Chapter 16
MAKSIM
The next day, Anton, Nikolai, and I are sitting in a Vale-owned restaurant.
I wave at the CCTV camera, letting a shit-eating grin spread across my face.
Vale hasn’t made any additional moves since raiding our businesses.
That’s because of this intimidation. He knows better than to poke the bear too many times.
I feel my gunshot wound itch, as if reminding me that blood has to be paid for with blood.
“Tell me how they got him out of the hospital,” I say, looking at Anton.
My tone is gruff. Nikolai and Anton exchange a glance. I almost want to snap at my brother. He’s been having woman troubles for a while now, making him anxious, unlike his usual self. And he’s going to judge me for it?
“We still don’t know,” Anton says, looking down at the table. It’s not often he looks frightened. “They were careful. No signs. He left. Or they took him. There were footsteps outside the window. But what does this mean? People walk places all the time.”
“Does it matter?” Nikolai asks. “He’s done the damage.”
“It matters because…” He reminds a beautiful, courageous, kind, selfless woman of her younger brother. “Because he’s a human goddamn being. We don’t hurt innocents.”
“We didn’t hurt him,” he says defensively.
“We keep looking,” Anton replies.
“Or we accept that with half the key, he can’t do anything. He would’ve done it by now, surely.”
“Why do you think we’re sitting here?” I snap. “Why do you think I’m smiling at the cameras like an idiot? People can’t think they can step to us, take what’s ours, without repercussions.”
“So, we make them pay,” Anton says simply.
“We’re not like the other wings of the Bratva.” When Nikolai opens his mouth, I glare at him. “And don’t say I keep telling you things you already know. If you knew it, I wouldn’t have to keep saying.”
Nikolai glowers at me, flexing his tatted hands.
“Progress.” I stand. “That’s what we need.”
I storm out of the restaurant, teeth gritted. It was far easier to stay cold before my light shone on this dark, depressing world. Before speaking with Liora about it, I truly realized what falling asleep to those sitcoms meant. A preview of a real life, a chance at being normal.
Now, I have that chance in real life. And it’s making everything else seem worse in comparison.
I text Lia when I’m back in my office.
Maksim: How’s work going today?
A couple hours later, she replies.
Lia: It’s the same chaos as usual. So, you know… perfect for me.
I smile, but there’s a sad quality to it.
I wish I could sweep her off her feet and give her the life she deserves.
She wouldn’t even have to accept me to take the cash, take her new reality.
She could live it in any way she wanted.
But she’s proud, and I admire her for that. I know better than to offer again.
Maksim: What are you doing after work? Perhaps I could make another delicious meal. And by ‘make’, I mean find another fine dining establishment and take all the credit.
Lia: I told Mom I’d swing by her place. If it wasn’t for that, I think I’d probably just go home and melt into the bed. ‘Tired’ isn’t even a good word anymore. I’d love to be tired!
I grind my teeth. There’s no point telling her to stop working herself ragged again. Maybe I can do the next best thing.
Maksim: I can pick you up and give you a ride.
Lia: To my mom’s place? Why? I don’t know how I’d explain you to her.
Maksim: I don’t have to come inside.
I reply, feeling ashamed of my Bratva status for the first time I can remember. I’m a beast not fit for indoor, civilized company.
Maksim: You won’t have to worry about driving. You can relax during the car ride, at least.
Lia: What about my car?
I think of her rundown car. It looks like a death trap. It’d be the easiest thing in the world for me to buy her a new one. But again, she wouldn’t take it. I wish she’d let me take care of her.
Maksim: If you leave the keys under the wheel, I’ll have someone drive it back to the townhouse.
Lia: Wow. Okay, yeah, thanks.
For the rest of the day, I’m counting down the minutes. When I’m finally parked across the street from the hospital, and I spot her walking toward me, my whole mood lifts. It’s just like when I used to watch her. The instant change. The belief that maybe the world isn’t such a bad place.
