Chapter Forty-Five Sarah
As I zigzagged through the tree-lined woods, I ignored the ache in my calves. It’d been a while since I’d pushed myself so hard in a sprint. While Maksim and I might’ve had the occasional small chase through his penthouse or down a dark alley, it hadn’t been like this for a long time.
With my breath coming in rushed pants, I pushed myself up the back terrace steps. I threw a glance over my shoulder and instantly regretted it. Maksim was closing in on me. Although I knew he had to don the mask, I still needed time to hide.
While I’d been chased in the house he’d rented, the Korolov mansion was twice as big. I’d only been here a few times, so I really felt out of my element.
When I skidded into the massive dining room, I froze in horror at the sight of Dima, Aleksandr, Lev, and Kira having dinner. They appeared as shocked to see me as I was them.
“What are you—”
Before I could finish, Maksim’s voice echoed from the other room. “How wet is your cunt, my little prey?”
As I wished for the floor to open up and swallow me whole, my future in-laws stared wide-eyed at me.
“Oh fuck,” Lev muttered.
Aleks snickered behind his cloth napkin. “Let me guess. You didn’t think we were here, so you and Maksim decided to get kinky?”
“Exactly,” I muttered.
Kira’s eyes lit up at the mention of us getting kinky. “Are you guys role-playing or something?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Aleks mused.
Lev grimaced as he tossed his napkin on the table. “Yeah, I think I’m done.”
“I’m so sorry,” I replied.
As heat inflamed my face, I brought my hands to my cheeks, which caused Kira to squeal. “OH MY GOD, YOU’RE ENGAGED!”
Her exclamation caused Aleks to jump, and Lev to cover his ears. Maksim appeared in the doorway then, shirtless and holding the mask in his hand.
“What the fuck are you d-doing here?” he demanded.
“This is our home too, my co-pahkan,” Dima replied.
“B-Bullshit. None of you have stayed here in weeks,” Maksim argued.
“Since we knew you were busy with Sarah and Mila was with Kellan, we decided to have a sibling dinner at the old home place,” Kira replied.
Throwing Maksim a mortified look, I said, “I would’ve thought that you checked with them before planning our big weekend.”
He threw up his mask-free hand. “Why would I d-do t-that considering t-they all hate it here.”
“Relax your j—” When he shot me an exasperated look, I held my hands up. “Nevermind.”
“Is that a mask in your hand?” Kira asked, to which Maksim quickly shoved behind his hip.
“It’s none of your business,” Maksim shot back.
“They’re into mask play and primal play hunts,” Aleks whispered loudly to her.
“Sounds hot!”
At Maksim’s groan, I burst out laughing at the absurdity of the moment. When he cocked his brows at me, I replied, “Your brothers know, so why shouldn’t your sister?”
He grimaced. “Because she’s my baby sister.”
“I’m still a woman with sexual needs,” Kira shot back, to which all her brothers groaned.
“I’ll be happy to sponsor you on a hunt, Kira,” I said.
“The fuck you will!” Maksim and Dima challenged.
When I winked at her, she gave me a knowing smile. “I think a toast is in order,” Dima suggested in an obvious bid to change the subject off of Kira’s sex life.
“That isn’t necessary,” I argued.
Dima grinned. “Of course it is.”
“I’d really rather just run upstairs and die of mortification if you don’t mind,” I replied.
“Fine. I’ll save it for your engagement party,” Dima replied.
Kira clapped her hands. “Oh, will you let me help you plan it?”
“I’d love that.”
“Mila will want to help, too.”
“I’ll take all the help I can get.”
My chest swelled with love for my soon-to-be sisters.
While I’d come to love each of Maksim’s brothers, I’d never known what it was like to have sisters.
I knew Mila and Kira were going to be such a blessing in my life.
They already adored Sammy, and Kira often accompanied me to dinner with the guys.
Of course, Jason, Kyle, and Quint were desperately in love with her.
“I’ll just see Sarah upstairs,” Maksim said.
Aleks snorted. “Maybe you two should take the East wing, so we don’t have to hear anything.”
Maksim opened his mouth to go off on Aleks when an alert went off on his phone. It echoed on Dima, Aleks, and Lev’s phones. All four men sucked in a sharp breath.
“What is it?” I asked.
Maksim’s gaze flashed from his phone to mine. “Some of Leandro Nerretti’s men found Matvey’s hideout. They have him and some of the men who stabbed me in custody and are asking where to bring them. him and some of the men who stabbed me.
