Chapter 24 - Chiara

When Maxim sent my father an invitation to a party being hosted by his brother, Paval, I see how he gloats over it.

“What do you think it’s about?” I ask, wanting to find out his thoughts.

“I think they know they are losing allies and trying desperately to regain their footing and status. They don’t realize how deep in shit they are yet. Those two dead allies from the bomb set off at a meeting they arranged and then didn’t arrive at—it makes them look really bad. I assume they want to try and connect with everyone and appease this restlessness that is circling everyone.”

“Do you think they know about the evidence that was planted at the scene of the explosion?”

“No, but I have made sure to spread the word amongst my people. So it’s out there. People are talking about it. Their name is being dragged through the dirt.”

“Alright, so we”re going to the party to pretend to support their cause then?”

“Yes, we are, and to do something else.”

***

My father and I walk into the party at Paval’s house together. The place is already packed.

I have a smile on my face, but it feels tight and forced. My shoulders are so stiff with stress that I can’t even bring myself to relax them.

I greet people as we walk past, and my father is welcomed into the crowd warmly, with fondness. None of them know who he really is.

How can I be surprised, though, when I lived with him, grew up with him, and didn’t know who he really was for all that time?

I spot Paval and Kiril wandering through the crowd toward us.

“Angelo, I am so glad you could make it,” Paval greets him as warmly, as he always has.

Kiril shakes his hand. “Can I get you a drink?”

“A bourbon,” my father says, his tone even. “And a gin for my daughter.”

“Chiara, you look incredible. We were relieved to find out your father was there to help you. Honestly, I don’t know what we would have done if something happened to you.”

“Yes, I am so grateful to my father as well. He”s my world. I don’t know what I”d do without him.”

“So, you would like a gin?”

“Yes, please.” I nod politely, stepping closer to my father to show my allegiance to him.

“Come, sweetheart, we have to say hello to everyone.” My father drapes my hand over his arm and pats my hand, a fond gesture I used to find comforting. Now it disgusts me.

My father speaks with a lot of people, and I dutifully stay by his side. I watch as Kiril makes his way through the crowd, socializing, but mostly people are disinterested in making conversation with him, one of the Dubrovs. There are whispers around me about the bomb, and how the evidence points to them. It makes me sick, and I battle not to defend them.

But I can’t. I have to keep it together.

It is becoming startlingly clear that my father’s very long-term plan is starting to work. People are turning against the Dubrovs.

The air feels so thick with tension as discussion starts and then falls into hushed tones when any of the brothers walk past. I am so nervous, trying to keep my cool and maintain my facade around my father.

So far, I”m doing really well.

And I manage to keep doing well right up until the moment I see Maxim in the crowd.

My entire body just feels this incredibly strong pull, almost out of my control. It”s so intense that I just want to run from my father’s side and leap into Maxim’s arms.

Then, when he looks up and his bright blue eyes lock with mine, it gets ten times worse.

I love him.

I want to feel him against me.

I want that safety, and that reassurance.

I take a deep breath and manage to not even let the smallest trace of a smile touch my lips, even though inside, my heart is screaming.

Maxim immediately makes his way over to me.

“Angelo, Chiara.” He stares at me with longing in his eyes.

“Maxim,” my father greets him, borderline coldness in his voice. My father’s confidence has increased drastically since he first arrived here. He”s been hearing the same things I have and he knows that the Dubrovs are losing this battle.

“Chiara, can I have a word with you?” Maxim asks politely.

I pull my mouth to the side and glance over him, giving him a cold shrug. “I am with my father now,” I say, pretending to be disinterested.

“I haven’t seen you in days.”He looks hurt, and even though I know he is going along with the charade, it breaks my heart.

“Perhaps later,” I say, waving a hand to dismiss him.

Later in the evening, Maxim approaches me again and we have a similar exchange.

When he leaves, my father chuckles. “That poor boy is smitten with you, sweetheart.”

“I told you, he”ll be like butter in my hands,” I reply softly.

My father nods, satisfied, but I feel heavy and miserable. I want to talk to Maxim. I want a moment with him. Even just one.

Maxim’s eyes are on me from across the room. A small gesture points me in the direction of the house. Perhaps I can sneak inside and see him secretly, without anyone else noticing.

“Dad, I am just going to the ladies” room. I won’t be a moment.”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

I smile. Being the obedient daughter is taking its toll on me, but I can’t let my act slip.

I head into the house, and across the crowd of people, I see Maxim doing the same. My heart shivers with excitement at the idea of seeing him, alone, and being able to have his arms around me.

But as I step inside, I see my father’s guards are right behind me, keeping a close eye on me.

