Chapter 28
MAKSIM
Maksim: I’m almost done.
Itext Lia, two days after the mayhem at the data center, two days after I moved through the server banks and saw that Conrad had already taken a bullet in the chaos. I put one in him anyway, finishing the bastard off, before searching for my Lia.
It wasn’t cinematic. It wasn’t some long-drawn-out thing. It never is when true violence happens. It’s quick and vicious and ugly, and regular people can’t understand. I hate that Lia now does. I hate that she had to inflict violence to save herself.
Lia: Take your time. We’re just relaxing in your hot tub. Mom keeps crying because she’s so happy I’m alive. And I’ve shed a tear or two, too. I think it should stop in another couple of days.
Maksim: Don’t apologize for being loving and caring.
I look around the meeting room as we wait for the last lieutenant to arrive. My brother is tied to a chair at the head of the room, a rag in his mouth. I can’t look at him. I’m too heartbroken.
Maksim: Don’t apologize for being human. Don’t apologize for being you.
The last two days have been busy. Conrad did us a favor by taking Lia to such an isolated location.
It made cleanup easier. And then there was the matter of saving Rachael and Mikey, which was easy once Conrad was gone.
Conrad didn’t have what we have here, the iron loyalty of the Bratva. I paid off his men and that was that.
Which is why I wish my brother had come to me. My foolish, na?ve, idiot brother.
When everybody has arrived, I stand.
“I’ve made my decision,” I say, glaring around the room, ignoring the tugging in my side. “Nikolai will be exiled to Miami. He’s going to establish our presence there. If any of you have a problem, speak now. We’ll settle it like men.”
I look around the room, waiting for somebody to speak up. I can see that they want to. I can see that, if I weren’t Maksim Volkov, the king of the DC Bratva, they might have something to say.
But none of them are prepared to fight me on it.
I nod, then walk over to my little brother. My heart breaks as I lower my voice so only he can hear.
“This may be the last time we see each other,” I growl. “Redeem yourself. Be better.” I hesitate, then lower my voice so only he can hear. “I hate you for the danger you put Lia in. And I love you for the brother you were before that.”
Lia and I walk into her apartment, her boxes of belongings returned.
“I can help with any repairs,” I say, looking around.
She turns to me with those bright, beautiful eyes. Chewing her lip. There’s no reason for her to remain under my protection now, no reason for us to stay in each other’s lives…
Except that I love her, and that’s never going to change.
I pull her into my arms, kissing her gently. Both of us are banged up, still suffering from our injuries.
“You’ve done enough,” she says softly.
She’s talking about the course of grief therapy I’ve paid for her mother, with the best therapists on the East Coast. Or maybe she’s talking about saving her life too. Though, she played a larger part in that than I did. God knows what that scumbag would’ve done if she hadn’t knocked him out.
“Are you sure you want to move back here?” I say, voice going husky.
“I need my independence,” she replies. “But…” She hesitates.
“But what?” I say fiercely.
She clings to me, staring into my eyes. “I’m not ready for this to end.”
I kiss her passionately, her breathing going quicker, more urgent as she presses herself against me. I hold her as tightly as I can without hurting her.
“Me neither,” I groan. “I want to be with you. And I know you’re not ready to rush into anything.”
She laughs. “More than we already have?”
“But stay with me tonight,” I go on. “We’ll watch sitcoms and lie together and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I’ll try my best not to say I love you.”
“Don’t try that hard,” she says.
I smooth her hair from her face, kissing her again. “And let me help you. I don’t want you working yourself ragged. Let me make it so you can live a life, not just give pieces of yourself to others.”
She swallows, clearly nervous, but then she nods. “Yes,” she says, as if she’s surprising herself. “I think I’d like that.”
I kiss her again, then wrap my arm around her and lead her from the apartment.
I don’t know what the future will bring. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive my brother for what he did. I don’t know if Lia will ever say she loves me too.
But I know that life is lighter when she’s at my side.