Chapter Thirty-Four Maksim
Watching Dima dancing with Sarah was excruciating. I didn’t like the expression on either of their faces. If it hadn’t been for Rian, I would’ve already cut in.
At the voice behind me, I whirled around. “What are you doing with my nephew?”
Callum Kavanaugh stood eyeing me suspiciously. “I thought we were allies now.”
“We are.”
“Your expression sure as hell d-doesn’t look like we are.”
“Excuse me for being curious why the Bratva pahkan is holding my nephew and his parents aren’t in sight.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “The Bratva co-pahkan is holding Rian because after his mother ran from the t-table to throw up, my girlfriend offered to hold him so his worried d-dad could go check on her.”
The corners of Callum’s lips quirked up. “And then your girlfriend bailed on you leaving you with the kid?”
“Actually he wanted t-to come to me.”
After running his eyes down my body, Callum nodded. “Probably remind him of Quinn.”
“Sarah said the same t-thing.”
Jerking his chin at me, Callum said, “Not gonna lie that you look pretty natural with him.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I heard t-that one too.”
“Are you serious about this woman?”
Cocking my brows, I replied, “We’re allies, Kavanaugh. Not girls swapping secrets and g-gossip.”
He laughed. “I happen to like gossiping.”
“Oh d-do you?”
Nodding, he replied, “I like shocking my wife when I hear better stuff than she does.”
“I can’t believe you admitted t-that.”
“So give me something juicy to go back to her with.”
“Sarah and I are dating. That’s all you’re g-getting.”
He scowled. “Boo. You suck.”
Glancing past Callum, Dima was kissing Sarah’s cheeks. “I hate to cut t-this short, but I need to check on something.”
Callum opened his arms to take Rian. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go see what trouble your cousins are up to.”
While my first instinct was to go to Sarah, I stopped at Dima first. “What the hell was t-that about?”
“Nothing.”
“Chush' sobach'ya!” I snarled.
Looking around, he said, “Not here.”
Cocking my brows, I watched as he turned and started to the door leading to the veranda. Reluctantly, I followed him instead of going to Sarah. When we got outside, Dima reached into his suit pocket for a cigarette.
“D-Do you seriously think t-that’s a good idea?”
“Otvali,” he grumbled, his face illuminated by the glow.
“Yeah, you fuck off instead. Why d-don’t you say what you need t-to say and leave me the fuck alone?”
After taking a long drag of his cigarette, Dima said, “You have to tell her.”
Startled by his declaration, I stumbled back. It was the last thing I was expecting. The idea that he was so concerned for Sarah that he was telling me to come clean with her was mindblowing. Especially since I felt he’d been harboring animosity towards her.
“I know.”
He shook his head. “How could you let it go this far?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Fuck, Maks,” he spit out with disgust.
“D-Don’t fucking judge me like t-that.”
“I’ll judge the hell out of you when it comes to hurting a woman who has done nothing but help you.”
“D-Don’t you g-get it? I haven’t t-told her because I know she’ll leave. And I don’t know if I can b-bear losing her.”
With a ragged sigh, Dima replied, “Yeah, I know that.”
My brows popped in surprise. “You d-do?”
“That’s why I was just dancing with her even though my leg is screaming in agony.” He pinned me with a stare. “I was trying to somehow find a buffer for what was to come. To get her to remember who you really are and not the bastard who deceived her by playing two men.”
It was one thing to live it, and it was another to hear my sins from my brother’s lips. Nodding, I said, “I promise I’ll t-tell her.”
“Tonight?”
As tears pricked my eyes, I said, “Can’t I have one last p-perfect night with her?”
Dima’s furious expression became agonized. “You don’t know she’ll leave you.”
“You d-don’t know Sarah.”
“I do know she’s a very kind, compassionate woman. Maybe she will just need time.”
“I d-don’t t-think so, brat, I replied, my chest cracking in two. I knew if Sarah was here she would remark about my out-of-control speech by telling me to relax my jaw, ground myself, and try again. But I didn’t have the heart to do that.
Dima closed the distance between us. “Look at me. The doctors said I might not ever walk again.” When I didn’t respond, he said, “Fuck, look at me and Kavanaugh. I had the man tortured, and he’s forgiven me.”
“B-Because of Mila.”
“Yeah, because of her love. Just like I forgave Mila for alerting Kellan and me being shot.” He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I know the same thing can happen with Sarah’s love.”
As I stared out at the water, my resolve grew. “Right. I’ll t-tell her. Not t-tonight but in the next few days.” At Dima’s disbelieving look, I held up my hands. “I swear.”
“If you let this go much longer, there really won’t be a chance of coming back from it.”
“I’m aware of t-that.”
Dima flicked his cigarette into the sea before starting back inside. When he was almost at the door, I called his name. Slowly, he turned back around. Calling on Sarah’s teachings, I said, “For what it’s worth, thank you for what you did with Sarah.”
“You know I’d do anything for you.”
“I do. And I appreciate it more than I can ever say.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome.”
And then he turned and slipped back inside, leaving me alone with my deception and heartache.