Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CAMILLA
Maksim and I spent over an hour in the piano room.
We played the keys together, the simple melody echoing softly through the dark, and he shared quiet, surprisingly funny stories about his mother—glimpses of a life he had lost long before the Bratva completely consumed him.
When we finally returned to the bedroom at almost two in the morning, he still kept his promise to me.
We made love over and over, slow and deep, until I quite literally fell asleep in his arms. He promised I’d pass out on him, and I guess completely losing consciousness from sheer exhaustion definitely counts.
The only problem I have right now is that I feel like I’ve only been asleep for about five minutes. A firm hand is persistently shaking my shoulder, dragging me kicking and screaming back to reality.
"Leave me alone," I groan, blindly shoving at the hand and trying to bury my face deeper into the mountain of pillows.
"You have to wake up, princess," a quiet, rumbling voice coaxed beside me. "They’re here."
Maksim.
I force one heavy eye open, squinting through the morning sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains. He’s standing over the bed, completely dressed in a crisp black shirt and trousers, looking infuriatingly awake and carrying a rare, broad smile on his face.
"Who's here?" I mumble, my voice thick with sleep.
His smile widens, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. "Your sisters."
"What?!"
The word explodes from my throat, and I instantly scramble to my feet, throwing the heavy duvet off me and bolting toward the center of the room.
Maksim’s strong arms catch me cleanly around the waist, pulling me flush against his solid chest. A deep, rich laugh rumbles against his ribs as he holds me upright.
"Easy, easy," he chuckles softly, his arms wrapping around me like a vice.
"Why are my sisters here, Maksim?" I ask, my heart hammering against my ribs as I push against his shoulders to look at him.
He clears his throat, attempting to put on a stoic, dignified face, though the faint smile lingering on his lips completely gives him away. "I just... wanted to do something nice for you."
I groan loudly, running both hands over my face in absolute panic, turning on my heel to rush toward the bathroom.
Maksim’s booming laughter follows me down the hall, clear and amused. "I’ll be downstairs with them, princess!" he calls after me.
I speed through a scorching shower, scrubbing the lingering haze of sleep and last night from my skin in record time. I snatch a simple, flowy day dress from the closet, tugging it over my head while trying to tame the mess of my dark hair.
My chest is buzzing with a chaotic mix of overwhelming excitement and sheer disbelief. I am touched beyond words—deeply, stupidly touched—.
I rush out of the bedroom, my bare feet practically flying down the grand staircase toward the main floor. Following the sound of familiar, overlapping chatter, I make a sharp right into the expansive dining room.
And there they are.
My jaw practically hits the floor as I stop dead in the doorway.
Rosalia, Eleonora, Sienna, and Daniela are all sitting around the massive mahogany table, sipping coffee like this is the most normal thing in the world.
I stand there frozen for a beat, my mind spinning as I try to wrap my head around how Maksim managed to track them down, coordinate their security detail, and clear them past his fortress of guards in a span of just a few hours.
Before I can even process the thought, Sienna looks up, her eyes going wide. "Camilla!"
Within a heartbeat, all four of them leap up from their chairs.
We collide in a chaotic, tangled heap of arms, hair, and high-pitched squeals, wrapping around each other in a fierce, suffocating embrace that nearly knocks the wind right out of me.
Tears instantly sting the backs of my eyes as I squeeze them back with everything I have, the sheer relief of having them in my arms making my chest ache.
Off to the side, leaning casually against the archway with his arms folded across his chest, stands Maksim. A quiet, satisfied look rests on his face as he watches us.
Beside him, the dining table is already brimming with an endless spread of fresh pastries, fruit, juice, and hot coffee—an entire feast laid out just for them.
Rosalia, ever the dutiful eldest sister, is the first to gently pull back from our chaotic group hug. She smooths down her top, shoots a quick look over at the towering figure watching us, and clears her throat.
"Alright, guys, let’s not keep Mr. Sokolov waiting," she says, her voice carrying that quiet, innate authority she’s always had over us.
Maksim shifts, pushing off the archway with a surprisingly warm tilt to his jaw. "Please," he says smoothly, his voice dropping into a low, hospitable tone. "Call me Maksim."
My sisters instantly freeze, exchanging a rapid-fire series of stunned, unspoken glances before Rosalia offers him a polite nod. "Okay... Maksim."
He steps forward into the dining room, moving directly to the head of the table.
He pulls out the heavy velvet chair right beside his own, catching my eye as I approach.
I slide into the seat, and he pushes it in gently, his warm fingers brushing against my shoulder for just a fraction of a second before he takes his place.
Right across from me, Daniela lets out a suppressed, high-pitched giggle behind her napkin. Sienna catches my eye and gives me a sharp, teasing wink, her brows dancing up and down.
Heat instantly rushes to my cheeks, and I burn red under their knowing stares.
And then, just like that, the awkward tension dissolves into the clinking of silverware, poured coffee, and the undeniable warmth of my family finally filling the room.
I’m raising my coffee mug to my lips when Sienna, never one to tread lightly, sets her teacup down with a sharp clink and leans across the table, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinizes Maksim.
