Page 19 of Maxim (The Syndicates #12)

G roaning, I sit up straight. Tiny pinpricks shoot through my back as I change positions. I’ve sat on the floor coloring with Daryna too many times for hours on end for an hour to bother me this much.

I’m too young to feel this damn old.

“You good?” Thea asks with laughter in her voice.

“I’m fine,” I tell her as I stretch my back out.

I don’t know why, but when we decided to do our little craft today, we did it at the coffee table instead of the dining room table or the kitchen island. I’ve been hunched over for the last hour, and my back is finally protesting loud enough that I can’t ignore it any longer.

“So what do you think of diamond art?” she asks as she sets down the little tool that picks up the gems.

This is the second day of working on our pictures, and the end is in sight.

“You asked me that the other day too.”

“Yeah, and we both know you lied when you said you enjoyed it,” she teases.

“It’s okay.” I shrug.

She scoffs. “That’s a ringing endorsement. Tell me how you really feel.”

“I don’t think it’s for me. Not long term at least.”

Thea nods. “Okay, cool. What would you like to try next?”

“I don’t know.” I cringe.

“Come on. There has to be something you’ve always wanted to try that we can do.”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I shake my head. “Really, there isn’t. Having hobbies wasn’t exactly acceptable according to my father.”

“Your father is a fucking tool,” she growls, making me smile.

“I’m starting to see that. All I know is that I’m not used to sitting around without anything to do.”

“Okay, so we need to find something else.” She grabs her phone and starts typing. “I’m going to list off a bunch of things, and you tell me if they sound interesting to you, okay?”

“Okay,” I say as I lean my back against the couch.

“Rock painting.”

My nose scrunches. “People paint rocks?”

“Apparently. I won’t lie, I like you, but I don’t think I like you enough to paint rocks.”

“Noted,” I say as I laugh softly.

“Knitting? Crocheting?”

“What’s the difference?”

“One stick or two? Hell if I know.” She shrugs.

“How about we skip that one for now?”

“Sounds like a plan. What about punch needling?”

“What’s that?”

“You apparently jab a piece of yarn through a fabric and create a design.”

“Maybe?”

“Candle making?” She makes a face. “Actually, as cool as that one sounds, we should probably avoid hot wax. Here’s an at-home pottery kit, how does that sound?”

I shrug. “Whatever you think sounds fun, I’ll try.”

“Yeah, but will you enjoy it?”

“I won’t know until I try.”

“True. I’ll think about it and come up with something.”

I can’t help but smile at how sweet she is. When you look at her, she looks like the kind of woman who would kill a man, no questions asked, but I have a sneaking suspicion she’s like a marshmallow.

Then again, despite the fact that I hang out with her all the time, I really don’t know her.

“Are you okay?” she asks, focusing on me.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot. I’ll answer if I can.”

“Can you tell me about your life? I never had the opportunity to have a normal life, and from what you have said before, I feel like you did.”

She leans back on her hands and crosses her ankles as she lounges on the floor. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“How old are you? Have you always lived here?”

“Twenty-four. I was actually born in Indiana, but my parents moved out here for work when I was in high school. My dad got a promotion right after graduation. When they left, I stayed behind.”

“Do they know what you went through?”

“God no,” she says, shaking her head. “My parents would have lost their minds and demanded I come home.”

“Would that have been a bad thing?”

She tilts her head side to side. “Yes and no. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and I know they love me. They are disgustingly supportive, but I know if they even sensed trouble, they would have me on the first flight to wherever they are so they could take care of it.”

“I can’t imagine what that’s like,” I say softly.

Sympathy fills her eyes. “It’s pretty great, honestly.”

“But you decided to stay with Alexei?”

At the mention of his name, her face transforms. “Yeah, I did.”

“Are you two, like, together?”

“Alexei and I are hard to explain,” she says after a beat. “We care about each other, though.”

“That’s good.”

“It is, and I kind of love the people he’s introduced me to.”

