“I figured you wouldn’t want to take things further. I know this is all new for you. I’ve never been with a virgin before,” he admits. “I’m trying to be mindful. I know our marriage is important. I don’t want to fuck it up by pushing you too fast.”
“Thank you,” I say right before tears hit my eyes. Between what I did to Alexandra and what Maksim just did to me, I’m a mess of emotions.
Maksim doesn’t say a word as he pulls me into his arms and holds me while we lay on the bed.
After a long while, my tears subside and sleep overtakes me.
When I wake up hours later, Maksim is still holding me.
I look into his sleeping face. Never has he looked less scary. In fact, he looks… human. Normal. Incredibly handsome, yes, but just normal. I don’t have to fear him. I can try to make our marriage work.
I judged Maksim for killing that man but he was just saving my life. I see that now. I killed Alexandra and there’s no going back from that. My life will never be the same again and if it weren’t for Maksim, I wouldn’t have known what to do about Alexandra. I wouldn’t have felt safe.
Yet, he made me feel safe.
He’s not my dad, I realize. My father who was always cold and stern. Maksim has a warmth to him. A kindness to him. Even if he is entrenched in the darkness like all Bratva men are.
For the first time since we met, I feel hopeful for the future.
Chapter Twelve
Natasha
Ifeel like I’m floating on a cloud, even after Maksim leaves for work. For the first time, I didn’t want him to leave me but I know he has to deal with Bratva business.
But my happiness comes crashing down when I get a phone call from my dad.
“Natasha,” he says in his stern voice.
“Dad.”
“I’m calling to see how things are going. I expect well. You and Maksim should be trying for a baby. I want grandchildren within two years.”
I freeze. “Grandchildren?” Maksim and I have only just gotten closer. Kids are the last thing I want right now.
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“No,” I whisper. I can never say no to my father.
“Good. I’ll be coming to New York in a week for a charity event. It will be a good time to check in with you. Make sure everything is going well. Make sure you’re doing your duty.”
“No,” I say without even thinking about it. The last thing I want is my father coming to New York.
He goes eerily silent for so long that I start to sweat. “No? You don’t want to see your own father?”
“No. That’s not what I mean. I’m sorry, sir.”
“Good. I’ll be there in a week.” He hangs up without saying goodbye. Any hope I had for the future with Maksim feels dampened.
My eyes find the spot on the coffee table where Alexandra hit her head. I quickly look away. Don’t feel guilty, I remind myself. It was an accident.
A knock on the door makes me gasp but when I look out the peephole and see that it’s just Kira, I relax slightly.
“I figured you would be bored all day by yourself,” she says, strutting into the house. “So that’s why I thought it would be for the best that we go out today.”
“Out? Where?” Hopefully not another ladies’ function. The last one didn’t go well.
“To a party. I’m dying to have some fun. My dad never lets me do anything like that but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And I figured if you were with me, I’d be in less trouble. I can just claim we’re two girls going out to have some fun.”
