“Max?” Lazar’s crazed voice came on the other end, and finally, Maxim’s attention broke away from her. “Max, we’re in trouble.”
Kira sadly smiled as Maxim took up the phone. Though she could feel his eyes on her, she walked away regardless.
Maxim almost hung up on his brother. Kira was misunderstanding or not understanding enough the change in him, and how could he expect her to? He had been cruel for all these weeks, and now the ice around him had finally melted. He didn’t know how to express any sentiment. He wasn’t used to dealing with women without contempt. His trust issues with them had grown into a wall of thorns, keeping them at bay. He hadn’t even slept with a working woman in years because of it.
“Max, are you listening?”
Maxim forced his attention to the phone call. “What’s happened?”
“I screwed up. I promised Yakov I could get him the lands he required, and I can’t. I can’t. I don’t know what to do. Every deal I bring to them, they don’t want. They hate the Morozovs so much they won’t even speak to me.”
“Who, Lazar?”
“It doesn’t matter. If we don’t get these lands for Yakov, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“He was just here.”
“I know he was in town. Why would he come to you? What did he say?”
“Why would you promise something to Yakov Morozov?”
“I’m coming over. Perhaps your wife will know how to combat her crazy ass father.”
Maxim clenched the phone and turned to the house. Even if Kira knew what to do about her father, would she? Her devotion was so deep that she took every verbal punch with a ‘thank you.’ But Maxim knew one thing: he was no longer going to assumeanything about her. Kira had proven herself enough times that he was tired of looking like an ass.
Chapter nineteen
Trade
Lazar came rushing in like a bulldozer, going through each hallway while muttering to himself. Maxim had never seen his brother so distraught. His suit was unbuttoned and his hair askew. He followed him around, trying to understand his brother’s ramblings, and only a few words made any sense.
“We’re fucked.”
Maxim grabbed his brother by the arm and brought him into the living room, forcing him to sit. After pouring him a small glass of whiskey, Maxim sat hoping for a real conversation, but Lazar only threw back the drink and then got to his feet. “Where’s your wife?”
Lazar didn’t wait for an answer, pounding up the stairs and down the hall with Maxim on his heels, trying to stop him. Heburst into three different rooms before finding Kira’s bedroom, and the woman popped up from her work desk. “What is this?”
“You have to stop your father.”
Maxim sighed and shook his head, explaining, “Lazar is worried Yakov is going to come for him.”
Kira dropped her pencil on the desk. “Oh,” she sighed. “He should be.”
Lazar threw his hands in the air and continued to pace and mumble.
Maxim eyed her, but she only shrugged. “My father is not a man to make idle threats. Whatever he wants, give it to him.”
Lazar whipped around. “Don’t you think I would if I could? He wants lands that used to belong to the Rostovas. These people are Rostova sympathizers. How was I supposed to know that? I thought I could offer riches, and they deny me, calling me a traitor to my parents.”
“Who are the Rostovas?”
They stared at her in silence, and she raised her brows inquiring again.
Lazar shook his head, turning his attention to Maxim. “And you thought she was a spy.”
Kira snapped her head toward her husband. “You thought I was a spy?”
Maxim stuttered. “Well, in the beginning, I wasn’t quite sure.”
