13. Maksim #3
“I was twenty-one years old!” She’s sobbing now.
“You hadn’t told me that you were part of the Bratva!
I came into the warehouse planning to seduce you, and instead I watched you execute someone then I heard plans to murder your brother.
Your brother, Maksim!” She stares at me in disbelief. “What was I supposed to think?”
I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me.
Her dark eyes are swimming with tears. “I wasn’t there for that conversation.
Look at the timestamp—” I rewind and force her to look at the footage.
“I left at 9:33 p.m. and I was gone for twenty minutes. I was bringing the van around to transport the body to the incinerator.” I speed the footage forward.
“Alexander was talking to a contact and making plans to kill Nikolai, but I wasn’t part of it. I’ve never been part of it.”
I would rather die than betray my brother.
“I know that now.” Her voice is small. “When he confronted me in the garden—the way he spoke about you and Nikolai and the organization—I realized I’ve been running from the wrong person for eight years.”
I pull her back into my arms, and she clings to me like I’m the only solid thing in the world.
“But he’s still planning it,” she whispers against my chest. “He’s still waiting for the right moment. Eight years, Maksim. He’s been waiting eight years for the perfect opportunity.”
She’s right. Alexander hasn’t moved against Nikolai yet, which means he’s still setting up all the pieces.
And Aria is the only witness who can confirm what he’s planning.
I pull out my phone.
Aria’s head snaps up. “What are you doing?”
“Calling Nikolai.”
“No!” She grabs my wrist, panic flooding her face. “What if he doesn’t believe me? What if he thinks I’m lying and making it up? Maksim, I have no proof! Just my word against a man your brother has trusted for fifteen years!”
I gesture to my computer. “We have the footage—”
“The footage shows Alexander talking to some man! It doesn’t prove what they said!
It doesn’t prove anything except that I was there and listening!
” Her breathing is coming faster, edging toward panic.
“Alexander already knows I was there. If Nikolai confronts him, if he even hints that I talked, Alexander will know. And then he’ll—” She stops, her face so pale she looks near death as she clutches at my shirt.
“Our children, Maksim. He’ll hurt our babies. ”
I firmly but gently grab her shoulders. “Listen to me. Alexander threatened to kill our children and he’s been planning to murder my brother for at least eight years.
You’re the only one who knows about both.
” I wait until she meets my eyes. “We’re out of options here, Aria.
Alexander already knows you were at that warehouse.
He’s already threatened you. The only way to protect you—to protect our children—is to eliminate the threat. ”
“But how? How do we eliminate someone that powerful without proof?”
“We tell Nikolai the truth. We show him the footage and explain what you heard.” I stroke my thumbs across her shoulders. “But we do this carefully. We don’t tell Alexander you talked. We tell Nikolai you’re a witness, and we build a case before Alexander realizes what’s happening.”
“And if Nikolai doesn’t believe me?”
“He’ll believe me,” I say with certainty. “Nikolai knows I wouldn’t bring this to him without being sure. He trusts my judgment.”
Aria doesn’t look convinced. “He trusts Alexander more.”
I shrug, not offended by her assessment. “Maybe. But he also knows I don’t make accusations lightly.” I pull her close again and kiss her temple. “I believe you, Aria. And that’s going to have to be enough right now. We can’t keep hiding from this and let Alexander have power over us. We end this.”
She’s shaking, but she nods against my chest. She knows I’m right. We’re out of time and options. The clock is ticking.
I hit Nikolai’s number. It rings twice before he picks up.
“Maksim? It’s three in the morning. What the fuck?” my brother asks groggily.
“I need you to come to the estate. Now. Alone,” I order, my tone brooking no argument. “Don’t tell anyone you’re coming. Not even your security detail.”
There’s a pause. I can almost hear my brother’s mind working and assessing the threat level. “What’s happened?”
“We have a situation that requires immediate attention. And Nikolai?” I look at Aria, who’s holding my gaze. “This doesn’t leave this conversation until you get here. Come alone. Trust no one.”
Another pause. “I’m on my way. Give me forty-five minutes.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
I hang up and pull Aria back into my arms. She’s trembling violently now, the adrenaline and fear finally catching up with her.
“What if this makes it worse?” she whispers. “What if telling Nikolai is what gets us killed?”
“Then we die fighting instead of hiding.” I tilt her face up to mine. “I’m not letting Alexander threaten our children. I’m not letting him plot against my brother. And I’m sure as hell not letting him hurt you.”
Aria swallows heavily. “I’m scared.”
“I know.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “But I’ve got you now. Both of you. And I swear on my life and on everything I am, I will protect you. No matter what it takes.”
She nods, tears still coursing down her face, and I hold her while we wait.