Chapter 28 Maxim
MAXIM
“Oh God, Maxim…” Hollie lays a gentle hand on my forearm while the other brushes under the freshly stitched wound on my ribs.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“That’s not the point,” she mutters. “You should have gone to the hospital.”
“Do you doubt Toto’s stitching skills?”
“No.” Her lips press into a fine line. “You got hurt and I don’t understand why. And then you didn’t seem to care.”
“You weren’t bothered while I was fucking you on the car.” Flames crackle nearby as the faux fireplace sends waves of warmth washing over us where we sit on the couch.
“That was definitely the heat of the moment,” she replies, unable to look away. “What happened? Who was that man?” Our eyes meet and she winces faintly. “Is he dead?”
“No. He’s not dead.”
Her eyes flicker. “Are you locking him up somewhere?”
“No.” I bring my beer to my lips and drink slowly while she watches me until I lower it. “He’ll be at home. Pissed, most likely.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to.”
“No!” Hollie suddenly prods her fingernail into my bare chest. “Don’t do that. You’ve kept so much of your life secret and to some degree, I understand why, but you can’t have me be present and then not explain something like that!”
My brows pinch together as I dwell on her words. She’s right. I preach to my father that I keep her out of this life, but tonight reminded me of how that life will find a way to reach her regardless of my actions.
“Wouldn’t you rather talk about what you wanted to talk about when we went to the fair?” Whatever she’s been trying to tell me before life interrupts is surely more important.
“Stop. Tell me the truth.” She sinks back into the cushions and crosses her arms. “Or that will be the last time we sleep together.”
“Ouch.” I wince playfully, then sigh. “Okay. Fine. That man… I know him.”
“Is he a friend?”
“No. You know I had a brother.”
She nods.
“He was younger than me. A little reckless. Didn’t follow the rules the way you’d expect in this life. It’s not uncommon in teenagers. Especially with our mom being gone and my dad being… well, you’ve seen him.”
Again, she nods while tucking soft red strands behind her ear.
“He died. In a car crash. He should have been with us at Christmas like tradition dictates, but my father had a stick up his ass about his girlfriend being an outsider.”
“What do you mean?”
“Typically, in this life, relationships remain in-house. Someone in this world can only find peace with someone else in this world. Everyone’s already aware of the dangers and the expectations, y’know?
But he… he fell for someone who wasn’t part of this life.
He kept wanting to include her but without going through the proper channels.
There was no vetting, no investigation, no assurances that she wouldn’t talk to the first cop she saw the second she got a whiff of something. ”
Hollie nods along while I talk, adjusting herself until her knee is resting against my thigh. “He didn’t just marry her?”
I scoff softly. “What I did with you is highly irregular. I was booked to marry someone else, actually. It’s all a business transaction at the end of the day.
My father tried to talk sense into my brother and so did I, to an extent.
But he was happy. And I couldn’t fault that.
Anyway.” I take another drink. “He was supposed to be with us. We used to have a traditional dinner where the Pakhan, my father, hosts all the other leaders we’re friendly with.
As his sons, it was our duty to attend, but he brought his girlfriend and wanted to invite her family.
A show of loyalty or something. It was dangerous for her and for them.
My brother and dad argued and he left. He drove off with her to spend Christmas with them instead. ”
Hollie’s mouth presses together and she reaches for me. It’s not until her fingers brush my forearm that I realize I’m trembling. I’ve never told the whole story to anyone before.
“They were both killed when a drunk driver lost control in the snow and T-boned them. Doc said death was instant so they didn’t suffer. But they died.”
“Oh, Maxim…” Her hand slides down to my knuckles.
“My dad sees you as a threat. Because you’re an outsider.
In his own way, he fears the same thing happening to me.
And that man from tonight? He’s the brother of the girlfriend.
I was the one who gave him the bad news back then, and ever since, he’s blamed me.
If anyone else did this to me?” I motion with the beer bottle toward the fresh wound on my ribs.
“They would die. But with him… It’s just misplaced grief.
I can’t fault him because what he feels for me is probably the same as what I feel for the bastard who crashed into them. ”
“That’s awful,” she breathes out softly, sliding closer. “So when your father tried to kill me, he was trying to protect you?”
“That’s one way of looking at it. Our situations are different, but yes, he does see our arrangement as the same kind of threat that will ruin us.”
She nods slowly. “I understand. I don’t forgive, don’t get me wrong. But holy shit… losing his wife and then his son. No wonder he’s so intense. But that man…” She gazes up at me, her eyes darting back and forth between mine. “You just let him attack you?”
“He appears every so often, drunk and angry. It’s not common and I’d praise his ability to find me if it hadn’t put you in danger.
