Page 80 of Maxim

He starts to pace before turning back toward me.

“You came out of nowhere and waltzed in, no questions asked. Jan embraced you with open fucking arms and gave you a job. You made it right to the end, like that.” He snaps his fingers.

I’m surprised by his words. His jealousy runs deeper than just Olena. Interesting.

“And here I thought you didn’t like me because I have what you want.” I smirk.

“She’s not yours. She’s mine. Always has been, always will be,” he spits out at me.

“Really? Because last I checked, I was the one in bed with her last night,” I say casually.

The words taste like ash on my tongue, but they have to be said.

“You might be her first, but when you slip up and I’m forced to kill you, she will be mine once again.” The vehemence in his tone would scare a lesser man.

“Is that a threat, Szymon?” I joke.

“It’s a goddamn promise.”

“Well then, may the best man win.” I nod toward the van. “You should get on the road. They will be waking up soon.”

“You didn’t dose them to knock them out until morning?”

I scoff. “Of course not. I didn’t want to risk killing them.”

Szymon grumbles under his breath as he marches to the driver’s seat. I stand my ground until he’s out of sight.

Yeah, that motherfucker ensured his death tonight, that’s for damn sure.

I’m pacing the house as the clock ticks. It’s four in the morning, and Maxim still isn’t home. He told me not to wait up, but I couldn’t help it.

I wish Thea were here with me. I understand why she’s not, though. It’s the middle of the night. She’s likely at home sleeping with her man.

I wish I was sleeping with mine.

When did I start thinking of him as mine? I guess around the same time as when he kissed me for the very first time. He admitted afterward that someone was watching us and that was why he was so rough, but I liked it. More than I think I should have.

Still, it’s four in the morning, and he’s not here with me. I’m starting to worry.

I have no idea what to do if he doesn’t come home. What if my father found out he is a double agent? He would kill him without a second thought. Would he even send someone to get me if that were the case? Maybe someone to kill me?

If not, Szymon would come collect me for sure. He’d use it as his excuse to finally claim me as his own.

I’m not his, though. I’d rather die than be taken by them.

“Come on, Maxim. Where are you?” I whisper to myself.

Another fifteen minutes passes before I finally see headlights. I’m scared to death that it won’t be him. That something went wrong and it will be someone here to hurt me.

When I hear the key in the door, I relax a little bit. None of my father’s goons would think to grab keys off of Maxim if they killed him. They would use brute force to get inside this house.

When the door opens and Maxim steps through, I feel like I can take my first real breath all night.

“You’re home,” I say quietly.

He spins, hand clutching his gun on his hip. “Fuck, ???????. You scared the life out of me.” He removes his hand, finishing putting the code in before he kicks his shoes off at the door.

“Sorry,” I mumble.