Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Abby

It’s nearly midnight by the time Maks gets back from wherever he’s been. I’m already in bed, curled up with a book and trying not to worry too much.

As soon as he’s in the bedroom, though, all bets are off. I can see the tension in his shoulders and the tightness around his eyes. Something’s wrong. Something’s very, very wrong.

“Maks? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he says, shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it over a chair.

“That’s bullshit,” I say, sitting up and swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. “Tell me.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his dark hair. “We found one of the scammers. Booker’s old partner, actually.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” I ask, not sure where the problem is. “Or are they hiding out somewhere else?”

“No, they’re not. They were at a warehouse we had tracked down. We were ready to break the whole place up, but when we got there, the place was empty. Completely empty.”

“Shit,” I whisper, the implications hitting me. “How did they know you were coming?”

“Someone told them. Someone on the inside. And whoever it is, they’re still out there, which means we’re still in danger.”

“Oh my God,” I gasp. “Someone we know is working against us? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yeah,” he sighs. “Someone we know is helping them. I have no idea who, though, or even why. What the fuck is the connection? I’m just not seeing it.”

“What are we going to do?” I look around the room, as if the traitor might be hiding behind the curtains or the closet door. “Are we even safe here anymore?”

“Safer than you’d be anywhere else,” he answers, maybe a little too honestly. “At least I can be here with you most of the time. Someone would have to get through me before they could get to you and the babies.”

That surprisingly makes me feel a lot better, safer, somehow.

“What about Maggie and her babies?” I ask. “Does she have enough security there? Should we be doing more to help her?”

“I have all the guys I can spare already watching her. I’m telling you, there’s nowhere safer for you to be right now. But you can give Maggie a call again if you want to check on her. I know I’ve told you not to contact anyone, but I can’t keep you completely isolated. As long as you keep your promise to only do it when I say…”

“I will,” I tell him quickly, grabbing for my phone and scrolling my contacts. “I promise.”

“I sent her a text earlier to tell her we might be calling tonight. I figured you would want to hear her voice.”

“I do.” I dial her number.

She answers on the second ring. “Maksim? Abby? Are you both okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine.” I take the phone and put it on speaker, but turn down the volume so we don’t wake up the babies. “We just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

“I am,” she promises, her voice a little calmer. “There are two guards here with the twins, and three outside.”

“Are you sleeping?” I ask.

“A little,” she says. “The twins are taking turns waking up every few hours, and I can’t sleep through their crying, even if the nanny’s trying to help. I sent all the extra help we usually keep for you home, since it seemed like overkill…but now I’m sort of regretting it.” She chuckles lightly, and then sighs. “I swear, they’ve got to be related to a pack of banshees.”

Maks and I share a look and laugh. “Yeah, I’m familiar with the feeling,” I tell her.

“How are the babies?” Maggie asks. “How are you holding up without help?”

I smile. “They’re good. They’re all sleeping right now, and we’re hoping they’ll sleep for another few hours. And I do have help. Maks has been amazing.” I give him an appreciative smile, and he grins back. “And so has his housekeeper.”

“Good.” She yawns. “Tell Maks thank you for his extra security, and that we’re all safe here.”

“I will,” I promise. “Get some sleep, Mags.”

“You too.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up, and I feel a little better. Still not good, by any stretch of the imagination, but better than I felt a few minutes ago.

“Come here,” Maks says, taking my hand and helping me out of bed, then leading me to the room next door. “I need a few minutes alone with you.”

“A few minutes with no babies around?” I laugh, letting him usher me into the room and ease me down onto the mattress next to him. He already stripped out of his clothes while I was saying goodbye to my sister, and the sight of him now in just his tight black boxer briefs is enough to make my stomach all fluttery. “I think I know where this is heading.”

“Can you blame me?” He smirks, and my body responds to the heat in his gaze. “It just takes one look from you and I’m hard as a fucking rock, night and day.”

“I can’t help it,” I tell him. “You’re like a drug. Every time I see you, I want more. More of everything.”

“Fuck, Abby,” he growls, pulling me even closer on the bed until our faces are just inches apart. “You’re driving me crazy.”

He’s driving me crazy, too. Especially with his hard length pressing against me, making me hot and wet and needy.

“Maks,” I moan, my hands moving along the hard planes of his chest.

“Yes?” His mouth finds my neck, his lips brushing against my skin and sending shivers of desire through me.

“Please.”

“Please what?” he asks, his tongue darting out and licking my collarbone.

“Make me come.”

He chuckles, a low, deep sound that makes me even wetter. “Is that all you want, Abby? You just want to come?”

“No.” I shake my head, my breath hitching as his fingers slide between my legs, teasing me through my thin panties.

“Then what?” he asks, his finger dipping inside me. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want you. I want you inside me. I…I want to come on your cock.”

“Fuck,” he growls, the sound so primal and hot that it makes me shiver.

“I want to feel you move inside me,” I continue, arching against his hand. “I want to feel you fill me up and make me scream.”

“God damn, Abby,” he groans, rolling over on top of me and pinning me to the bed with his big body. He kisses me hard, his tongue tangling with mine as his hands roam over my body. I wrap my legs around him, pulling him closer as his cock teases my clit.