“So, Maksim... you have half of the city's security on your payroll, but Camilla tells us you insisted on locking down the whole estate for two weeks. Are you always this overbearing?”
I almost choke on my coffee, but Maksim doesn't even flinch.
He casually spreads butter over a warm roll, his expression perfectly relaxed.
"Your sister is extraordinarily special, Sienna," he replies calmly, his voice smooth and untroubled.
"Which means the measures required to keep her safe are equally extraordinary.
I make no apologies for protecting what is mine. "
Rosalia and Eleonora exchange wide grins, but Daniela isn’t having it.
She jumps in before any of us can respond, “I’m not a stranger to this world, sir,” she says.
“When men in your position claim something is theirs, it’s rarely ever affectionate.
It’s control, arrogant possession and victory.
We’ve heard the stories about the Sokolov name. You can be dangerous.”
My heart drops into my stomach. "Daniela," I hiss under my breath, but Maksim simply turns his head toward Daniela, meeting her fierce gaze with steady, absolute respect.
"I am a dangerous man to my enemies, Daniela," Maksim says, his tone dropping into a serious, low register that commands the entire table's attention.
"But Camilla is not my enemy. She is the one person in this world who sees the worst of me and stands her ground.
I would tear this city apart before I ever let harm come to her—from anyone, including myself. "
Rosalia butts in, a subtle, contrite smile softening her features. "I apologize for their behavior, Maksim. We can be... intense."
Maksim offers a rare, genuine smile, bowing his head slightly. "It's completely okay."
"But they're right," Rosalia continues, her voice turning firm again, carrying the heavy weight of an older sister who has carried her family through hell.
"We're sisters, and at the end of the day, we only have each other. Don’t hurt her, Maksim.
Women may not be respected in this world, but if you hurt one of us, we will retaliate hard. "
Maksim doesn't take offense. He doesn't puff out his chest or pull rank as a Pakhan. Instead, he looks Rosalia straight in the eye with complete seriousness, a tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, ma'am," he replies smoothly.
A wave of giggles ripples across the table from my sisters, the tight tension finally breaking completely. They dive back into the spread, taking pastries, pouring fresh juice, and filling the room with lighthearted chatter.
Maksim leans back in his chair, taking a sip of his black coffee as he watches them with quiet satisfaction. "Are you enjoying the food?"
"It's delicious," Sienna offers warmly, reaching for another glazed pastry. "Honestly, I might not leave."
Sitting beside him, warmth swells in my chest. I feel so good—so whole.
I love the fierce, unrelenting way my sisters stepped up to protect me, no matter how powerful the man in front of them is.
And I like the way Maksim took every single bit of their grilling in stride, respecting their place in my life without an ounce of ego.
A moment later, the dining room doors open, and Dmitri steps inside. He offers a polite, formal nod toward the table. "Good morning, ladies."
He walks over to Maksim and leans down, whispering something urgent into his ear. Maksim’s posture instantly shifts back into that of the stoic leader, his jaw setting as he nods in understanding.
He rises gracefully to his feet, drawing the eyes of everyone at the table. Stepping closer to my chair, he leans down, his heavy, masculine scent washing over me as he whispers against my ear.
"I have to go see to something, princess," he murmurs softly.
"Okay," I nod, leaning into his touch.
He presses a slow, lingering kiss against my cheek, his warm lips burning against my skin, before straightening up to address my sisters. "Enjoy your morning, ladies. Our house is yours."
As he turns and walks out of the dining room alongside Dmitri, I rest my chin on my hand and just watch him go, my heart doing a strange, fluttering flip in my chest.
Daniela immediately catches me staring, a grin spreading across her face as she leans over her plate. "Look at you," she teases, nudging Sienna with her elbow. "You actually like him. Like, really like him."
I don't even bother to deny it. I just sit there, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks, a quiet, helpless smile tugging at my lips as I trace the rim of my coffee cup.
"It's true," Rosalia agrees, shaking her head with a soft, affectionate laugh. "She’s completely gone."
Before I can throw a napkin at either of them, light, quick footsteps echo down the marble hallway, followed by a dramatic gasp from the dining room archway.
Nastya appears, stopping dead in her tracks, her hand pressed over her heart as her eyes widen at the sight of the full table. "Why didn't anyone invite me to the party?!" she squeals, her bright voice bouncing off the high ceiling.
My sisters instantly react—a chorus of joyful sounds erupting as all four of them leap up from their chairs for the second time today. They practically tackle Nastya in a chaotic frenzy of hugs, and she laughs loudly, throwing her arms around them just as fiercely.
They had bonded instantly during my wedding, and watching them now, it’s like not a single day has passed. They pick up right where they left off without missing a beat.
Nastya pulls up a chair between Sienna and Daniela, diving straight into the conversation as if she’s been sitting here all morning, grabbing a pastry and pouring herself fresh juice.
I lean back against my chair, watching the women I love most in the world filling this once-silent, intimidating house with genuine laughter, noise, and warmth. I press my palm against my cheek, trying and completely failing to stop the silly, giddy smile from tearing my face in half.
I'm happy. I really, truly am.