Chapter 8
Zara
The questions start easy at first. How did we meet? When did we start dating? What made us decide to get married so quickly?
I stick to the script Nikolai and I agreed on. We met at the diner where I worked. He came in for coffee, asked me out. It was love at first sight for both of us.
“That’s very romantic,” Detective Martinez says with a smirk. “And when exactly was this?”
I give her the date we rehearsed. Two months before Marcus was killed.
“Interesting.” She flips through a file. “Because, according to your former coworkers, you never mentioned having a boyfriend. In fact, one of them said you told her just three weeks ago that you were single.”
My stomach drops, but I keep my expression neutral. “I’m a private person. I don’t discuss my personal life at work.”
“We’ve been reserved about our relationship,” Nikolai chimes in.
Sullivan leans forward. “Mr. Maksimov, your family has quite a reputation in this city.”
My husband’s eyes are ice cold, his voice lethal when he answers, “My family runs legitimate businesses.”
“Come on, we all know what the Maksimov name really means.” Sullivan’s voice is getting louder. “Which makes us wonder what a nice girl like Zara would want with someone like you.”
The temperature in the room drops by ten degrees, and I feel Nikolai go completely still next to me.
“Detective,” our lawyer warns.
But Sullivan keeps pushing. “Unless she had no choice.”
“That’s enough,” Nikolai growls, literal murder in his voice.
“Mr. Maksimov, we think your wife witnessed something she shouldn’t have. Something you don’t want her to share.” Sullivan turns to me. “Ready to admit the truth?”
“The truth is, I love my husband,” I reply, and I’m surprised by how steady my voice sounds.
Sullivan leans closer, invading my personal space. “Even if he’s a killer?”
Nikolai’s chair scrapes against the floor as he starts to stand. “Watch your fucking mouth.”
“Nik, don’t.” I put a hand on his arm, feeling the barely restrained tension there.
Sullivan stubbornly continues, “I think you saw something. I think Maksimov tracked you down and gave you a choice: marry him or disappear permanently.”
My heart is hammering, but I keep my expression calm.
When I don’t answer, he adds, “Your entire life changed overnight, Ms. Thompson. You quit your job, broke your lease, and cut off contact with your friends. If you ask me, that doesn’t sound like someone making a free choice.”
“It’s Mrs Maksimov, and what that sounds like is someone starting a new chapter of her life,” I counter.
The detective brings his face even closer to mine, insisting. “Just admit it, Zara!”
“Back the fuck off,” Nikolai snarls, and this time he does stand up.
Sullivan doesn’t budge. “What you gonna do, Maksimov? Gun down a police officer?”
Nik grits between clenched teeth, “Get your face out of my wife’s space before I forget we’re in a police station.”
Holy fuck. The way he says “my wife”…
The lawyer interrupts. “My clients answered your questions. So unless you have evidence of wrongdoing…”
“We’re just trying to make sure Mrs. Maksimov is safe,” Martinez says before looking me straight in the eye. “Sometimes victims of coercion don’t realize they have options.”
“I’m not a victim of anything except your harassment,” I reply, standing up. “I’d like to leave now.”
Nikolai’s hand settles on my back, possessive and protective.
Sullivan’s face is red with anger. “This isn’t over.”
“Yeah, it is,” Nikolai replies. “Unless you plan to arrest us for something, we’re done here.”
As we walk out, I can feel both detectives watching us.
But for the first time in my life, I’m not the broke girl who doesn’t matter.
I’m walking next to a man who just stood up to a police officer for me.
Who looked ready to tear the whole station down because someone raised their voice at me.
Without a care for consequences for himself.
I’ve been alone since I was sixteen. Scraping by, surviving, fighting for everything. And this man, this terrifying, beautiful, fucked-up man, just showed the world I’m his. That messing with me means messing with him.
The man I thought of as my captor just became the most important person in my world. My fucking knight in shining armor.