When I enter the house, Maxim is standing near the kitchen door. His eyes lock with mine again and I gesture, ever so slightly, at the two men behind me.

His reaction is so subtle that no one else would notice it but me. His mouth pulls tight, and the muscles of his jaw feather in agitation.

I walk past him to the bathroom. I cannot talk to him now, not with my father’s body guards so attentive to my movements.

After taking a moment in the bathroom, and a few very deep breaths, I head back out into the party with my father’s men following me.

Maxim is no longer inside, and I am grateful. I don’t want to cause any suspicion.

I return to my father’s side, the knot in my stomach is getting tighter.

“Is everything alright, sweetheart?”

I smile at my father. “Of course it is. Do you need another drink?”

“Stefano just stopped by to ask me if I needed one. He”s getting it for me.”

“Oh good. I didn’t realize he was here.”

We continue our conversations with my father’s associates, and I wonder how many people my father has killed in his life. If he could kill my mother so easily, and then his second wife as well, I imagine that he had killed many times before that.

Stefano arrives with my father’s drink.

“Chiara. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were here. Did you want something to drink?” he says, dry and uninterested, as usual. I bite my lip. I don’t really want to ask him for anything, but if I”m going to survive tonight, I do need another drink.”

“Gin,” I say.

“Why don’t you join me? One of our biggest allies was just saying how beautiful you are, perhaps it is time you started thinking about finding another husband. You know, with everything that”s happening.”

My father chuckles. “Perhaps he is right, sweetheart.”

“I guess it never hurts to make new connections. Dad, will you be alright here for a moment?”

“Go, sweetheart, I am perfectly fine here. And Stefano will look out for you. Won’t you, Stefano?”

“Yes, Angelo,” Stefano nods, smiling.

I follow Stefano through the crowd and notice that my father did not send the bodyguards with me this time. I guess he wants me to meet some new guy and get a new business marriage contract going. I”m about to roll my eyes in annoyance when Stefano whispers. “Just keep following me.”

What the hell? I am following him.

We walk past the bar, around to the side of the pool. The crowd of people is thinner here. It”s darker, the only lighting soft fairy lights.

As we walk near the edge of the house, someone grabs my arm and clamps their hand over my mouth as they pull me into the dark, away from the guests. My heart slams against my ribs, and I try to push them away, but then the scent of him overwhelms me.

“Thanks, Stef,” Maxim whispers.

“Be quick,” Stef hisses as he moves away.

“Maxim,” I say, breathless, as he lifts his hand off my mouth.

His lips crash into mine, and he wraps his arms so tightly around me that for a moment I forget how to breathe.

My entire body becomes alive with relief, need, love, and this incredible feeling of safety.

“We can’t be long,” he says, as staring down at me. “I have a car waiting around back. We can leave right now.”

“Max, I can’t.”

“Chiara, please. I just want to get you somewhere safe. Please, come with me.”

He sounds so desperate as he practically begs me to get away from all of this. I know he”s trying to protect me. I know he wants me to be somewhere safe. But the reason I understand that is because that is how I feel about him. And that”s why I have to stay; I have to stay in order to keep him and his family safe.

“Max, I”m not leaving. You need to trust me.”

“Babygirl,” he whispers, pressing his lips against my forehead.

I run my hand over his back, feeling the shape of his muscles, the familiarity of his body.

I want to leave with him so badly, but I can”t do that.

“I miss you so much,” I whisper, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him again.

“Chiara, I—”

My father’s voice carries over the crowd. “Chiara?”

“He”s looking for me,” I panic.

“You have to go, then,” Maxim says quickly. “Now. Don’t let him see us together.”

He pushes me away from him, and I quickly step back into the crowd, beneath the soft fairy lights. I paint the biggest smile on my face, laughing musically as I turn to walk back towards the house, as though having a lovely conversation with one of the other guests. “I’ll be back in a moment. I just want to see what is taking my brother so long with my drink.”

My father spots me in the crowd, as I walk toward him.

“Daddy, have you seen Stefano? He left me with one of those clients and never came back with my drink.” I roll my eyes.

“How did it go? Meeting the allies?” my father asks, looking like he is testing me.

“Honestly, Stefano is as stupid as you think he is. This man is a small fish. If we are going to set up a new marriage, it can be with a much stronger ally than that.”

“I told you he”s not the brightest,” my father chuckles. “Come on, it’s time.”

My lungs feel as though they are about to collapse when he says those words.

I wish I”d had more time with Max so that I could warn him.

I slip my arm through my father’s and follow him, feeling even more anxious than before.