But I can’t bring myself to do anything to him because I know what it feels like.
I spent months trapped in my own mind, wishing that the driver had survived so I could make them suffer.
I can’t bring them back, but I can do a little for him until his pain eases. ”
“That’s noble.” Hollie’s fingers weave between mine. “And so fucked up.”
“This life is fucked up. I’m sorry you had to see any of that.”
“It’s fine. I mean, if I have nightmares, I know where to go.” A small smile creeps over her lips. “But seriously, that’s intense. This whole life you lead is intense.”
“And yet you don’t ask about it.” My head tilts. “You know I’m a criminal, yet you don’t know what I do.”
Her gaze falls away and she shrugs, slumping back down on the couch.
“I dunno. You seem really nice so it’s hard to imagine you hurting people now.
Those girls at the club kept talking about how you helped them.
And everything you’re doing for Zoe… I guess I don’t care.
It feels like the less I know, the better. ”
“Are you sure?”
She nods slowly. “Besides, the more I know, then the bigger a threat I am.”
“I don’t see you that way.”
Hollie locks eyes with me. “How do you see me?”
I’m about to answer when a wave of pain squeezes through my ribs. I wince and lean forward while Hollie takes the beer from my hands.
“You shouldn’t be drinking.”
“What are you, my doctor?”
Hollie snorts. “As good as.”
“Hmm. So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about? Things have been getting in the way, but I have all the time now.”
She pauses, then sets the beer bottle down on the coffee table and leans back. When our eyes meet, there’s something uncertain in her eyes that I can’t quite place, like something is just out of sight.
“I…”
I raise my brow slightly, trying to prompt her.
“When I was talking to Zoe, she mentioned something that I thought was kind of important. Although if it is, then taking this long to tell you is probably going to get me into trouble.”
“Nonsense.” Leaning toward her, I grit my teeth against a twinge of pain and take her hand. “What did she tell you?”
“Well… the person she saw in the store, or who she thought she saw… she said it was a tattoo on their wrist that scared her because she remembered one of the men who attacked her having, like, a heart on their wrist? Do you know if the guy you already caught had that?”
My phone is in my hand before she finishes speaking. “I can find out.”
“I know it’s common because I feel like I’ve seen similar tattoos, but if it’s a new detail, maybe it can help?”
“Every detail helps.” My thumb flies over the screen as I text Rex asking him to do some digging. If the fucker I killed has the tattoo, then I can reassure Zoe that the one she keeps thinking of is definitely dead. And if not, then it’s one more detail to narrow down the search for the other cunt.
“Sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. Everything was hectic and you were busy and stuff, y’know?”
“You’re fine,” I assure her softly. Rex replies with a thumbs up.
“Also…”
I glance at her, and her cheeks flush as she tilts her head. “Also?”
“This is going to sound so bad, but my parents want us at their Christmas party.”
“When is it?”
“This Saturday.”
“Isn’t that when you have that engagement thing?”
“Mhm. So I was kind of hoping you’d say yes and go and keep my parents entertained while I work, and then I can meet you there after?” Her brows lift, hopefulness flooding her eyes.
“You think I, the Mafia prince, should spend my Saturday entertaining your parents while you work?”
She nods quickly.
“People will think I can’t take care of my girl.”
“Pretty please? You had a good time decorating the house with them, right? And this gig will only be a few hours, so they won’t know I’m missing, plus, think how good it will look to them. My dad’s a suspicious man, so think of it as keeping the peace.”
I’d already decided my answer the second she asked me, and after texting Stu to reschedule my Saturday meetings, I nod. “Sure. It’s in my best interests to keep you and your father happy.”
“Yay!” Her face lights up but as I smile and lean toward her, my grimace of pain immediately erases her joy. “Right, that’s it. You need to go to bed to rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit. You used up all your goodwill when you fucked me on that car, so now you have to rest.”
It’s difficult to resist her when she looks so adorable while pouting angrily at me.
As she climbs to her feet, she pulls on my hand despite our size difference, making it clear that I’m not going anywhere unless I choose.
I relent quickly, though, and stand, allowing her to guide me through the apartment.
“You’re bossy for a nurse, you know.”
“And you’re reckless for someone so apparently important, so we both have things to work on. Now get into bed and lie down.”
I oblige, but as I sink down onto the mattress, I catch Hollie by the waist and drag her down with me. She lands with a squeal and a laugh while I seal both my arms around her body and pin her to my chest.
“Stay with me,” I say, nuzzling into her hair and cautiously lying on my non-injured side.
She blows a few strands of hair out of her face and giggles, then cups my jaw. “Fine. But only if you rest.”
“I promise.”