Chapter 8 #2
“Exactly.” Maximo smiles at me and then reaches over to squeeze my knee.
“Trenton has some contacts with this group called the Savage Kings. They’re the biggest biker gang on the east coast. I’m hopeful that they’ll recognize the little bastard that was following you and that they’ll be able to invite him to speak with us directly. ”
“I’ve heard of the Savage Kings. Those guys live up to their names.
From what I remember, they’re into all kinds of dirty business.
Are you sure they’re the best ones to bring in on something like this?
” I realize while I’m speaking that Maximo and Trenton are grinning at each other past me, and I look from one to the other before asking, “What’s so funny? ”
“They are into all kinds of dirty business,” Maximo agrees. “Which is why they’re perfect for what we need.”
“I’ve worked with a few of them before,” Trenton adds. “Think of them as independent contractors. Luciani Financial has engaged their services in the past to help with several…let’s call them security issues.”
“Don’t worry about them,” Maximo says with another squeeze of my leg. “I’ll deal with them and make all the arrangements. You won’t even have to see them.”
“I’m not scared of a bunch of bikers.” I roll my eyes at him. “I just don’t know how reliable a group like that could be.”
“They’re smarter than you would expect,” Trenton says. “They have pretty strict membership standards. In fact, the way they set up their club isn’t all that different from how our family is arranged.”
Maximo’s phone rings, interrupting the conversation. He glances down at the screen, then holds up his hand motioning everyone to silence. Joey reaches over and kills the power to the radio, even though it had been set so low I couldn’t hear it.
“This is Maximo,” he says as he puts the phone to his ear.
In the silence, I strain my ears to try and hear the conversation. “Maximo, this is Salvatore. I need to meet with you ASAP. A situation has arisen.”
“We’ve had a situation of our own over here that you may have heard about,” Maximo replies cautiously. “Involving your former associates, the Volkovs. Does your urgent matter concern them as well?”
“It does,” Salvatore agrees. “I fear that there will be more issues with them, which is why I hope we can set a meeting.”
“Given your prior relationship with them, and our…current ongoing issues, I’m only willing to meet at my office. If you’re able to come into town and let my security check you, then we can meet this afternoon.”
“That’s acceptable,” Salvatore replies. “I don’t blame you for being cautious. I wish that I had been more so, myself. May I meet you there at, say, two this afternoon?”
“I’ll be there,” Maximo tells him. “See you soon, Salvatore.”
“Thank you, Maximo.”
“What do you think that’s about?” I ask Maximo as soon as I see him disconnect the call.
“I don’t know, but it must be serious if Salvatore is reaching out to me. Given the timing, it has to be something involving Irina Volkov.”
“Maybe she’s after Salvatore, too,” Trenton suggests. “She might blame him since he was involved in handing Kirill over to you.”
“That would make sense,” Maximo agrees. “We’ll know for certain soon enough.”
Joey glances back at us in the rearview mirror, then reaches over to turn the radio back on.
This time he turns it up enough that I can hear Judas Priest’s “Painkiller” coming through the speakers.
We ride along in relative silence, listening to the radio for several miles while Maximo answers emails on his phone.
I can’t help casting jealous glances at the device, wishing I still had mine.
We’re crossing the bridge into the city when Maximo’s phone dings with a new text message.
I glance over eagerly and he holds the phone where I can see it when he reads the preview that it’s from Melissa.
“Here you go. It appears your friend is out of surgery,” he comments as he hands the device over to me.
Hi, Connie. I just got back from recovery and got put in my room.
I’m not sure what the room number is. My parents should be up soon, and they can let me know.
Everything went fine and I feel about as well as you’d expect.
My eye is swollen shut and I bet I look a mess.
If you want to come by, I’d like to see you and make sure you’re ok.
I type out a reply immediately. I’ll be there this afternoon! Don’t worry, I can ask at the front desk what room you’re in. I’ll see you soon! Is there anything I can bring you?
I’m fine, she texts back. My parents are bringing me my coffee and I’m not really up for eating anything yet. Maybe we can order something later. Can’t wait to see you.
“She sounds like she’s doing pretty good.” I sigh in relief as I hand the phone back to Maximo. “If you’ve got meetings at noon and two this afternoon, can we go to the hospital afterward?”
“Joey, drop me off at the office,” Maximo orders as he reaches up and taps the man on the shoulder. “Then you three can escort Constance over to the hospital. Stay with her and keep her safe. I’ll deal with the meetings so you can go ahead and check on your friend.”
“Will you be okay meeting the Kings without me?” Trenton asks.
“I appreciate you setting it up, but I’ll be fine,” Maximo reassures him.
“I’ve dealt with rougher men. They aren’t going to cause any trouble while we’re discussing making them money.
As far as Salvatore, it’s best if I deal with him myself until we know just how sensitive whatever situation he’s dealing with might actually be. ”
I can’t help but feel like Maximo is relieved to be able to send me off to the hospital. “Will you tell me how everything goes afterward?” I ask him, trying to gauge if I’m right.
“As much as I’m able to,” he hedges, but softens the reply with a smile. “I’m not used to having anyone like you in my life. I want to share everything that I can with you, but there are aspects of my business that I have to play close to my chest. I have good reasons, I assure you.”
