Chapter 28 - Victoria
There’s no warmth in the way Maxim touches me. No space available for any kind of connection. No hint of any softness towards me.
Even through the haze of whatever chemical lingers in my system, I can feel the discomfort his presence brings. Like a knot in my stomach that won’t go away, except it's grating against my insides at the same time.
Instead, his hand travels up the back of my neck before his fingers grip my hair, tilting my head to the sight with a decisive yank. Then, the cold barrel of his gun bites into my skin.
The shiver that runs through me nearly burns.
Maxim chuckles, and I feel his eyes finally leave me, flicking up to Roman.
Seeing him there with his siblings, having him in that room with me…it feels like a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, I’m more than relieved. The second I laid eyes on them, I could’ve cried if I didn’t feel so numb from being knocked out.
But on the other hand, they’ve walked straight into danger. Every one of those men is heavily armed with guns able to far outperform the Lukovs’ pistols.
The thought of any of them getting hurt all to save me makes my stomach twist further.
“You really thought you could tote Victoria around like bait among those pricks at the gala, and I’d jump at the chance to collect her? Like I’d try to be a happy family again?”
Flinching at those words, well aware that he’s far from being any kind of brother to me, I try to school my emotions. To stay quiet and keep it all to myself.
I watch as Roman’s jaw tightens, and his grip on the gun doesn’t waver. His words come out terse. “I figured even a heartless bastard like yourself might feel some remorse for not knowing your own sister.”
“I’m not sure how else to say this, but…I don’t give a fuck,” Maxim says, sounding far too casual about it all as he chuckles bitterly. “About my sister, about your marriage…none of it.”
“Then why retaliate and make it seem like the opposite?”
He huffs. “I didn’t go after her to retrieve her, no…I set my sights on her because she’s the first one you’ve ever shown off so proudly. Victoria is your crutch, and I intend to exploit that.”
Despite the threat hidden beneath those words, I can see the way that truth reflects in Roman’s eyes—the shift in his expression that’s so subtle that nobody else notices it.
But I do. I feel it.
We both know that’s true.
An uncomfortable silence falls over the room before Roman relents to the slightest degree as he grounds out, “What do you want?”
At this, another satisfied hum leaves Maxim. “There are many things I want, Roman…but most of all, I want what you took from me—the influence you stole. The position. The power.”
Roman’s brows furrow. “This is your grand move? Attempting to take my place?”
“You make it sound so much simpler than it is…smaller, really,” he murmurs, letting that veiled amusement linger in his words despite the seriousness of the situation. “But yes…I want Roman Lukov to bend to me…to relent since I have your previous gem.”
The reminder makes Roman bristle and never takes his eyes off Maxim. “Tell me…how exactly did I take that from you when it was never yours to begin with?”
Maxim’s grip on me tenses, sending shooting pain through my scalp. I wince.
For the first time, he takes on a serious tone. “You know damn well…Vegas belonged to my father before he decided to trust Aleksandr Lukov…your father. I was only eleven when it happened, but even at that age, I knew what I needed to do. I knew I needed to avenge him.”
Taking in his words, something clicks in my mind, and despite his grip on me, I manage to murmur, “So you knew all along…about me.”
I feel a subtle hesitation in his hold on me, and then Maxim scoffs. “Of course I did…we were separated, and with time, I lost track of you.”
“And you never bothered to look for me?”
“No, I didn’t feel the need to.”
Even though we don’t have a familiar relationship in the slightest, something about that admittance still feels like a knife to the chest anyway.
“Despite what influence you have, you never even tried to find her,” Roman speaks up, sounding cold and accusatory. “Your sister…”
“Shut up,” Maxim snaps, gripping my hair tighter all over again, making me yelp. “You know what I want…and if you want your precious wife back, then you’ll damn well give it to me.”
Through the ache of it all, I watch Roman’s expression shift subtly. How he’s considering his options and silently calculating everything.
I can tell he’s debating it…debating giving up some of his influence just to get me back.
While part of me is screaming for him to do exactly that and to get me out of there, I also know how important it all is to him. To his family.
He’s trapped between both places…either he chooses between me and his empire.
After a long stretch of deafening silence, Roman finally murmurs, “No…”
Maxim’s tone comes out incredulous. “No? That’s all? You’re going to give up your wife just like that.”
“No,” he repeats, eyes sharp with such a deadly focus, it sends a shiver down my spine. “I’m not going to give you what you want…and you’re going to give my wife back.”
I don’t know what it is about those words, but something shifts inside me.
Roman has every opportunity to be done with me. To sever those ties and close the chapter on us for the sake of everything he has built.
But instead, he won’t do it. He won’t give me up, and he won’t appease Maxim, either.
