Chapter 13 Maxim
MAXIM
Two days after the explosive encounter with Hollie’s parents, I ride the elevator to the top floor of the Heart Memorial Hospital with Rex by my side. My phone rests in my hand with the CCTV from my new apartment displayed on the screen.
“That counts as stalking,” Rex remarks.
“Does it when it’s my own house?”
“Yup.”
“Who are you, the morality police?”
“Maybe. With how things are going with your father, I might need to change careers.”
I snort softly and watch Hollie as she busies herself in the kitchen making some pasta. “You couldn’t be anything else, Rex. You love guns too much.”
“Maybe.” He leans up from the wall and peers over my shoulder. “What is it with this girl, anyway?”
I can’t give him an answer. What started as trying to do the right thing is quickly morphing into something else. My silence drags on until the elevator doors open, and Rex doesn’t push it, but there’s a touch of concern in his eyes when I look at him.
“I won’t be long,” I say as I step out.
“I’ll be right here.”
The quiet corridor leads me past several private rooms, each one locked securely with access only granted to medical staff with the passcode. Reciting a number in my mind, I type it into the pad on the third door on the right and step inside as the door opens with a soft hiss.
Inside, warm yellow light floods the room. A soft breeze kisses the blinds covering the window and causing the lit candles on the bedside to dance with a little more vigor. In the single bed lies a woman, her head to the side and her attention fixed solely on the candles.
She’s swathed in bandages and hooked up to more wires than I’ve ever dared to count.
One hand rests across her abdomen above the blanket while her other rests underneath her pillow.
Soft beeps rise from the machines next to her bed and music drifts from the small radio resting on the table at the foot.
I remain silent, watching her quietly until my presence finally catches her attention. She slowly turns her head and our eyes meet.
Pain squeezes through my chest and the weight that formed days ago with Hollie proceeds to increase like something has sat down on my breastbone and refuses to move.
“Maxim?”
“Hi, Zoe.”
Zoe’s beaten, bruised face breaks into a watery smile that lasts until the fat, healing split on her lower lip pulls painfully.
One of her eyes is severely bloodshot and bruised, her cheek carries scars where knuckle dusters turned her bone to dust, and her patchy hairline shows promising regrowth amid the surgery scars across her skull.
“You came to see me?” she croaks, moving her arms around the bed to support herself as she attempts to sit up.
Her movements spur me closer, fearing she’ll hurt herself if she tries too hard, so I take the seat next to her bed with a slow nod. “I did.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Her voice remains cracked and fragile even as she tries to smile at me once more.
Every time I see her, the list of injuries given to me by her doctor plays like a film reel in my mind.
Broken ribs, punctured lung, ruptured kidney, countless lacerations, soft tissue damage between her thighs and a bite mark so severe on her shoulder, it’s a wonder she didn’t bleed to death.
The list goes on and on, but I keep my face as light as possible.
“I wanted to,” I reply softly. “How are you feeling?”
She waves one hand and swallows audibly.
“Fine. The doctor says he wants to start weaning me off some of the good stuff, but I told him if he did that, I’d make sure he never got another good night's sleep with how often I’ll press the call button.
” Her smile wavers and a deep sadness floods her eyes. “I don’t want to feel any of this.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
She shakes her head. “You’ve done enough for me, Maxim. More than I deserve.”
“Don’t say that.” My hands clasp together as my elbows rest on my knees. “What happened to you is what you didn’t deserve, and I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it.”
“Don’t,” she croaks. “You couldn’t have known. No one did. We wouldn’t have gone with him if we knew… if there was any hint…” Her eyes close and silence falls, as if speaking has exhausted her.
Less than two months ago, two men from a rival family swept into one of my clubs and lured out three of my girls with a promise of a good time and more money than they could dream of.
It’s not uncommon for rich men with more money than sense to pay obscenely for great sex.
But they waited until all three of them had let their guard down and then they kidnapped them.
For two weeks, I tore the city apart looking for them and when I found them, I was too late.
Anna and Bea were gone. Zoe was clinging to life by a thread, and I never expected her to survive.
They were beaten and raped, then left for dead.
My failure was immeasurable.
“Sometimes, I see his face,” Zoe croaks, dragging me from my thoughts.
Her eyes open once more. “I remember what he smelled like when he was over me, remember what he felt like when he was in–inside me. I remember Ana holding my hand telling me it was going to be okay, and I still hear the—” She gasps and tears flood her eyes.
