16. Cora
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
cora
I was stretched out on the sofa in the apartment, halfheartedly watching an episode of The Last of Us . The kitten, Clyde, was curled up on my chest.Conall had had a vet swing by to check him out and give him an exam and his first round of shots. He was in remarkably good shape for being on the streets on his own. He was a little scruffy, but I was already in love with him.
When the knock came at the door, I knew exactly who it was. No one else knocked with that mix of determination and restraint—like they had to remind themselves not to kick the door down.
It had been a few days since the bridal shop encounter, and I’d wondered when I’d see him again — I ached for it.
“Come in, Max,” I called, not bothering to get up.
When the door opened, he was tall and commanding, wearing a dark coat that made the apartment feel smaller. His eyes went straight to me, then narrowed at the kitten as if it were going to leap at him any second.
“You still have that thing?” he asked, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.
“His name is Clyde,” I corrected with a smirk. “And yes, I still have him. What did you think I’d do, toss him out on the street?”
“I wouldn’t put it past you.” His tone was dry, but I could see how his jaw tightened, his focus shifting warily between me and the kitten.
“You’re scared of him, aren’t you?” I teased, sitting up. “You know he’s still a baby. He can’t hurt you.”
Maxim didn’t answer, but he didn’t deny it either. Instead, he crossed his arms and gave me a look. “I came to check on you, not to be interrogated about your furry menace.”
I rolled my eyes, grinning. “I’m fine, Max. Really. You’re more shaken about the shooting than I am.”
His expression darkened, and he took a step closer. “You were almost killed, Cora. Forgive me for being a little… invested in your survival.”
“I appreciate the concern,” I said lightly, “but you should know something about me. It’ll take more than a stray bullet to scare me.”I wasn’t lying about that.
The shooting hadn’t left any lasting damage. Finn was quick at covering me. The experience had only shown me that Conall was right about assigning me protection.
He huffed a breath, clearly not amused, and his eyes lingered on me a moment longer. There was something different in his gaze—something deeper, heavier as if he was seeing me in a way that unsettled even him.
“What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.
“Nothing,” he said quickly, though his voice had softened. “Just… you’re amazing, you know that?”
His lips quirked into a faint smile, but the intensity didn’t leave his eyes. He moved to sit on the armchair opposite me, his broad frame making the modest furniture seem smaller.
Maxim’s gaze flicked to the kitten, then back to me. “I have family coming in soon.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Should I be worried?”
“Not unless you’re afraid of strong-willed women.”
I laughed. “I think I can handle it. Who’s coming?”
“Ronnie and Natasha, my cousins,” he said, a hint of pride creeping into his tone. “You’ll like them. Natasha’s a lawyer—sharp as anything—and Ronnie’s… well, let’s say amazing. Like you. My brother will be coming also with his wife and their daughter.”
I couldn’t help but smile. There was something warm in how he talked about them, a rare softness in his usually hard-edged demeanor.
“And they’re coming for the wedding?” I asked, tilting my head.
“Partly. But also to meet you.”
I blinked, taken aback. “Me?”
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze locked onto mine. “You’re important to me, Cora. That means you’re important to them.”
My heart did a little flip, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. “Well, no pressure then.”
He smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “They’ll love you. … maybe don’t bring up the kitten.”
I laughed again, and for a moment, the tension eased. But as Maxim sat back, his gaze lingering on me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was at play.
“Max,” I said softly, “what are you worried about?”
He hesitated, then shook his head, his jaw tightening. “Just want to make sure you’re safe. That’s all.”
I knew he wasn’t telling me the truth, but I let it go for now.
“What are you watching?” he asked, plopping down on the sofa next to me, slinging an arm over the back so it rested on my shoulders. “This one of those zombie things you like?”
“Don’t tell me you are so out of touch you haven’t seen this?” I said, aghast. “We need to get you up to speed.”
Maxim raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. “If I wanted to watch a show about the end of the world, I’d just check the news.”
I smirked, leaning into the cushions, my shoulder brushing his arm. “This is art, Max. It’s about survival, humanity, love, loss… zombies are just a bonus.”
He glanced at the screen, where a tense standoff between survivors was unfolding. “Doesn’t look very romantic.”
“Not everything has to be romantic,” I shot back. “But since you’re here, we could change that. You could woo me with your deep, profound thoughts about society’s collapse.”
His lips twitched in amusement. “Deep and profound, huh? All right. Here’s one: if people had more sense, they wouldn’t let a kitten into their house when the world’s falling apart.”
I gasped, pretending to be scandalized. “Clyde is the very reason I would survive the apocalypse. He’s adorable. No one would shoot me while I was holding him.”
“Or they’d shoot both of you for being a nuisance.”
I playfully shoved his shoulder, and he chuckled, a rare and quiet sound that sent warmth through my chest. His arm slipped from the back of the sofa, resting lightly against my shoulders, and the teasing energy shifted.