Despite the danger, he’s willing to put his own siblings in harm’s way…he’s willing to do it all for me and the baby.
Unlike Maxim, he wants me in his life—needs me. That much is abundantly clear.
I spent far too long questioning what I wanted or how I could navigate the hand I’d been given.
But seeing him there,…feeling how willing Roman is to do all of this for me, I already know.
Heart racing from the panic that has been steadily rising since the moment I opened my eyes again, I pull in a discreet breath, trying to find a resolve similar to Roman’s. To embody his levelheadedness despite it all.
I may have lived through a childhood that left its scars, then tried to forge my way, all for it to come to a halt. I resented him for it…I wanted to get away from Roman more than anything.
But none of that matters anymore. Not while I know he will provide everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
When he can prevent our child from experiencing something similar to what we did. It took me too long to realize, and now it’s all crystal clear.
A disbelieving laugh comes from Maxim as he hauls me up to my feet by my hair, making me wince and wobble on unsteady legs.
“You think I’m going to give her back just like that? You think the scales are at all tipped in your favor?” His words come out scathing as he points his gun at Roman. “After all of this…after finally getting you right where I want you…you expect to walk out of this on top?”
Roman doesn’t flinch.
Seeing the opportunity right in front of me, I turn, wrenching out of his grasp before he has the chance to realize it.
Opening my mouth, I sink my teeth into his gun arm and bite hard.
Immediately, Maxim’s brows furrow as the pain registers, and he pulls in a sharp breath. He instinctively tries to free his arm, making me let go.
In a blink, it all happens so quickly.
Ducking down, I close my eyes and hope for the best.
Several shots ring out at once, echoing and stinging even more. Then, one by one, bodies hit the floor.
Time drags on, crawling as if it has nowhere to be. I pull in shallow breaths, vaguely feeling my body through the fog still clinging to my mind.
Then I feel hands on me. Trembling faintly, but still strong enough to prevent me from falling over.
Blinking through the shock of it all, I meet Roman’s stormy eyes, seeing the concern and relief there.
“Victoria…” he murmurs, eyes raking over me, checking for wounds before he cups my jaw, keeping me in place. “Are you hurt?”
Everything seems to register at once. I’m still breathing. Roman is in front of me…holding me. We’re both safe.
Weakly, I shake my head, feeling that rush of overwhelming emotions hit me all at once. “No, I’m fine...”
More relief moves through his eyes, and Roman sighs before wrapping his arms around me and keeping me close to his chest.
Without hesitation, I melt into it, pulling in his warmth and that comforting scent I’ve come to adore. It’s all so overwhelming at once, but I give in to it, needing it like a lifeline.
“Thank god,” Roman murmurs, holding the back of my head with a gentle touch before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry for all of this.”
“Don’t, please,” I say back, unable to pull myself away from his hold just yet. “I’m just glad it’s over...that you came to get me.”
I feel as he relaxes somewhat from my words before his grip tightens again, and there’s no avoiding the extent of his own emotions.
“It doesn’t matter what happens…I’ll always find you. I’ll risk everything just to have you in my life,” he says, only for me.
Before I can completely lose my composure, I’m lifted into his arms with ease, and he walks me out of the building without another word.
Eventually, I find myself in the back of an SUV while the others roll in, coming to handle the cleanup and everything else.
My blood runs cold the moment I spot Maxim leaving the warehouse…or rather, being mostly dragged out with a wounded leg and cuffs around his wrists. Several men haul him into a different vehicle.
Then, Roman’s in front of me again, and his thumb brushes against my cheek.
Meeting his gaze, my brows pinch together. “Why’s he still alive?”
Letting go of a breath, he lightly strokes my skin, taking me in with complete reverence. “Because I missed on purpose.”
“Why?”
“Sometimes, death is a mercy,” Roman says quietly, just barely letting the corner of his lip pull. “…that would’ve been far too easy for him.”
Despite understanding his point, that confusion lingers. “Where’s he going now?”
“My men are taking him to lockup…somewhere far away and out of reach. Somewhere ideal for him to rot and face the consequences of ever going after you.”
Regardless of how dark it sounds, there’s a tenderness in the way he looks me over, caressing me so carefully, almost afraid I’ll break.
“And your siblings…are they alright?”
He nods, leaning in to press his forehead against mine. “Nobody else was harmed, fortunately. Just Maxim and his men.”
Able to breathe easier, I nod, instinctively closing my eyes. “Good…”
“You don’t need to worry about anyone else. Right now, I’m going to take you home, and we’re going to recuperate,” Roman says gently, letting his nose brush against mine. “You’re safe now…nobody is going to take you from me again.”
Soaking in his touch and the depth in his words, I know now that he absolutely means it.