“Oh?” I lean forward and rest my chin in my palm.

“Yeah, like Lia and Ivanna. I don’t know them well, but they are nice.”

“Who are they?”

“Friends of Maxim.”

I don’t know why, but just hearing that he’s friends with women who aren’t me makes me feel…jealous? That’s silly, right? Obviously the man had a life before me, and he will once I’m gone.

“Maxim is obviously closer to the girls’ men since they work together, but he’s known them all a long time by now. Especially Ivanna, since he works for her brother.”

“Oh.” I duck my head as my cheeks heat.

I’m an idiot. Maxim has made it perfectly clear that he’s not interested in me like that and that we have no claim over one another. Yet, instinctively I got bent out of shape at the mention of another woman’s name.

He’s your friend, not your lover, Olena. It’s best to remember that.

At least, I think he’s my friend. I can’t call him my captor anymore. I’m here willingly.

It doesn’t always feel that way, though. Especially when he lets me lay on him as we watch TV.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yes, sorry. Go on. Tell me more about your life before.”

“Well, there was school, friends, boys. The normal stuff.”

“The normal stuff sounds like everything I’ve ever wanted.”

She gives me a sad smile. “I bet. Let me tell you what you missed.”

As she talks all about her childhood and teenage years, I try to imagine myself in her position. I can’t though.

As lovely as it sounds, I wouldn’t change my life. Not if it meant Daryna and Alek weren’t in it.

“Good. This is good,” Jan says.

“I agree. I won’t lie, Maxim, I was slightly hesitant when Jan said he wanted to bring you on, but you’ve proved yourself with this report alone. I don’t know if we ever would have realized that the Baron was destitute,” Szymon admits reluctantly.

He isn’t happy with me being around, but I wonder if that has more to do with the fact that I own Olena rather than my position here. He mentions her when it’s just the two of us as if he is trying to get information. I can see the obsession she mentioned.

I tip my head toward him. “Thank you. In my line of work, I’ve realized that most only do surface-level checks and don’t dig deeper.”

“Can’t have those checks bouncing now, can we?” Jan jokes.

I laugh along with them, playing the part even though it feels like I’m dying inside.

What I wouldn’t do to lean over the desk and stab Olena’s father in the jugular with the letter opener that’s on his desk.

Who even uses a letter opener nowadays? For fuck’s sake, it took me a little longer than I would care to admit to realize what it was when I first saw it.

“Does anyone need anything before we move on?” Jan asks.

“I could go for a drink,” Szymon mumbles.

“If it’s all right, I need to use your restroom,” I say.

“Yes, yes, of course. Down the hall, third door on the right,” Jan says as he waves toward the door.

I stand up and head for the door. I make eye contact with Szymon as I walk past.

Motherfucker is the third on my hit list with the way he lusts over Olena. The only two people above him being Jan and whoever this mysterious business partner is.

He’s in the room again today, but still no introduction. He doesn’t even say anything. He sits there and observes. It’s fucking creepy. I’m not surprised, though. If you are going to sell people, you have to be pretty creepy.

Leaving the room, I make my way down the hall and go to the restroom.

After washing my hands, I pull out my phone and open the security app.

I’m thankful for my privacy screen as I tilt my phone so the cameras cannot catch anything.

Soon an image of Olena and Thea fills the screen.

They are sitting on the floor talking. I can’t help but laugh under my breath as I study them.

They have the place to themselves with plenty of seating, yet they choose to sit on the floor.

Women are weird.

I swipe out of the app and take the extra step and close out of it completely before I put my phone back in my pocket.

Opening the door, I look both ways. As I start down the hall, I hear a noise.

I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.

Turning around, I walk quietly down the hall and peek into the room next to the bathroom.

Daryna is sitting on the floor with a doll in her lap.

Something about her pulls at my fucking heartstrings. She looks so lonely and bored.

I check the hall again before I step inside. As soon as I do, she tenses and looks my way.

