Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Natasha
Ihave no choice but to attend a charity function with Maksim where my father is going to be at.
The charity is for children in need so at least it’s something good but that doesn’t make the thought of seeing my father any easier.
“You’re ok,” Maksim murmurs on the car ride to the event. It’s hosted inside a beautiful a ballroom in a hotel – a place a lot of people would love to go but I’m dreading it with everything inside of me. “I won’t let your dad hurt you.”
“He’s never hurt me. He just… scares me. A part of me was grateful to leave his house and now I’m going to have to see him again. I told you my secret. If he finds out…”
“I’m not going to tell him that you think he killed your mom. I know better than that. Trust me. We both promised to make this marriage work. I’m not going to ruin it by saying anything.”
“Thank you,” I breathe out.
We reach the hotel and I don’t even realize I’m shaking until Maksim helps me out of the car and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
There’s a physical closeness between us after he put his mouth on me and I did the same to him.
A part of me still cannot believe I did that but it had felt right in the moment and I don’t regret it.
I want to make this marriage work more than anything.
The ballroom is decorated in soft browns and whites, which would be relaxing for most people, but I can’t relax at all. Not when I see my father across the room talking with Maksim’s dad.
“Is Kira going to be here?” I ask.
“No. She hates going to things like this. Says they’re boring.”
I deflate a little. It would have been nice to have a friend around.
With no other choice, Maksim and I walk across the ballroom towards our fathers.
“There they are,” Gregor says. “The hopefully happy couple.”
“Yes,” Maksim says in a tight voice. His demeanor shifts around his dad, I notice. I like having something in common with him.
My own father sets his stern eyes onto me. “I haven’t heard anything bad between the two of you, which is good. You’re making me proud, Natasha. When can I expect grandchildren?”
Maksim coughs. “What?”
“Grandchildren. If you have kids it will help ensure peace between our families even more.”
“Probably not for a while,” Maksim says. “But we’re working on it,” he adds quickly when both of our fathers frown. “We just want to enjoy being together first.”
My dad clears his throat. “Well… I want grandchildren soon.” He gives me a pointed look, silently telling me to do my job.
“Yes, father,” I say with a duck of my chin.
Maksim stans up straighter. “Natasha and I will have kids when we’re ready. Not before. That’s a decision between us and no one else.”
“Maksim,” Gregor murmurs but Maksim ignores him.
Lev looks like he was shot through the heart. “How can you talk to me like that?”
“It’s the truth. Natasha and I have been married only a couple of weeks now. It’s all new for us. Give us time. But we’re doing everything we can to make this marriage work. You don’t need to worry.”
“As the man in the marriage, you need to make sure everything is going smoothly,” Lev snaps back. “Even if my daughter says no, you need to have children.”
“With all due respect, Lev, I’m not going to rape my wife just to have kids. I’ll never treat my wife badly.” It’s a pointed hint.
I stare at Maksim aghast. What is he doing? My father’s jaw tenses as he stares Maksim down.
“I never said anything about rape,” he says in a low voice. “I don’t want you hurting my daughter. But certain things need to happen. And having kids is one of them.”
Maksim doesn’t back down. “And we will… in time. Now, if you’ll excuse us, my wife and I are going to enjoy the evening.” He places his hand on my back and walks me away from our fathers.
“What was that?” I whisper.
“I’m sorry. I knew I said I wasn’t going to say anything but seeing your father there… and knowing how scared he’s made you feel just made me… angry.” His eyes soften. “I like you, Natasha. I don’t want to see you scared.”
“Thank you. For standing up for me. No one has ever done that before.”
“What are husbands for? It’s my job to help protect you now. Even from your own father.”
My eyes flick over to the dance floor where couples are swaying in each other’s arms. “Do you want to dance?”
“Dance?”
“Our first dance didn’t go great. It would be nice to have a do over.”
Maksim’s smile is genuine and warms my heart. “That would be nice.” He leads me onto the dance floor and pulls me into his arms.
After a moment, I let my head rest on his chest. I can feel his heart beating. It’s the nicest thing I’ve felt in a long time.
“You feel good here,” he admits, putting his lips to my head. “I’ve never danced like this with anyone before. I never had the feelings to.”
I squeeze my eyes shut from the happiness. I might cry otherwise. “Neither have I.”
Our sweet moment is interrupted when I hear a man say, “Maksim?” behind us. It’s a voice I recognize.
Maksim tenses and lets me go, turning around to see… Enzo Bianchi standing on the dance floor. He has a pretty blonde on his arm.
“That is you,” Enzo says. “Nice to know we all donate to the same charity.”
“This is a charity my family has been donating to for decades,” Maksim seethes. “Not you. Get out.”
“It’s a free country, Maksim. I have the right to be here just as much as you do. And I’m not harming anyone. In fact, I’ve never harmed anyone.”
“Because you get others to do your dirty work for you.”
Enzo smirks and opens his mouth to speak when his eyes dart to mine and they widen. “You.”