“I need you, Maks,” I whimper, grinding against him.

“You’ve got me.” He presses the tip of his cock against my entrance, and I cry out, my body trembling with anticipation.

“Please, Maks,” I beg, clutching at his shoulders.

“Tell me what you want, baby,” he murmurs, sliding in another inch and then holding still.

“All of you,” I gasp, trying to pull him closer.

“Then that’s what you’ll get.”

He thrusts into me in one smooth motion, his cock filling me completely. I cry out, my nails digging into his skin as he starts moving inside me, slowly at first, then faster and harder.

“God, yes,” I moan, my body responding to his every movement.

“That’s it,” he growls, his hips rocking against me. “You feel so good, baby. So fucking warm and wet for me.”

“Maks,” I whimper, my muscles clenching around him as my body climbs higher and higher toward release.

“Come for me, Abby.” He wraps his hand around my throat, his fingers gripping me just tight enough to add another layer of pleasure. “Come all over my cock, baby.”

“Yes, Maks.” I close my eyes, giving in to the sensations and letting myself fall over the edge. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Fuck, baby,” he groans, his cock throbbing inside me. “You’re so goddamn sexy when you come.”

I gasp, my body spasming and clenching as waves of pleasure crash over me. It feels like I’m floating, weightless and free.

Maks keeps moving, his hips pumping faster and harder as he chases his own release. Finally, with one last groan, he comes, his cock pulsing inside me as his seed fills me up.

He collapses on top of me, his breath hot and ragged against my skin. I can’t move, can’t speak. I can barely breathe. All I can do is lie here in his arms, my body humming with pleasure.

After a few minutes, he rolls onto his back, taking me with him and tucking me against his side. “That was incredible.”

“It was,” I agree, snuggling against him.

We lie there in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

The reality is starting to sink in again. “What are we doing?” I ask after a few minutes.

His brow furrows. “What do you mean? We just had amazing sex. I’m still trying to catch my breath.”

I sigh. “You know that isn’t what I mean. I’m talking about us. This. Our future, if we even have one.”

He’s quiet for a little bit and that fluttery feeling from earlier has turned into a twisted ball of nerves in the pit of my stomach as I wait for him to say something, anything that might give me an inkling of hope.

Or that might give me a sign, once and for all, that we really don’t belong together.

“I don’t know, Abby,” he finally answers, his voice low and husky. “I don’t have all the answers. But I know I want you. None of this works if you don’t trust me, though. I don’t want to drag you into a lifetime of constant worry and fear. That isn’t fair to you or me or the kids.”

I want to tell him it’s too late for that, but I hold that response inside. He’s being honest with me and I don’t want this calm, rational conversation to turn into a fight. I do want some clarity, though.

“The violence is what worries me the most,” I say instead. “Even if you didn’t kill Booker, I know you beat him up. Probably badly. And I know about the other guy, too. The one you were talking about catching and…and torturing. Please don’t try to deny it, Maks.”

His jaw clenches and I wonder for a second if we’re going to have an argument anyway, but he finally takes a long, deep breath and slowly exhales. “That guy—both of those guys—were criminals, Abby. Bad people. Scammers who took money from your foundation and God only knows how many other people. I feel no remorse for beating the shit out of those guys. Zero remorse. I didn’t kill either of them, but if I did?” He turns his head to look me in the eye. “I wouldn’t feel bad about that either. I won’t lose a minute of sleep over scum like that. Not ever.”

I blink. The vehemence in his voice and the fire in his eyes should make me afraid of him, I know it should, but I’m not. And that surprises me.

Do I trust him? Is this why I’m not afraid? Is it that I trust his judgment, his words, that he’s telling the truth? That he won’t hurt anyone innocent?

Does that even matter?

Maybe violence is always bad, no matter what… Or maybe the world isn’t so black and white, and I’ve been living in a different bubble, a different world to him and the rules are also different for us.

I don’t know. I really don’t.

All I can say is that when he speaks like this, I’m not afraid. I’m not repelled. I still want him.

And…maybe, yes, I do trust him. I really think I do.

“I guess I can’t argue with your reasoning,” I say quietly. “I don’t like the thought of people getting beaten and killed, though. I don’t… I don’t feel like you’re a bad person, but Maks… I hate the thought of violence in the world. I hate the thought of being involved in any of it.”

“I know,” he says, his hand running up and down my arm, gently rubbing my skin. “I get that, I really do. And that’s part of what’s been keeping me awake at night. I want to be a good man for you, Abby. A good partner. A good father to the babies. But I can’t pretend to be someone else either. This is my life. My world. It’s part of my DNA. And if you accept me for who I am and what I am, if you decide you want to be my woman, just know that I’ll always protect you and the babies with the very last breath in my body. My family is number one in my life. Always.”

Could I be his woman? His girlfriend? His wife?

A mafia wife?

It isn’t a future I’ve ever pictured or ever wanted for myself, but it’s a decision I’ll have to make. He’ll be in the kids’ lives regardless of what I decide to do, but I’m not sure whether that makes my decision easier or harder.

To his credit, at least he’s being honest and open with me. He’s laying it all out there, giving me the whole truth and nothing but.

The problem is, I’m not sure what to do with it.