“No, I can’t let you do that.
He held up his hand. “There’s no p-point in arguing with me. It won’t g-get you anywhere.”
I hiccuped a cry. “There you go being a beast again.”
“You know I’m right, so stop arguing with me. Y-You’re messing up my speech p-patterns.”
After staring into his dark brown eyes for what seemed like an eternity, I finally relented. “All right.”
“Go talk t-to your parents, and I’ll handle Silas.”
With a nod, I started to turn and head down the hall, but then I stopped. I couldn’t leave Maksim without somehow showing him how much I appreciated what he had done tonight.
Grabbing him by the shoulders, I leaned up on my tiptoes to bestow a kiss on his
cheek. The scruff of his stubble felt harsh against my lips. Before he could say anything, I whirled around and bolted out of the living room, hoping I could leave my out-of-control emotions behind with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: MAKSIM
Istood before a makeshift podium in the middle of the mansion’s foyer. Sarah, along with Aleks and Leo, sat in the chairs I'd dragged in from the dining room. Part of Sarah’s treatment plan for me included immersion in scenarios where my stuttering could become problematic due to stress.
Today we were practicing for my address to the Korolov men. We’d practiced day and night since returning from Sammy’s. She wanted me to have practically memorized what I planned to say, so I wouldn’t run into any issues. More than anything in the world, I wanted to speak as clearly as possible this first time.
“Okay, let’s take it from the top,” Sarah instructed.
Even with my small audience, I couldn’t help feeling slightly nervous. While I’d worked on my speech patterns before with Sarah, it was the first time doing it with Aleks and Lev.
After relaxing my jaw, I mentally grounded myself with the three things I could see.
I see a beautiful woman I want to devour.
I see my brothers who appear supportive.
And I see Voxie who has demanded free rein in this house after Sarah tried keeping her pent up in her bedroom.
With one final cough to clear my throat, I began to speak. “Good evening my brothers. It is a pleasure to stand before you tonight.”
After not being tripped up by two of my triggers, I pressed on confidently. “You who have bled and fought for my family remain the true face of this brotherhood. With the death of my father, a new d-day has dawned for the Korolov family.”
After grimacing, I stared at Sarah. She shook her head. “That was amazing. Tonight, you just need to keep going. Missing a few triggers isn’t a big deal.”
When I glanced at my brothers, they nodded in agreement. “That was fucking amazing, brat,” Lev exclaimed as Aleks nodded in agreement.
With a smile, I said, “Now can you see why I was d-desperate to have her?”
While Sarah rolled her eyes, Lev and Aleks chuckled. At her frustrated huff, Aleks held up his hands. “I’m sorry, but after that performance, I gotta say we did the right thing.”
Sarah sighed. “As much as I hate the way you went about it, I do see how much I was needed.”
“Okay, let me go through it again.”
Just as I was trying to get back into the zone, my phone rang. Since it was Dima, I felt like I had to answer it. “Da?”
“I need you to meet me at the compound in an hour.”
“Why?”
“Matvey and Kirill have requested a sit down.”
