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Despite being upset at my insistence, Maxim held my hand and led me to his study, where some of the Bratva soldiers had gathered. They shared what they’d been able to come up with concerning my father’s hideout.
Maxim and I stood side by side, poring over the details of the plan. Apparently, he’d also bought a house close to the harbor, a place where he could escape at any sign of trouble.
***
Night came more quickly than expected. Maxim and I had a decent amount of sleep after our meeting this afternoon to keep us awake and alert. His sisters-in-law were still at the mansion with their kids, and Sergey had tightened the security around the house.
There were thirty minutes left before it was time to leave. We got dressed and went out to the balcony to watch the stars. It would be our last memory if anything happened to either of us.
The evening breeze rustled my hair. The sky dazzled with a million stars, and a half-crescent moon illuminated the balcony. It was a perfect evening to confess our feelings to each other. A perfect weather to pour out everything we’d kept bottled inside.
But we couldn’t pour our hearts out tonight. If there were words we didn’t say to each other, we’d fight and survive so we could say them later.
“Do you still resent me for breaking up with you six years ago?” he asked softly. “I know it’s a bit too late to apologize, but I’m sorry for leaving. I’m sorry you had to go through everything on your own.”
A sad smile quirked my lips. “I don’t resent you, Maxim. If anything, I’m glad we got to meet again. After all of this is over, I want us to be happy—me, you, and our boys.”
Maxim reached out to me, cupping my face and nodding. “We will. Um-I want you to know you can always rely on my brothers if anything happens to me,” he said, his eyes locking with mine.
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily in my chest. I didn’t like the sound of it. “Nothing’s going to happen to you,” I whispered. “I won’t allow it. We still have scores to settle and kids to raise.”
His expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I promise,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. “I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe.”
“I know you will.”
In one stride, he closed the distance between us and kissed me passionately. I staggered, and he wrapped his arm around me to keep me steady. I fisted his shirt, kissing him back ferociously. I devoured his delicious lips as if it was the last time I’d ever taste them.
We didn’t stop until his phone buzzed minutes later. He cupped my cheeks and looked at me as if trying to memorize my face. “I think I left my watch in the room, can you help me get it?”
I nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
I ran up the stairs to his bedroom, throwing the drawers open and turning the blanket upside down. There was no sign of his watch. I considered returning downstairs to tell him, but I heard footsteps, and then Maxim appeared in the hallway.
His eyes were cloudy, the saddest I’d ever seen. “I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, Gianna. I just can’t stand the idea of you getting hurt.”
I scoffed. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll make sure our kids come back to you healthy and alive.” He slammed the door shut from outside.
My eyes popped wide. “Max…” What was he doing? Was he locking me in so I wouldn’t come along? “Maxim? What are you doing?”
There was no answer, only the sound of his shoes as he walked away.
No, he couldn’t do this to me.
I couldn’t let him go out and risk his life alone.
I ran to the door, twisting the handle and trying to push it open. It was locked from the outside.
Chapter 18 - Maxim
“Maxim! Don’t do this, I’m begging you!”
Her fists pounded on the wood so fiercely for a minute that it was likely that she’d rattle a nut on the hinges. Sliding the key into my pocket, I curled my fingers and clenched my teeth.
I couldn’t risk her getting hurt. The mere thought of any harm coming to her or losing her made my chest constrict in the most uncomfortable way. A flurry of rage lit up and spread through my veins.
Hearing her cry was fucking painful. She attempted to bust the door from the frame with her shoulder—or it could be her back. With Gianna, the sources of the heavy thumps were unpredictable but expected. What she wanted was to come out, but I desired the opposite. It ripped my heart to lock her in and turn away.