“Tell me something, Cora,” he said, his voice lower now, his eyes locked on mine. Those cinnamon eyes were searching my face for something — answers?
I swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the inches between us. “What?”
“How are you this calm?” He tilted his head slightly, studying me as though he couldn’t figure me out. “After everything that’s happened? The shooting, the wedding, my… job? I would have thought you’d be freaking out. Putting up a bit more of a fight.” He angled himself closer to me, and my nipples pebbled in response.
I shrugged, trying to downplay the question. “I guess I’m just good at compartmentalizing, or maybe I know when to let things go.”
His hand moved, brushing the curve of my shoulder as he pulled back slightly. “Let things go, huh? Like fear? Or do you just pretend it’s not there?”
The weight of his words hung between us, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Maxim wasn’t someone who wasted time with small talk—he had a knack for cutting straight to the heart of things, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or hated it.
“Maybe fear is a luxury,” I said finally, my voice quieter than intended. “If I let it in, it’ll swallow me whole. Should I be afraid?”
He didn’t answer right away, but the intensity in his gaze deepened, his usual armor slipping just a fraction. “It’s not a weakness to be afraid, Cora. It’s human.”
“Are you afraid?” I asked before I could stop myself.
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
“Yes. This is all new to me.”
I nodded, leaning over to lay my lips on his.
“That’s okay, Max,” I murmured. “I’ve got you.”
Maxim froze at first, his lips still under mine as if caught off guard by the gesture. Then, slowly, he responded, his hand cupping my jaw, his thumb brushing the curve of my cheek. The kiss deepened, a blend of caution and hunger, as though he was testing the waters and staking his claim all at once.
For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There were no shootings, no family expectations, no shadows lurking on the horizon. It was just us, the kitten’s faint snuffles and the soft flicker of the TV casting muted light over the room.
When we broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm on my lips. His thumb traced an absent pattern along my jawline, and I saw something raw in his eyes—something that made my heart ache.
“You’re dangerous, Cora,” he murmured, his voice a hoarse whisper.
I smirked, though my chest was still tight. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Maxim chuckled softly but didn’t pull away. “You make me want to believe in things I shouldn’t.”
“And what’s wrong with believing?” I asked, my fingers brushing the fabric of his coat.
“Nothing, as long as it doesn’t get you killed.”
The weight of his words settled between us, and I knew this wasn’t just about me. Maxim carried a burden I couldn’t fully see, but I wanted to understand and share it.
I leaned back, giving us both a little space, though his hand lingered on my leg. “Speaking of danger… have you discovered anything about the shooter?”
His expression hardened, and he sat back, the softness giving way to his usual edge. “Not enough. Conall and Finn have been working on it, but whoever they were, they knew what they were doing. Professional. Stole a car. Left no prints. ”
My stomach churned at the thought, but I forced myself to stay composed. “Any leads? Something to go on?”
Maxim nodded slowly. “We have a photo, and we were able to get a bullet casing. The bullet matched a specific kind of ammunition used by a small group of assassins tied to a South American cartel. They’re efficient, but they rarely operate this far north. It’s… unusual.”
“Unusual enough to worry about?” I asked, my fingers tightening fractionally around the small body that stretched on my chest.
“Unusual enough that we’re not ruling out the possibility of a bigger connection. A message, maybe.”
“To you?”
“To all of us,” he admitted, his tone grim. “The timing is too precise to be a coincidence, especially with the wedding coming up.”
The knot in my stomach tightened, but I kept my voice steady. “So what do we do?”
He looked at me for a long moment, then reached out to trace the curve of my cheek. “We stay vigilant, and I keep you safe. I guess I’ll have to keep the little beast safe, too.” He narrowed his eyes at Clyde as if personally offended by the tiny thing.
It wasn’t a question or a request—it was a promise. One I hoped he could keep.
The door swung open with a bang, and I was startled back away from his heat as my brother stalked in, his eyes bouncing from me to Maxim.
“What are you doing here?” Conall asked, frowning.
“Seeing my fiancée.”
“You’ll see her at the end of the aisle in just a few days.”
“That’s right. Then she’ll be moving in,” Maxim needled Conall.
The thought sent another frisson of awareness through me. Me in his space. I hadn’t even thought about it and everything that would entail. I’d been so unsettled recently coming from my uncle’s house that even Conall’s didn’t feel like home yet.
“You arse,” Conall growled, swinging away from us and stalking off to his office.
Once he was out of earshot, Maxim leaned close to kiss me, biting my bottom lip hard enough that the coppery taste of blood hit my mouth. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself, zayka. The things I’m going to do to you.” His words were filled with dark promise.
“Will I see you before the wedding?” I asked as he pulled back.
“Probably not. I’ve got business, but I’ll be the one at the end of the aisle.”
He got up abruptly, his fists clenched and his jaw working as he looked at me. I wanted to ask him to stay, but he was out the door before I could tell him I wasn’t afraid. I wanted him to ruin me. I couldn’t wait.