She reaches for me and I immediately take her hand.
“I still hear the sound her skull made when he stamped on her over and over—”
“Zoe,” I say as gently as I can. “We don’t have to talk about this now.”
“I do,” she whispers, hastily wiping away her tears with her other hand. “Xena brought Harry to see me the other day, and I just…” She winces. “Do you have kids?”
I shake my head. “Someday.”
“He’s why I held on, my son. I think he’s why I even survived. But seeing him… I couldn’t touch him because I felt so dirty, and he didn’t understand. He’s only four. And I couldn’t hold him. What kind of mother does that make me? He wanted to dance with me, but I couldn't do it. I can’t.”
“Zoe, it makes you a good mother. A strong one. You’re hurting and you need to take the time to process and heal.
Harry is being taken care of, I promise.
So is your mother. I have people on them twenty-four, seven, they’re in a safe place, and all of you will be cared for. Please be gentle with yourself.”
She weeps softly, covering her eyes with her hands. “I don’t want to feel anything,” she whispers.
My head dips, and I stare at her bruised fingers intertwining with mine. “I came to tell you that I got one of them, Zoe.”
Her hand lowers and she fixes me with a pained look. “What?”
“I found one. His name was Hector Popov. The Popov family are old blood but it seems they’ve forgotten the rules of warfare.
Whatever. I found him, and I worked him over until he spat out the name of the second man who did this.
Soon as I confirmed it, I killed him. He’s dead, Zoe.
He’s never going to hurt you, or anyone, ever again. ”
Fatter tears flood her eyes and her lower lip wobbles. “And the other one?”
“I’m tracking him down. He won’t be able to hide for long. The entire city’s looking for him.”
“What’s his name?”
“Vincent Antonva.”
“I don’t… I don’t know that one.”
“Small family. Little rat dogs. We took them all out. He’s the only one left with nowhere to go, and once I catch him, I’ll make him suffer. I promise.”
Zoe’s hand tightens in mine. “You’re a good man, Maxim.”
Her words pierce my heart. If I were good, this never would have happened. If I were good, the women under my care wouldn’t be fearing for their lives or struggling to do what they love. If I were good, two of my girls would still be here.
“I wanted to tell you face-to-face,” I say, forcing a smile. “Is there anything you need? Anything I can do?”
“Sit with me?” she whispers. “Just for a little while.”
I spend two hours with Zoe, making light conversation about anything unrelated to her attack.
Mostly, we talk about her son and her plans to spend a portion of her savings on a villa for her family to live in.
As much as she loves to dance, her future in her career remains shaky, but she’s steadfast in providing for her loved ones.
I deliver the news that I’m married while skipping on a few details.
Zoe voices her displeasure at missing the ceremony, but it lifts her spirits for a little while.
I leave when the nurse comes to change her dressings, with a promise to return when I have more news.
Out in the corridor, Rex is buried in a magazine on a leather sofa but he rises the moment he notices me. “How is she?”
“Better. She’s talking more. Full sentences this time.”
“That’s good.” Rex grimaces. “Poor girl.”
“She remembers stuff,” I say as we step into the elevator. “She doesn’t remember who, but she remembers the one who did this to her.”
“Was it Hector or Vinnie?”
I shrug. “I can’t show her pictures in this state. But when we nab the other cunt, maybe I can then. She’s worried about her kid. And her mom.”
“Shit.” Rex drags a hand down his face. “What I’m gonna do to that fucker when I get my hands on him will be too grotesque to even write about in the papers.”
“Get in line,” I mutter.
Outside, the brisk air blows away the lingering hospital air. The weight in my chest eases a fraction, but not enough to allow me to breathe freely. Rubbing my chest, we walk toward the car while Rex kicks up a stone next to me.
“You know, did you think about telling Hollie the truth about what she saw?” he asks. “She might not give you such a hard time if she knew why you killed that bastard.”
“I can’t tell her. One, she’s not part of this life. You’ve seen her. And if I tell her, all I’ll do is terrify her while painting a picture of what people in this world could do to her. Including my fucking father.”
Rex grimaces slightly. “True.” He opens the door for me and shoots me a brief, sympathetic smile.
“Keeping her in the dark is the only way to keep her safe. Besides, one more dark detail and the fragile peace that’s keeping her mouth shut might shatter. Then we’re all screwed.”