Chapter 14

Maxim

Riley had been asleep in my arms for hours, her naked body curled against me. The sheets were tangled around her, and her hair was a mess. Her cheeks were still flushed, and the soft pink glow of her skin was almost ethereal.

Even asleep, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

The two of us had crossed a line last night and there was no going back. There would be no would-haves, should-haves, or could-haves. There was simply her and me and what we were to each other.

Now she was all mine, like a piece of a puzzle that I hadn't even known was missing.

A flood of emotions washed over me—emotions I had not allowed myself to feel in a long time. Since my wife's death, I had built walls around my heart, vowing never to let myself be so vulnerable again. Yet here I was, holding Riley and feeling things that both thrilled and terrified me despite every bit of me trying not to.

I was not a man given to losing control, yet with every breath Riley took, I was growing more and more attached to keeping her by my side.

The moment she called me Daddy, I'd lost it completely. I had been resisting her every step of the way, but I hadn't been able to any longer.

I was only a man.

This wasn't like me. I had spent years hardening myself, turning my grief into a shield against further emotional turmoil. I had always been focused on power, on business, and on strengthening the hold of my bratva family across the globe.

Never on a woman.

Riley whimpered in her sleep and my arms tightened around her, wanting to protect her and chase all her nightmares away.

I watched her a moment longer, memorizing the peaceful expression on her face.

Just then, my phone buzzed softly on the nightstand. Carefully, I disentangled myself from Riley, each movement measured to ensure she remained undisturbed. As I lifted the phone, the screen lit up with Sergei's name.

Stepping quietly out of the bedroom, I closed the door behind me with a soft click. I answered the call as I moved down the hallway toward my own room.

"Maxim, we need to meet." Sergei's voice came through, tense and urgent.

"What's happened?" I asked, my voice low.

"It's better discussed in person. Can you come to the bar?"

"I'll be there shortly," I replied. After hanging up, I quickly dressed in a tailored black suit, all while mentally preparing myself for whatever this family meeting might entail.

I couldn't leave without seeing her one more time.

Quietly, I opened the door just enough to slip inside. On the pillow beside where she lay, I placed a single rose and a note. With one last look at her, still sleeping soundly, I left the room, gently closing the door behind me.

I couldn't wait to return to her, and I hadn't even left.

When my car pulled up to the Iron Wolf Tavern, my brothers were already there waiting as I walked through the front door into the darkened interior. It was still the early morning hours, so the place was quiet, and we had it all to ourselves.

Sergei was sitting at the bar next to my brother Ivan. Aleksei and Nikolai were camped out near them at a round table in the center of the room.

My gaze drifted across each one of them before Sergei cleared his throat, the first to break the silence.

"The Orlovs made contact again. They're not just threatening us now; they've declared a blood feud over Gregor's death. Mikhail Orlov wants reparation," he said, his voice low but laced with a palpable anger.

"You have to be kidding me," I growled.

"They want Riley," he continued. "They blame her for Gregor's death. They're calling for her blood."

I clenched my fists by my sides, the thought of them touching her making me see red.

I didn't say a word at first. Instead, I just sat down at my own table looking back at the four of them. Nikolai stood up and grabbed a bottle of vodka from behind the bar and five glasses. The silence stretched between us as he poured us all a drink.

"Here, we do our best thinking with the taste of good Russian vodka on our tongues," Nikolai offered and the rest of us nodded in agreement.

"I won't allow it," I said, my voice hoarse with my possessiveness over the girl.

"We won't let that happen, Maxim. It goes against everything we stand for. We protect the innocent, especially those under our care," Ivan assured, leaning forward in his chair.

Nikolai nodded thoughtfully, his usually calm demeanor hardening. "What are our options? We need to be ready for anything they throw at us."

"Why don't we strike first? Show them that no one threatens our family or those under our protection," Aleksei spat as he slammed his fist on the table. My youngest brother was often the most volatile, and the first to choose violence when the option was on the table.

Honestly, when it came to Riley, I was in full agreement, but I would need to be smart.

For her.

I raised my hand, signaling him to temper his aggression, at least for now. He glared at me, but nodded once with understanding and sat back.

"We need to be smart, Aleksei. This isn't just about retaliation; it's about ensuring Riley's safety and preventing an all-out war. We strike thoughtfully, not rashly," I explained.

Sergei looked at each of us in turn. "Maxim's right. We need a plan that safeguards Riley and deters the Orlovs from pursuing this further. Perhaps a demonstration of our own strength, a reminder that the cost of pursuing war with our family would be too great for them."

Ivan adjusted his glasses, thinking it over. "We could bolster our defenses, make it clear that taking Riley is more trouble than it's worth. Simultaneously, we can reach out to our allies, including the Murphys, show a united front that even Mikhail Orlov would hesitate to challenge."

"We could move Riley out of town, somewhere remote and secure until this blows over," Sergei suggested thoughtfully.

I felt a spike of annoyance at the thought, the idea of sending her away grating against every possessive instinct in me.

"No," I snapped, far more harshly than I intended. "Moving her away is a temporary solution. It doesn't address the root of the problem. We're just delaying the inevitable."

"We could also consider negotiating with the Orlovs directly, perhaps offer them something else in exchange for dropping their claim," Ivan chimed in.

I shook my head, dismissing the idea as quickly as it was proposed. "We don't negotiate with threats, and we certainly don't trade lives. It's out of the question."

"What about showing that Riley is under the protection of the Morozov family publicly? It would make it harder for the Orlovs to make a move without repercussions," Aleksei said as he leaned forward, his eyes narrowed in thought.

"It's not enough," I countered, feeling my frustration build.

The room grew quiet as the suggested options began to dwindle.

Finally, an idea came to mind that was more tempting than any other.

"There is one sure way to protect her completely from the Orlovs," I proposed.

All eyes turned to me, waiting.

"I could marry her."

The suggestion hung in the air, thick with implications. Sergei was the first to respond, his tone cautious. "Maxim, are you sure? Marriage is… a big step."

I met his gaze steadily. "I know what it entails. But consider this—married to me, Riley would be untouchable. The Orlovs would think twice before coming after the wife of Maxim Morozov. It solidifies her protection and sends a clear message to anyone who dares challenge us."

Nikolai nodded slowly, seeing the logic in my words. "It's a bold move, but it might just work. It would certainly secure her safety."

Marrying Riley would not just be a shield against the Orlovs; it would bind her to me in ways I found myself increasingly eager to explore.

She would be mine. Officially. Forever.

"Yes," I affirmed, more certain than ever. "It's the best way to keep her safe."

I'd say it was up to her too, but I would be lying.

She belonged to Daddy now.

As my bride.