As I gazed around the four men, their expressions changed over to pure malice.
I couldn’t blame them, especially Maksim.
These were the men who tried to publicly execute him.
They’d left him for dead on a cold bakery floor.
Not only had they wanted him dead, but they’d promised to take even his sisters out.
At the same time, it was a little unnerving seeing how quickly the men I loved could change into such bloodthirsty deviants. It was one thing knowing who they were, but it was quite another seeing it.
As if he could sense my distress, Maksim closed the gap between us. Taking me by the hand, he started leading me out of the dining room.
“You don’t have time for a quickie, Maksim,” Aleks called to which Maksim responded with a juicy string of what I could only imagine were Russian curses.
Once we were alone in the foyer, he pulled me into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Well, let’s see. My fiancé and I were just caught in the middle of a primal play scene by his family. And now he’s about to leave me to go torture one of his uncles and some of his men to death.” Gazing up at him, I replied shaily, “I’m peachy.”
Instead of laughing, Maksim stared intently into my eyes. “If you’re not comfortable with what I’m about to d-do, I won’t d-do it.”
I shook my head. “It’s who you are, Maksim. Not to mention these are the men who almost killed you. There’s a strange part of myself that wants to watch what you’re about to do.”
“Seriously?”
“I mean, they almost took you from me.”
“None of that matters if it’s going to d-drive a wedge between us.”
I couldn’t believe what he was offering me. Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he offered yet another sacrifice of himself. But this time it was one I couldn’t take.
I patted his chest above his heart. “I can’t ask you to be someone you aren’t. It’s just going to take me a little time getting used to this side of you.”
At his apprehensive look, I replied, “I fell in love with the Bratva heir—for better or worse.”
He closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I can’t wait to hear you say those vows to me.”
With a shy smile, I countered, “I might have watched a Russian wedding ceremony or two, and you don’t say vows.”
Maksim’s eyes shone with pleasure. “I love that you wanted to embrace my culture for our wedding.”
“It’s what is expected, isn’t it?”
“It is. But at the same t-time, I want to integrate your culture.”
With a laugh, I countered, “I’m just Pennsylvania Dutch with a touch of German, which would be frowned upon.”
“Well, how about we incorporate a little of the Russian Orthodox, and then d-do whatever the hell we want to for the rest?”
“I like,” I mused.
“Good. While I’m taking care of business, maybe you and Kira could get started with wedding planning.” When I laughed, he questioned, “What?”
“I was just thinking there’s no cold feet for you, huh?”
A beautiful smile lit up his face. “Absolutely not.”
“Me either. I’ll get to planning.”
“But there’s one person’s permission I need to ask before we truly announce it.”
At the realization of what he meant, tears pricked my eyes. “I know Sammy will be honored for you to ask.”
“We’ll grab some cupcakes and go see him tomorrow. How’s that?”
Nodding, I replied, “From that new bakery we introduced him to.”
Maksim chuckled. “I’m so glad he understands that I can’t go back to O’Brien’s.”
After what had happened with Maksim, Sammy had been told that he’d been mugged outside of O’Brien’s. From then on out, he no longer wanted anything to do with their cupcakes. I hated lying to him, but I also knew he would never quite understand Maksim’s business.
When Maksim’s phone dinged, I knew our time was up. “Rain check on the hunt?” I teased.
He nodded. “Once they’re disposed of, I’ll make sure my family g-gets the hell out of here.”
“I look forward to it.”
Maksim brought his lips to mine. After a brief lip-lock, he started for the kitchen where I knew the backstairs were to the basement and the torture room.
As I tried regulating my jangled nerves, Kira appeared in the doorway. “Why don’t we get out of here while the guys play?”
An absurd laugh bubbled from my lips. “Play?”
She shrugged. “After all these years, it’s the way I deal with the fact my brothers are killers.”
“I think I might need to adopt that myself.”
“While the boys play, we can go into the city to a bridal shop.
“Shouldn’t we wait until Mila’s wedding is over?”
“She’s the one who suggested it,” Kira replied.
I laughed. “Okay, let’s do it.”
After sliding her arm through mine, Kira said, “Will you promise to tell me all about the hunts you go to?”
“Everything except the parts involving your brother.”
Kira giggled. “I think I can handle that.”
And with my heart overflowing, I followed Kira out into the sunshine.