He moves closer. One step. Two. I’m already backed against the door.
“Try again,” he says quietly closing in.
Mypulse hammers in my throat. I can feel it beating against skin, loud and obvious and betraying.
He flicks the light on. My eyes burn from it. I squint.
He frowns, his eyes dark.
“What the fuck happened to your face?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
His hand comes up, fingers brushing my jaw. Gentle. Too gentle. I flinch anyway.
His eyes go cold.
“Who touched you?”
“No one—”
“Ayla.”My name is a warning. “Who. Touched. You.”
I keep my breathing shallow, trying not to wince as my ribs protest
I can’t... I can’t handle him right now. I’m barely standing. Everything hurts and Maksim is looking at me like he wants to murder someone.
There’s something in his eyes... something I haven’t seen in a long time—from anyone.
“Beda?” his voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it.
My eyes meet his.
“I need to rest.”
“You need a doctor.”
I shake my head. “No hospitals.”
He snickers and nods. “Yeah, we don’t do those.”
I try to push past him, but he doesn’t budge.
“Come with me.”
My shoulders drop. “Maksim please—”
“Come to my place, I have a doctor I know, you’ll be safe from whoever you’re running from.”
Safe.
I could laugh if it didn’t sting.
Safety and Maksim are not synonymous.
“Move,” I say.
