Page 54 of Maxim

“Never?” he says. “I swear your father needs to die.”

The thought causes me panic and relief all at the same time. My father has been my master for so long that the thought of him being gone scares me, but at the same time, knowing he would never be able to hurt me or my siblings again would be a blessing.

“Well, I know you like vampires. Do you want some romance? Action? Horror?”

I shake my head. “No horror. I’ve lived through enough of it.”

He gives me a sympathetic look. “How about a comedy? I have heard this show is funny.”

“Sure.”

He starts it and settles in. I sit stiffly next to him as the opening scene comes on. Everything is moving fast as a mother calls out to her children. Within the first several minutes, we are both laughing.

When the AC kicks on, I shiver. Maxim rises and grabs a blanket before bringing it over to me.

“Thank you.”

He nods, going back to watching the show. So I do too.

We are six episodes in when his phone rings. I can feel him tense next to me.

He answers it. “Yes.”

I can’t hear the other person, but from the way Maxim is now sitting, I know it isn’t good.

“I’ll be there.” He hangs up the phone before hanging his head.

“What’s wrong?”

He sighs. “Your father has an answer for me. It all rides on this.”

I lean forward, wrapping my arm around him as I hug him from the side. “You’ve got this,” I whisper to him.

He has to. We are depending on him.

He turns, wrapping his arms around me, hugging me back. “Everything will be okay.”

I savor his hug. I’ve only ever hugged my siblings before, but hugging Maxim is becoming an addiction. It’s different. He’s giving me comfort as much as I’m giving him. It’s intoxicating.

All too soon he pulls away.

“I better go. I’ll call Thea to come sit with you.”

I don’t argue with him. I only nod as I watch him go.

Once he’s gone, I’m alone for the first time in days, and all I want is for him to come back. What he is doing is important, though.

I only hope it ends soon for both of our sakes.

I’m not surprised that Jan waited until the last minute to give me my answer. He’s a man used to being in power. He would never want to give in too quickly.

He thinks he has had me sitting at home worrying about what he might say. He would be wrong, though. No matter what he says, I will find a way to fulfill my promise to Olena and take him down.

I didn’t want to leave Olena. We were making strides in the right direction. She sat next to me instead of across the couch from me. She laughed, and it sounded like the angels were singing.

Hell, she hugged me again. I would rather be there with her spending the day, but I can’t. I have a job to do.

The ride to Jan’s house isn’t a long one. I go through the same procedure as before, being vetted at the gate, then stripped of my weapons at the door.