. When I didn’t respond, she gently placed her hand on my arm. “We all have trauma, Maksim. Some more than others, but regardless of the weight of the load, it’s not easy.”
“No, it's not.”
A faraway expression came over her face. “You know, I haven’t seen my dad that animated in months.”
“I’m g-glad I got to see him on a g-good day. Well, despite what happened with Silas.”
She smiled. “He really took a liking to you.”
“Except for my tattoos.”
She laughed. “He’s such a traditionalist. He freaked out when Silas got his ear pierced when he was fourteen. Not to mention when I got my belly button pierced in college.”
Wagging my brows, I teased, “I would’ve liked to see that.”
With a roll of her eyes, she mused, “Oh, I’m sure you would have. But it was a period of teenage rebellion.”
“He obviously has ESP since he p-pegged me for a g-gangster.”
Sarah brought her hands over her mouth. “I know. I almost died when he said that.”
“It didn’t bother me.”
We stood around for a moment with the weight of the evening hanging heavy around us. “Right. Well, I need to get going.”
At the panic in Sarah’s eyes, I said, “Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to come back to the mansion with me tonight.”
“You don’t?”
“It’s very obvious how much you’re needed here, especially with your mother.”
“Really?”
Nodding, I replied, “She needs you more than I do.”
Tears pooled in Sarah’s eyes. “You really want me to stay?”
“I do.”
“What about being worried about something happening to me because of your world?”