Chapter Twenty-Four
Maron
I head back to the luxury suite Mindy and I share, only to find it empty.
I'm about to call out her name when I hear muffled conversation coming from behind the closed bedroom door.
"U-hum," Mindy keeps repeating, her voice strained. "And how long will it take? …Oh, I see. It's trial stage, right? Right… no guarantee. I understand. All new treatments are like that. Thank you. Yes. I appreciate that, Dr. Walker."
She must be talking to her mother's oncologist. I knew her mother's condition was serious, but the heaviness in Mindy's tone suggests it might be even worse than I thought.
After what feels like an eternity, the bedroom door finally opens, and Mindy emerges. Her eyes are red and puffy, her cheeks streaked with tears. She looks utterly devastated, and it takes every ounce of my self-control to not rush over and gather her in my arms.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
“Shit… Sorry, Maron.” She sniffs, using a paper tissue to dry her tears. “I didn’t realize you’re back.”
“It’s alright.” I keep my tone gentle. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Mindy takes a shaky breath, her lower lip trembling. "My mom," she whispers on the verge of crying. "Her cancer has become aggressive and she needs more treatment than we initially thought. But even with that, there's no guarantee that… that she’ll make it. I just spoke to her doctor."
I step forward, cupping her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the fresh tears that spill down her cheeks.
"There's no guarantee for anything in this fucked-up thing called life, Mindy," I murmur, my eyes locked on hers. Desperate to offer her some kind of comfort, I turn to the booze cupboard and pull out a bottle of premium vodka. "Want some?" I ask, holding it up.
She manages a weak nod. "Yeah, please," she says, her voice hoarse. "I could really use one right now."
I pour two generous shots, handing one to her before clinking our glasses together. We down the vodka in unison, the smooth, fiery liquid burning a path down my throat.
As I watch Mindy savor the drink and her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment of respite, I can't help but be struck by her beauty once again. Even in her distress, with her face bare of makeup and her hair tousled from running anxious fingers through it, she is fucking stunning.
My woman.
For life.
"Tell me everything," I say gruffly, my voice harsher than I intended.
Mindy flinches at my tone, avoiding eye contact as she starts to speak. "Well, she’s getting this new type of treatment. It’s only recently been approved by the FDA. But there’s still no guarantee that it’s going to work," she confesses, her voice heavy with worry. “It’s… almost like she’s being experimented on. No one knows how her body will react, not even her doctors."
My mind goes straight to my mother and her illness. I've seen death firsthand too many times growing up in the Bratva. I should be numb to it by now, but the idea of losing someone close still scares the shit out of me. It doesn't matter how tough you are, we're all soft when it comes to family.
"Life can be a bitch, Mindy," I murmur, unsure what else to tell her. I look at her. "Who is paying for her treatment? Do you have anyone to help you?” I ask. “A sibling, a friend, anyone?"
I can see her trying to keep up a strong facade. "My sister, Alexis. She’s the only family I have left besides my mom," she admits with a slight tremor in her voice.
“Is she helping you?” I push. "Do you share the costs?"
“Well, she’s…” Mindy sniffs, new streams of tears forming on her cheeks.
I fix her with a stare. “She’s what, Mindy?”
"Alexis is… it’s complicated, Maron,” she says. “Let's just say, she's dealing with her own troubles right now.”
I feel a flicker of annoyance at her reluctance. And at the way she seems to think she has to handle everything on her own.
“So, nobody’s helping you.” My eyes remain fixated on her. "How much is the new treatment?"
“No, Maron.” She glances at me. “I know what you’re thinking and we’re not doing that. I can handle this myself. And I will."
I step closer and lift her chin. "How much?"
"Well, the insurance covers half, and-"
"And?"
She doesn't reply immediately. "Fifty-eight thousand," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "But I'll-"
"Fine," I say, pulling out my phone and opening the banking app. I tap on Mindy’s account details that I still have from her Global Media days, my fingers flying over the screen. In a matter of seconds, the transaction is complete, and the money is transferred to her account.
I look up, meeting her stunned gaze with a cool, impassive one of my own. “It's done," I say. "What else worries you?"
Mindy's eyes widen in shock, her mouth falling open. "What? No, Maron, you can't-"
"Too late. It's done. Let's move on."
"Maron," she whispers, her voice choked with emotion. "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you."
I shrug, slipping my phone back into my pocket. "You’re welcome."
As she continues to stare at me stupefied, a ghost of a smile flickers across her face making me feel a tug in my chest. Something warm and unfamiliar, something I don't quite know how to name. There's something about her, something that draws me in like a fucking magnet. The way she looks at me makes me feel like she can see past all the bullshit, all the posturing, and the power plays.
Like she sees the man beneath the monster.
I push the thought aside, and my jaw tightens. I've never been a man to give grand gestures of affection. I never learned that shit and I never needed to. But as I look at Mindy, at the way her eyes shine with a tentative kind of hope, I can't help but feel a flicker of something else. Something that feels dangerously close to caring.
I tilt my head and grin. "Actually, there's one way you can show your appreciation."
"Is that so?"
“Come here,” I tell her and watch as she moves closer to me. The vulnerability in her eyes, the way she leans into my touch - it all crystallizes my earlier decision. This woman, with all her complexities and contradictions, is exactly who I need as my wife. Not just to protect my position in the Bratva, but for myself.
"Mindy," I begin, my voice low and serious. "There's something I need to discuss with you."
She looks up at me, curiosity mingling with the lingering sadness in her eyes. "What is it, Maron?"
I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "You know my world is... complicated."
She nods slowly, her brow furrowing. "Okay..."
"I need a partner, Mindy. Someone strong, someone who can stand by my side and face whatever comes our way." I pause, gauging her reaction. "I need a wife."
Her eyes widen in shock. "Maron, what are you-"
I press a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I know it’s too early – we’re not there yet. But I need you to play a role. To be my wife in the eyes of others. Effective immediately."
"Play a role?" Her voice is a mix of confusion and intrigue.
I nod, allowing a smile to play on my lips. "Think of it as... practice. For what will come later."
Her breath catches, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. "And what exactly does this 'practice' entail?"
I lower my voice to a seductive murmur. "That’s what I’m about to show you."
Without warning, I capture her lips in a hungry kiss, pouring all my pent-up desire and newfound determination into it.
The day is still young, and we have all the time we need to explore our new arrangement.