After walking to the desk, I waved her over. “But before we proceed any further, I need you to sign the NDA and waiver.”
Although her lip curled with disgust, she rose off the couch to join me. Snatching up the pen beside the NDA, she quicklyscribbled her name. When she was done, she asked, “Is that good enough, or should I prick my finger and sign in blood?”
The flash of fire I’d seen in her last night had returned and shot straight to my cock. “I think the b-black ink will be sufficient.”
Aleks and Lev appeared in the doorway. “You need to go.Now,” Aleks ordered.
“I know!” I snarled, which caused Sarah to jump. Wiping the venom from my face, I replied, “I’m sorry for startling you.”
Surprise flashed on her face. “It’s okay.
Nodding at Lev, I said, “You’re to take Sarah to her home to collect her things.”
Irritation flooded his face. “I planned to come with you.”
With a shake of my head, I argued, “And I need you here.”
“Chush' sobach'ya!”he spat.
I couldn’t blame him for thinking it was bullshit for me to force him to stay with Sarah rather than come with me and Aleks. But I needed someone with her, and I trusted him with her life. At the same time, I couldn’t be soft with him. If everything went as planned, I would be his pahkan by the evening.
Jabbing a finger at him, I snarled, “Pomnite, s kem vy razgovarivayete,brat!”
He scowled at me, pulling the old "remember who you’re talking to” adage. “You owe me.”
With a sneer, I replied, “I’ll remember this favor.”
Lev maturely replied by shooting me the bird. Ignoring him, I turned to Sarah. “Lev will t-take you wherever you need. All you have t-to d-do is ask.”
After glancing warily between the two of us, Sarah remarked, “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I am. Right, brat?”
Gritting his teeth, Lev replied, “Da.”
Nodding, I then started across the room to join Aleks in the doorway. But before I walked out, I threw a final glance over my shoulder at Sarah.
And then I hurried off to watch my father die.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SARAH
My astonished gaze tracked Maksim as he and his brother stalked out of the room. A ragged sigh whooshed out of my lips. I would be lying if I said the last half hour was a complete mindfuck. After my encounter with the Beast, I’d walked into the room, both fearing and despising Maksim.
But then he told me his story.
And as much as I hated myself for it, I empathized with him. Maybe it was because of all the children I’d worked with over theyears who had parents who made them feel broken or defective because of their speech.
Or maybe it was because in some of society’s eyes, I had two “broken” brothers. Unlike Maksim’s family, my parents had tried everything within their power to shower their sons with love, compassion, and understanding.
But Maksim wasn't that fortunate. He’d been betrayed by the very person who was supposed to protect him. That betrayal became repeated over and over throughout the years.
As I stood there trying to regulate my out-of-control emotions, I couldn’t help reflecting that Maksim was nothing like I had expected. First off, I never imagined him being so damn handsome. With his gorgeous face and stunning body, he was seriously distracting. Somehow, I’d had it in my mind that he would be this mustache-twirling ogre, which was laughable after seeing him.
The aura surrounding him certainly fit the bill of a powerful man with henchmen to do his bidding. Not to mention that power came from unsavory and perhaps illegal things.
Like organized crime.
Since he was very obviously not Italian, he wasn’t a part of the mafia, which often was equated with Italians. Like the Irish had their clans, and the Japanese had the Yakuza, and the Chinese had the Triad. I’d heard the word for the Russian mob many times since they were prevalent in Philadelphia. It was on the tip of my tongue when the man he’d left me with cleared his throat.