I tense. Maksim doesn’t hesitate to put his body in front of mine.
“I thought you were some random woman at my party,” Enzo continues. “Pretty but nothing special. And yet, here you are, dancing with Maksim Petrov. How interesting. I’m assuming you are special.”
“Is your date special to you?” Maksim asks, nodding at the blonde woman, who only looks confused.
“She’s just a date for the evening.”
The woman scoffs. “Seriously?” She detangles her arm from Enzo’s and storms away. Enzo doesn’t look bothered by it at all. His eyes are on me the entire time.
“So is my date,” Maksim says. “Just a woman I met at a club. Asked if she’d join me. Now here we are.”
I don’t say a word. It’s better this way.
“Could be,” Enzo says. “But it’s too much of a coincidence that she was at my party the other night and now here she is… with you. You must get around, mystery girl. You never even told me your name.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Maksim cuts in. “Now, leave. You’re trying to fuck over my business and I don’t like that.”
“And I’m just trying to take what’s up for grabs. It’s nothing personal.” Enzo’s eyes still linger on me. “What’s your name?”
“Alexandra,” I lie. It slips from my tongue easier than I ever imagined.
“A pretty name.”
Maksim angles his body to shelter me from Enzo’s eyes. “You should go now.”
“Natasha,” my father says, approaching me. “I want to talk with you.”
I try to ignore my dad but he’s making it hard when he walks right up to my side.
“Natasha, don’t ignore me.”
“Natasha?” Enzo frowns. “But you just said your name was Alexandra.”
“No, her name is Natasha,” Lev says. He doesn’t realize who Enzo is. Oh no. “And she’s being rude.”
“Who is she to you?”
“My daughter. Now, I don’t appreciate men ogling my daughter, especially when she’s married. I suggest you stop talking with her. Natasha, come alone.”
“Married?” Enzo smirks. “To who?” He looks straight at Maksim as he asks it.
“Lev, stop talking,” Maksim snaps.
My father scoffs. “How dare you speak to me like this.”
“Enzo is not to be trusted,” Maksim explains. “My family and Nikolai are at war with him.”
Finally, my father understands the situation. He puts himself in front of me, which doesn’t offer me any comfort. I don’t want protection from my dad. I want it from Maksim, I realize.
“She’s your wife,” Enzo states. “I didn’t know you had gotten married. I heard something about it but I didn’t care enough. Now, I see how wrong I was. Interesting.”
“Just go,” Maksim growls. “You’re lucky Nikolai isn’t here tonight or you’d be dead.”
“And start a war with me? I don’t think so.” Enzo gives me another curious look before he whistles and walks away.
I shiver as Maksim turns to me. “Are you ok?” he asks, rubbing his hands along my arm.
“I’m fine.”
“What the hell?” Maksim snarls, turning to my dad. “You just blindly told my enemy about Natasha, potentially putting her in danger.”
Lev stands up straighter. “That is no way to speak to me.”
“Maybe if you didn’t terrify your daughter so much, I would treat you with more respect. I did my duty. We have peace between our families. That’s enough.” He grabs my hand and pulls me away from my dad.
I watch as Lev storms over to Gregor, pointing at me and Maksim. Both of our fathers look angry and yet, Maksim doesn’t seem to care at all.
“Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs, tugging me through the crowd.
“But our fathers…”
“They’ll be fine. Right now, I’m more concerned about Enzo. Fuck. He was bold by coming here. This charity is one run by my family. It’s a way we make our business look more legitimate. The fact that he came here knowing this… he’s baiting us. It’s like he wants a war.”
We leave the hotel and Maksim tells the valet to get our car. Maksim is silently fuming. The last time I’ve seen him this angry was when he killed that man… to protect me. Maksim cares about me, I realize. I stand closer to him, seeking his warmth.
Our car pulls up and we get in, driving away from the charity event. But Maksim doesn’t become at ease. In fact, he gets more and more tense.
“Someone is following us,” he says, tightening his hands on the wheel.
“Who?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll try to lose them.” Maksim turns corner after corner but still can’t get rid of the car following us. He takes a risk and drives down an alleyway. For a moment, I don’t see anything. We’re safe.
But then a car comes up behind us and slams right into the back of our car. Maksim loses control of the wheel and the front of our car crashes into the wall of the alleyway. The airbags deploy.
I wince from the pain but otherwise, I’m all right. Maksim isn’t though.
He’s slumped over the steering wheel… unconscious.
“Maksim?” I whisper, nudging his arm. He groans, blinking his eyes open. He’s alive. I never thought I’d be this happy to know that.
Before I can rejoice, my car door is ripped open and a tall, burly man grabs me from my seat and drags me towards his car.
“Natasha,” Maksim groans, trying to get out of the car but he’s not fast enough. The large man throws me into the back seat of his car and runs to the driver’s seat before Maksim can free himself from his seat.
“Maksim!” I shout, knowing he can’t hear me as I’m driven away. Kidnapped.
And for the first time, I realize I care deeply for my husband. But now it’s too late.