Page 169 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

“Grace, I can’t let you go. Now get out.”

Sergei opens the driver’s door, and I follow Maxim’s instructions.

Hopefully, Sophie isn’t far. I glare at Sergei as I get out. I can’t believe he’s holding a gun in my face again.

Maxim moves into the driver’s seat, and Sergei pushes me around to the passenger’s side.

“Get in.”

“No, please, no. Just let me go home.”

He ignores me.

Maxim starts the sports car, and the engine’s rumble vibrates through my body. I have no choice. I get into the car.

“Put your seatbelt on,” Sergei tells me.

With a huff, I do as I’m told.

“Meet you back at the villa,” Maxim says to Sergei as he zooms out of the gas station parking lot.

I fold my arms across my chest and contemplate my chances of surviving a jump from a car going this fast, but all my calculations lead back to not surviving.

After what feels like forever, Maxim finally speaks. “I’m sorry.”

This gets my attention.

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about my sister.”

I go back to looking out the window ignoring him. I don’t care that he’s sorry.

“I deserve your silent treatment, Grace. I should have trusted you, and I didn’t. It’s hard for a man like me to trust. The only person I can trust in my life is Sergei. Everyone else in my world will put a bullet in my chest.”

I want to put a bullet in his chest right in this moment.

He doesn’t say anything more for a while, letting me wallow. “Did you really call your family?”

“Yes.”

His hand slams against the steering wheel, bumping the horn, which blasts through the quiet making me jump.

“I’m sorry that I stole you away again.” He looks over at me, but his eyes are too intense.

I turn back to the window and stare out at the scenery.

“I’ll return you to your family. I promise you that, Grace. I just … I just need you for a little longer.”

Ignoring him, I don’t want to hear it because I don’t believe him. He’s just as bad as Dmitri, he may not force himself on me, but he’s still not letting me go. I’m still a toll to be bargained with. He doesn’t see me as a human.

Maxim gives up talking to me for the rest of the way until we eventually make it back to the villa. I hate how some portion ofmy heart is happy to see the villa again, and the other side wishes I never saw this place again.

I step out of the car, slam the door for full affect, and stomp across the crushed rocks of the driveway. I march through the front door and across the marble floors, then up the grand staircase. Once at the top, I slam my bedroom door for good measure, rattling the hinges. Collapsing onto my bed, I scream in frustration at how close I came to escaping. How Sophie must be feeling finding me not there anymore. She’s probably wondering if she was too late. Did Dmitri find me? I should feel lucky that it was Maxim that found me and not Dmitri.

Either way, I’m back in a world that I don’t want to be.

17

MAXIM