5. Maksim

5

MAKSIM

I wake up in Hugh's guest room—the one I've designated for myself after many drunken nights—with Hugh asleep in a chair next to the bed. His head hangs over his crossed arms, and a gun dangles from his hand like he's braced for an intruder.

I look toward the door, bracing myself as well, not quite sure of what to expect.

Last night plays fresh in my mind, and the first thing I see is the girl. Elira.

Where is she now?

Is she … dead?

Would I be disappointed if she was?

I look down at the bandages wrapped around my torso and try to recall the last thing I remember. The drive here, I think. Elira's hunched shoulders as she leaned inches from the wheel, her eyes wide scanning Las Vegas's streets.

I wondered what she thought of all the lights, but I didn't ask. It seemed like a weird question, given what had just taken place. Plus, I think she was just afraid. Afraid of driving. Afraid of Vegas. Afraid of me .

Is she dead?

My lips sink with a frown, but I straighten them as I clear my throat.

Hugh jumps awake, his arms unfolding so his gun points at the door. When his eyes meet mine, he sighs and lowers the weapon.

"Who are we expecting?" I ask him, digging my palms into the mattress to sit up.

He leans back in the chair and huffs. "You show up with five stab wounds, a bruised temple and bashed face, and you have the nerve to ask me who we're expecting?"

Oh my God.

I nearly laugh. Nearly. Not quite. I'm a little too confused to fully feel the humor in him thinking the person who did this to me is a danger.

They don't know Elira did it.

Is it because she didn't tell them or because they killed her before she got the chance?

Or did she manage to get away? Would I still be alive if she had?

"Ah, so I guess the girl didn't tell you what happened," I say coolly, although I'm on the edge of my seat.

Why the fuck did I let Roman make me think killing this girl would solve my problems? If she's dead, what punishment will Nikita give me? What games must I play next?

"The girl who doesn't speak English?" Hugh asks, his dark orbs barely visible through slits. "Maksim, buddy, I feel like you've thrown me into a mystery novel. What the fuck happened? Who's the girl? Who did this to you?"

The girl who doesn't speak English.

Doesn't. Present tense. She's not dead. And she's gone back to pretending she doesn't speak English.

Now, I do laugh, earning myself a glare from Hugh.

I open my mouth, ready to tell him everything, but I stop myself. Hugh is a soldier who works closest to me, close enough you could call him my right-hand man. He's also my best friend. He's my brother. I trust him with my life. He has my loyalty, and I know I have his.

But he's Bratva, and loyalty to the Bratva comes before loyalty to any one man. If Nikita asks Hugh what happened, I'd rather not put my brother in a position to lie on my behalf.

"Put your gun away and relax . I got into it with a few rowdy guys, but it's all right."

"What. Happened?"

I cringe as I sit up straight and watch my bandage to make sure it doesn't turn red. "That girl who brought me here… She's a whore from Albania. Nikita ‘gifted' her to me last night. I must not have tied her up well because she got free and ran from my place. By the time I found her, she'd already caught the attention of a few guys who had her in an alley." I gesture over my shoulder. "Sneaky bastard came up behind me with a knife."

This story sounds so much more manly than what actually happened.

"Why didn't you call me?" Hugh's face pinches with disapproval. "You could've bled out."

"They smashed my phone."

He looks off for a moment while combing his goatee. "Did you take care of the bodies?"

I blow out a breath and wipe my hand over my forehead. I don't have to fake embarrassment. Elira kicking my ass is plenty shameful. "Well, that's the thing. They ran off after they hit me over the head."

Hugh's jaw clenches.

Now I'm going to have to find three douchebags who deserve to die just to make this story work.

"I'd like to get this taken care of before Nikita is made aware."

Hugh nods and stands like he thinks I mean right this second. "You got it."

"I'll let you know when I find the names. Just hang tight for now."

Tucking his gun in his waistband, he looks toward the door. I can tell by his glazing eyes that he's already forming a game plan. Normally, I love it. Today, I wish he'd chill.

"So where's the girl?" I ask, wiping a smudge of dirt off my bicep. I need a shower, but I'll check in on the little assassin first.

He blinks away whatever he was thinking about and looks at me. "In the basement… If you're expecting her to be grateful for you coming to her rescue, don't be. She's still a major flight risk. You owe Felix a new fender, and you're going to have to get yourself a new windshield."

I rear back. "What?"

Hugh laughs. "She freaked and backed into his car. Ricky shot at her to get her to stop."

He shot at her?

"But she wasn't hit?"

Hugh's brows bunch as he shakes his head. "No, of course not. It just scared her."

Good .

We let a couple of seconds go by while commotion starts downstairs. It sounds like Zinovy and his girlfriend going back and forth, followed by a plate shattering. It's always lively in this house.

"Listen, can I keep the girl here for a little while?" I ask, dragging Hugh's eyes to me. "It shouldn't be long. I'm just not sure what I'll do with her yet."

His eyes shine with pity before he blinks it away and nods. "Of course… I take it Anya doesn't know about her?"

I narrow my eyes and don't humor that with a response.

"Right." He rubs the back of his neck, then pulls out his phone. "I guess you'd better call Anya, huh? She's probably worried since they smashed your phone."

I catch the cell in one hand and thank Hugh before he leaves.

My little sister was supposed to spend the night at her friend's house—her ‘friend' being a douchebag named Trevor who she slyly put in her contacts as ‘Hailey' with four heart emojis—so it's unlikely she's noticed my absence, but I shoot her a quick text anyway.

Phone broke. Will have a new one this afternoon. Everything okay? -Mak

She responds in less than a minute with nothing but a thumbs up emoji, which is … annoying, but expected.

I toss the phone on the bed and head to the basement.