“All of this affects me too,” I remind him. “I don’t want you hiding anything from me that might bite me in the ass later.”
“I’ll give you as much access to my life as you want,” he agrees. “But I’m the best one to handle these kinds of negotiations today. If you want to be more involved, you know what you have to do,” he reminds me as he reaches over to take my left hand, then taps at my bare ring finger.
“Maximo, we talked about this. It’s still too early…”
“I want you to marry me,” he interrupts. “And when you’re ready to accept, we’ll head to a jewelry store and pick out a ring together.”
“Why is it so important to you?” I ask. “Why would you keep me in the dark until I accept? Just to put pressure on me? I don’t like that, Maximo. I don’t appreciate it.”
“I’m not keeping you in the dark, Constance. You’re right here with me, just as involved as anyone else. I’ve always dealt with the family business personally, and with good reason. Do you know why I want you to marry me, besides the obvious that I love and adore you?”
“What other reason can there be?” I shrug. “Why else would anyone get married?”
“Because a wife can’t be compelled to testify against her husband. Once we’re married, you can be directly involved as much as you want. I told you before that marriage offers a variety of protections in our world. The protections are for you and me both.”
“That makes sense, but I still think it’s too early—” I start to reiterate my protests.
“I don’t want to discuss this any further in front of other people,” Maximo interrupts me.
“This is a discussion for us alone, at another time. Today, I’ll handle business just as I always have.
I’ll make the decisions and dictate to my men how we proceed.
I’m the head of this family, firefly. If you want to stand by my side, I’ve made my terms abundantly clear. ”
I resist my initial urge to be offended, especially when he raises my hand to his lips and kisses it before letting it rest back in my lap. I need to look at this from his point of view, and how he’s used to protecting his family and business.
Besides, I feel a surge of such warmth and desire every time he touches me that my objections, especially based on nothing but the short time we’ve known each other, start to seem increasingly flimsy. How many couples have been through a fraction of what we have already?
Besides, Maximo is right about this being the wrong time to discuss our relationship.
I glance around and can see that Trenton and Tony are both visibly uncomfortable.
Trenton has scooted so far away from me on the seat that he’s practically hanging his head out the window.
Meanwhile Joey’s hand keeps creeping over to turn the radio up just a bit at a time, presumably to drown out our conversation.
The truth I need to admit to myself is that I’m terrified. I’m scared of how attracted I am to Maximo, and about everything that’s happened to me while being with him. I’m still in shock about my pregnancy, and that in the last few weeks I’ve killed multiple people.
Each one of them deserved it for what they had done to my father, and to me.
The first two, Kirill and his mouthy captain, hadn’t really bothered me, probably because they were responsible for my father’s death.
As I dwell on it, I realize I don’t feel horrible for killing the two men who abducted me yesterday either.
Instead, I just keep reliving the horror of the abduction, and the life-or-death struggle that followed.
I kept waking up in a panic last night as my mind dwelled on those seconds I spent fighting with and killing them.
Even now, when my thoughts turn back to it, I can barely breathe as I’m gripped with thoughts of what could have happened if I’d been a moment slower, or if they’d reacted differently.
“I didn’t mean to press the issue. I’m just afraid, Maximo.
It seems like I’ve had this nagging fear as the backdrop to our entire relationship.
I mean, I didn’t know who attacked my father or why, and then you started helping me piece it all together.
That’s when I realized how much I don’t know.
My world was a lot simpler before I met you. It’s been a difficult adjustment.”
“You don’t regret it, do you? Showing up at the estate that day looking for answers?”
“No. I don’t regret anything with you, Maximo. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
He picks my hand up and presses it to his lips again.
“I wouldn’t change anything, either. I know you’re afraid.
That’s why you’re a survivor. Have you ever heard the expression ‘courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s carrying on despite it’?
You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met, and the only one I’ve ever met who I felt could truly stand beside me and be my partner.
We’ll get through this together, and I will protect you.
You hear me, gentlemen?” he raises his voice to ask everyone in the vehicle.
“I’ve vowed to keep her safe. We’re not going to have a repeat of yesterday, are we, Tony? ”
“No, boss,” Tony rumbles. “I apologized to Mr. Luciani, but Ms. Monroe, I need you to know how bad I felt about what happened. I’m sorry, and nothing like that will ever happen again.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Tony, but I appreciate you saying that.” I reach up and give his meaty shoulder a friendly pat.
“Nothing is going to happen to her, Maximo. We’ll take her for a visit with Melissa and then come back to the office to round you up,” Trenton reassures him.
“I know you’ll be fine.” Maximo smiles at me, then leans over and gives me a kiss as Joey eases through traffic and pulls to the curb just outside the front of the tall office building.
“Have a good visit and tell Melissa she’s welcome to contact you through my phone if she needs anything at all. I love you, and I’ll see you soon,” he says before he opens the door and steps out of the vehicle.
“I love you too, Max. Be careful,” I add just before he closes the door and I scoot over to the window to watch him walk away. He gives me one last wave, then walks inside and out of my line of sight as Joey pulls back into traffic.
“He’ll be fine,” Trenton says, but I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince me or himself.