“You’re Daryna, right?”

She bobs her head. “You’re the man who has my sister.”

“I am.”

Her bottom lip trembles. “Are you here to take me too?” she asks softly.

I want to scoop her into my arms and run, but I know I can’t. No matter how desperately I want to.

Time. I need more time. Too much is on the line to risk it all for a little girl with blue eyes like her sister.

“No, not today at least. Are you okay?” I ask as I crouch close to her, but not close enough to make her uncomfortable.

“I miss Olena and Alek. I have no one to play with,” she whispers as she clutches her doll to her chest.

“Where is Alek?” I ask carefully.

“Father sent him to work.”

Goddammit. There’s no telling what he has Alek doing.

“I see. Well, hopefully he will be home soon to play with you.”

She bobs her head as she looks at me through her eyelashes. “Will you see my sister?”

“I will when I leave here.”

“Will you tell her something? Please?” she tacks on like an afterthought.

“Of course. What do you want her to know?”

“That I miss her and I wish I could give her a hug.”

An idea comes to mind instantly. I know it’s a bad idea, but I can’t stop myself from offering.

“I have an idea. What if you hug me, and then as soon as I leave here, I give her a hug? That way it’s like you’re hugging her.”

Daryna perks up. “You’d do that?”

“Sure, but only if it’s okay with you.”

She drops her doll to the floor and rushes into my arms. I have to stop myself from toppling backward.

“Oof,” I grunt, making her giggle.

Instinctively, I squeeze her tight. As stupid as it is, I need this hug to stick with her until she’s in her sister’s arms once again.

When she pulls back, she ducks her head and blushes.

Despite the fact they are half sisters, she’s Olena’s mini-me. There’s no doubt about it.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon, okay. Be good,” I tell her as I stand.

She bobs her head and picks up the doll before walking across the room. I watch as she sets herself up with a coloring book.

Perfect.

Quietly, I leave the room and head back down the hall. Once I start to approach the office, though, I slow down. The door is basically shut and only partially cracked open.

I lean against the wall right outside but out of view thanks to the ridiculous gargoyle statue he has placed right outside his office doors.

“We need to strike,” the man who has never said a word hisses.

“We can’t. Not yet,” Jan tells him.

“If we don’t do something, we won’t have enough bodies for the auction.”

“You’re worrying too much. We will have the bodies. Are they causing us problems? Yes, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“Chicago needs to be dealt with.” The man says.

“I agree, but not yet. We don’t even know which syndicate it is. We need more intel.”

“I’ve told you, the Yakuza and the Westies are working together.”

Jan scoffs. “Opposing families don’t join forces.”

“They do when they are connected by marriage. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if other families are involved with them,” he snipes back.

“Now you’re being ridiculous.” Jan snorts.

“Then how else do they know our schedules?” The voice challenges.

“That’s a problem for another day. I’m telling you to stop worrying. They will be dealt with accordingly. I have a plan,” Jan says.

“Then tell me the plan,” the mysterious man demands.

Jan tsks. “You know I’ll do no such thing. You’ll find out when everyone else does. Now let’s change the subject before Boyko comes back.”

Shit.

They know.

I mean, logically, we knew that they knew, but we didn’t know they knew it was exactly us.

Fuck.

Tonight when I get home, I have to give Thea another note to inform the families to watch their backs. It’s easier than running to the video game café. Maybe I should head there instead, though.

No, I don’t want to leave Olena alone. A note will have to do.

It would be so much easier if I could just make the call and warn them myself, but I can’t. I’m only supposed to contact them if it is an emergency.

Quietly, I push off the wall and head back down the hall. Once I’m a little ways away, I step louder than I typically would, making my presence known.

I knock on the door, and instantly, Szymon swings it open as he glares at me.

“Am I interrupting anything?” I ask casually.

“No, of course not. Now let’s get back to business,” Jan greets me.

I can only hope the families are making more progress than these people are.