Page 69 of The Stalking King

CHAPTER 25

LIA

The next morning, the scene is unreal. Mom, Maksim, and I sit in the large living room, watching Friends. I sit next to Maksim, my head resting on his shoulder, and Mom looks over and smiles with a distant look. This is tough on her, but she’s rallying for my benefit. It’s the first time in years she’s putting me first.

I’m so proud of her for being so strong. In a really messed-up way, I’m happy.

“One more episode?” I ask, picking up the control.

“One more,” Maksim says. “Then I need to leave for the city.”

An anxious note swirls through me.

As the episode begins to play, I take out my phone and text him. I don’t want to frighten Mom, even if she’s handling this surprisingly well.

Lia: Is this dangerous business?

Maksim: It could be. I’ve got a likely candidate for their hideout.

Lia: You’re still injured, Maksim.

Lia: You were never a good patient.

He wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer. Last night, when Mom asked what Maksim and I are, I wasn’t sure how to describe it. I haven’t told her about the secret watching, the fact he withheld who he really was. But I’ve told her he’s a mafia boss and a criminal, and that he has a code. Mom looked at me in shock, then said again that she trusts my judgment.

Maksim: I can’t let this stand. I’d be gone already if the logistics were already in place. But for now, we can pretend to be normal.

Lia: We must be very good at pretending, then.

He looks down at me with a sad smile and haunted gray eyes.

Soon, it’s time for him to go. I walk him to the door. “I still don’t know what happens after,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around him. I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips against his, careful not to press my body too firmly because of his wound. We kiss passionately, then I go on. “But I know I want you to be safe. I want you to come back to me.”

“I will,” he says huskily. “I swear.”

Later, Mom is in the lavish guestroom, the curtains drawn, snoozing. I sit at her bedside, my hand on hers.

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this,” I whisper, thinking she’s asleep.

But she answers. “I always wanted to see what you were like when you were in love.”

“I’m not in love, Mom,” I say, but my voice wavers. “It’s early days. And how can we judge, with all this going on?”

“I’ve never seen you look at a man like that. Even before I forced you to work all those hours. Even when you tried to date. You never looked like this.”

“You didn’t force me to do anything,” I say. “I wanted to help. And yeah, I can’t deny it. If you take away, well, a lot, I think we have something special.”

“He’s a good man,” she murmurs. “I know he has another side, but when I see you together, I can’t imagine it. And he saved our lives.”

I sit with her until she falls asleep. I’m almost snoozing myself when my phone rings. It’s Joel. I take the call in the hallway.

“Hey, Joel. Did you talk to Tessa? I’m not going to be in today.”

“I know,” he says, and I immediately know something’s wrong. He sounds hoarse and panicked.

“What is it?” I ask tightly.

“I looked at Daniel’s hospital records. Daniel Mercer.”