15. Maksim #2
When I get home, I go straight to my office and lose myself in the files. Phone records. Financial documents. Security footage. Trying to find the one piece of evidence that will make this undeniable.
I’m so absorbed I don’t hear the knock at first. Then louder. “Sir? Alexander Morozov is here to see you.”
My blood runs cold. “Repeat yourself."
A guard opens the door. “He said he was in the area and thought he’d drop by. Should I—?”
“Show him in.” I close all the files on my laptop.
Alexander walks in a moment later, perfectly groomed as always. His burn-scarred hand is covered by a leather glove.
“Maksim.” His smile is cold. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all.” I gesture to the chair across from my desk, staying standing myself. “What brings you by?”
“I was meeting with some contacts in Southampton, and thought I’d stop in on my way back to the city.” He sits, crosses one leg over the other. “I haven’t seen much of you lately. Everything alright?”
Oh yes, just trying to figure out how to fucking end you. “Fine. Just busy with family matters.”
Alexander nods. “Of course. You’re still bonding with your son.” Alexander’s smile widens slightly. “He’s settling in well, I hope?”
I incline my head. “Very well.”
“And Aria?” The way he says her name makes my skin crawl. “How is she adjusting to life here?”
Every instinct screams at me to grab him by the throat and demand he stay away from her. But I maintain my bored expression.
“She’s fine. The pregnancy is progressing normally.”
“Good. Good.” Alexander glances around the office, and I can feel him looking for something. “You know, Nikolai mentioned you’d been doing some financial review. Finding everything in order?”
The question is casual, but there’s something sharp underneath it. A probe. Testing to see if I know something.
“Everything’s fine,” I say. “Just routine auditing.”
“Of course.” He stands, and I tense, ready for anything but he just straightens his jacket. “Well, I should let you get back to work. I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.”
“I appreciate that.”
He heads toward the door then pauses. “Oh, and Maksim? If you ever need anything—advice, assistance, anything at all—you know I’m here. We’re family, after all.”
The word family from his mouth makes my stomach turn.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He leaves, and I stand there for a long moment, trying to figure out what that visit was really about. Alexander never just “drops by.” He never makes social calls.
He was fishing and trying to gauge whether Aria talked.
I’m reaching for my phone to text my head guard to make sure Alexander actually left the grounds when the door bursts open.
Aria rushes in, her face white as paper, her whole body shaking.
“Maksim.” My name comes out choked. “He—Alexander was just—”
My heart seizes and I’m around the desk in an instant, my hands on her shoulders. “What happened? What did he say?” I demand.
“He cornered me. In the hallway. After he left your office.” She’s breathing too fast, on the edge of hyperventilating.
“He said—he said he hoped I’d been keeping our little talk to myself.
That it would be unfortunate if I’d said something to you.
That problems have a way of…resolving themselves when people can’t keep quiet. ”
Fury unlike anything I’ve ever felt floods through me. “He threatened you. Again.”
Aria grips my arms. “He thinks I told you everything.”
She’s right. Alexander knows something has changed. Maybe he doesn’t have specifics, but his instincts are telling him to secure his position.
Which means we’re in immediate danger.
“We need to assume he’s taking action.” I pull out my phone, start making calls. “Complete security overhaul. Every guard vetted. Every staff member investigated. Background checks on everyone who’s been hired in the last six months.”
“That’ll take days,” Aria remarks.
“I know. But we don’t have a choice.” I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’m not letting him anywhere near you or Daniel. Not ever again.”
She nods against my chest, but I can feel her shaking.
We’re running out of time.
The next morning starts like any other.
I wake up with Aria curled against my side, her head on my chest. The summer sunlight filters through the curtains. For a moment I let myself pretend everything is normal and we’re just a family. That there’s no threat hanging over us.
Then reality crashes back in, and I carefully extract myself from the bed.
Aria stirs. “Where are you going?” she asks sleepily.
“The city. I need to meet with Stephen.” I lean down to kiss her forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
“Be careful.” Her eyes are still half-closed, but there’s worry in them.
I smile at her. “Always.”
I shower and dress in one of my suits. It’s light gray, a white shirt, and no tie.
It’s appropriate enough for the city on a weekday but not so formal I’ll stand out.
The whole time, my mind is running through the meeting ahead.
Stephen found something last night and texted me at midnight with a cryptic “we need to talk ASAP.” Whatever it is, it’s big enough he wouldn’t put it in writing.
When I head downstairs, the house is quiet.
Most of the staff doesn’t start until nine, and it’s barely seven now.
I can hear Mrs. Ivanova—our cook—softly moving about in the kitchen.
I’m pouring myself coffee when Daniel appears in the doorway, still in his pajamas, his hair sticking up in all directions.
“Morning, solnyshko.”
“Maks!” He runs over and wraps his arms around my waist. “Are you leaving?”
“Just for a few hours. I’ll be back this afternoon.”
“But you promised we’d practice soccer today!” His face scrunches up with disappointment.
“This afternoon,” I promise, ruffling his hair. “As soon as I get back we’ll work on those penalty kicks.”
“Okay.” He pulls back, then his expression shifts to frustration. “But I can’t practice without my ball. It’s still in the garage under the car!”
Oh, right. He’d been playing out there yesterday afternoon while I was on calls and left his favorite soccer ball under the backup SUV. He mentioned it at dinner and again at bedtime. And apparently he’s still thinking about it.
“I’ll get it for you when I get back,” I tell him, draining my mug.
“Can you get it now?” He’s bouncing on his toes, impatient in the way only seven-year-olds can be. “Please? I want to practice dribbling before breakfast!”
I sigh, not wanting to be frustrated. “I need to leave in about ten minutes, Danya. Can’t you go get it yourself?”
His face transforms with genuine terror. “Nooo! There are spiders in the garage! Big ones with long legs! I saw one yesterday and it ran right at me!”
I suppress a smile. “Then you’re very brave for playing out there at all.”
“Maks, I’m serious!” He’s practically whining now. “They’re huge! And fast!”
“Alright, alright.” I ruffle his hair, smiling as he scowls at me. “I’ll get your ball before I leave. But you need to work on this spider fear, buddy. They’re more scared of you than you are of them.”
“That’s what Mama says but I don’t believe her.” He grins, crisis averted. “Thanks, Maks! You’re the best!”
He scampers off, probably to find Aria and tell her about the spider rescue mission, and I bask in my son believing I’m the best. I just wish he would call me Papa. But it’s going to be soon. I can feel it.