I get out of the car and open the passenger-side door. She gives me a tired yet teasing look. “You don’t have to do that.”
I want to kiss her so badly. But she’s got her arms folded, glancing at the hospital. She doesn’t want me to complicate her life more than it already is.
“I do,” I say. “You deserve to have someone take care of you.”
In the car, she reaches over and squeezes my arm. It’s a brief moment, but it means a lot. She starts giving me the address, then stops, laughing. “I assume you already know it?”
I nod.
More laughter, tight, conflicted.
A minute later, she’s asleep against the window. She looks devastatingly beautiful, her hair coming loose in places. I reach over and gently brush my hand through it.
I don’t want to wake her when we reach the house. I spot one of my men down the street, sitting behind the wheel of a construction van.
Gently, I shake her shoulders. “We’re here.”
She blinks, looking lost. “Oh. Yeah. I was dreaming…” She looks me up and down. My heartbeat picks up speed as I imagine what we were doing in her dream. “I should go.”
“I’ll be here,” I tell her.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure?”
I take her hand, rub my thumb softly over her knuckles. She responds with a sharp intake of breath, her expressive eyes growing soft. When I kiss her, she makes another breathy sound. She leans against me, her hands digging into my shoulders.
I watch her walk across the street, then sit back and wait. A few minutes later, she texts me.
Lia: I think she’s having a bad day, Maksim. You might want to leave. I can grab a cab home.
Maksim: I’m not going anywhere. Take as long as you need. If you end up staying over, I’ll be here in the morning.
Her reply comes immediately.
Lia: Why?
I don’t know how to answer this at first. Lia’s the only woman who’s ever made me want to do things like this, to be a better version of myself.
Maksim: Because you deserve it.
Lia:
It’s amazing that even a simple heart emoji from her can make me feel a warmth in my heart I never thought possible.
For three hours, I wait. I don’t read, and I don’t check my phone, and I don’t try to distract myself in any other way.
I sit here and I think about Liora, the beautiful moments on video, the even more beautiful moments in reality.
I know I need to slow down—and calm down—but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s changing me.
When she finally emerges, she looks shocked that I’m still here. Then she does something so cute and funny. She sees me reaching for the door handle so I can walk around to her side and open it, but she runs across the street and grabs it first.
“Too slow,” she says, smiling as she slips inside.
“How was it?” I ask.
“The same,” she murmurs.
“Perhaps she needs some counseling.”
Lia clenches her jaw. “She doesn’t want it. She doesn’t want to forget or move on.”
“It’s not fair on you, Lia.”
“This isn’t about what’s fair or unfair. It’s about the next day. That’s it. That’s all I can worry about.”
I frown. “Your name means light, and you burn brightly. You do, Lia.” I add the last part when she gives me a be real look. “But eventually you might burn yourself out.”
“I can’t think like that. Mom has bills. I have bills.”
“Then let me help?—”
“Can you take me home, please?”
I start the car. A few minutes later, she’s asleep again, breathing softly.
Instead of waking her when we reach the townhouse, I gently lift her into my arms and carry her up the stairs of the townhouse.
She lets her head fall against my chest, murmuring something in her sleep. It sounds like my name.
Using the same key I used last time—turns out I’m a home invader, a stalker, and a Bratva boss—I unlock the door and carry her up the stairs. When I lay her down, she opens her eyes with a sleepy smile on her face.
“Will you stay for a little while?” she asks. “Just until I’m in a deep sleep?”
My body stirs. Signals fire through me. Lying next to her will trigger the hunger inside me.
I know that. But I want to put her first. I’ll just be vigilant, try not to obsess over her curvy body, the hitching breath, her heat radiating as if roaring at me to tear off our clothes and finally press our naked skin together.
“Of course,” I say gruffly.
I lie down, pulling her into my arms. She moans and shuffles closer to me.
I stroke my hand through her hair, teeth gritted, warning myself to be civilized.