Page 30 of Maxim (The Syndicates #12)

“Y ou’re so pretty. Always have been. You know I tried to buy you from your father when you were thirteen. You had developed nicely by then, and I knew I wanted you. He refused. Said he still had use for you. He promised I would have you one day. Then he sold you to that bastard. He lied to me.”

“My father has always been a liar. I don’t know why you are surprised,” I say, trying to keep him engaged in conversation as I back toward the window.

“He was supposed to be a leader, but he is a snake. He thinks he controls me, but I’ve gotten a pocket of men on my side.

We will take him down when the time is right.

Who knows, if that bastard who bought you does my dirty work for me, it will leave his spot open for me to slip right into. It’s genius, really.”

“I hope for that too. All I want is for my siblings to be safe,” I admit to him.

He walks toward me, cupping my cheek. “I know, my sweet Olena. I have done what I could to protect them for you. Your father would not let me step in for Alek, but he has for Daryna.”

I cringe at his touch, but he mistakes it for a shiver of pleasure. “Oh, Olena. I’ve missed you. Have you missed me?”

I nod, afraid if I open my mouth, I may puke on him. He’s disgusting. He said he put in an offer at thirteen. He was in his twenties then. He is a sick, disgusting man. I don’t want him anywhere near my sister.

Szymon must die tonight.

“I knew you would. You always acted indifferent toward me, but it was your father. He is a cruel man. He won’t be a problem much longer. I promise.”

He is delusional. He really believes we are in some sort of relationship.

“You’ve kept your innocence for me, haven’t you?” he asks, his hand falling to my leg, forcing its way between my thighs.

“Of course,” I lie.

I don’t want to know what he will do if he finds out that I willingly gave my virginity to Maxim. That I have no regrets and would rather die before letting him touch me in that way.

“That’s my good girl. I would take you now, but we need to get out of here before your father comes to find us.”

As if he spoke him into existence, I hear my father yell out, “Szymon, bring my daughter to my office.”

It’s a simple demand. One that he expects to be followed, but it only angers Szymon.

“He thinks I’m his lapdog, but no more. He doesn’t realize I put this all into motion.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, my heart racing as his eyes become wilder.

“I know who Maxim is, Olena. He works for the Bratva and all the others who are trying to take your father down. How do you think he made it past your father’s checks?

He had me do them. I know he goes to the video game café to talk to his people.

I haven’t said a word because it has benefited me.

They will come wipe your father off the map, then we will rule the organization.

I won’t hurt you like he has. You will help me with the auctions.

Be the one preparing them for the stage. You are so good at it.”

I want to say no. I want to scream, but I don’t.

“So are you going to go down there and tell him you’re done with him?” I ask.

“No. We are going to leave.”

I nod. “Can we stop by my room? I want to grab the flower you pressed for me all those years ago.”

The lie is ash on my tongue. He did press me a flower, but I tossed it the moment I could. It creeped me out. He doesn’t need to know that, though.

“You kept it?” he asks.

“Of course I did. It meant the world to me. My first flower.”

He gives me a silly smile. “Okay. We have to be quick, though.”

He goes to the door, looking out. Once he is sure it is clear, he leads me down to my room. He closes us inside as I start shuffling through my drawers.

“You don’t know where it is?” he asks.

I panic for a moment before turning to him. “It was in my top drawer, but my sister plays in here. She must have moved it. Let me look for a moment, and if I can’t find it, we can go.”

He buys the lie, nodding before going toward the window.

I go back to my search, smiling when I find what I’m looking for. It’s nothing special. A pen along with a journal I used to keep. It’s so old the pen likely doesn’t work, but I don’t need it to.

Opening it, I walk over to Szymon. “I can’t find it,” I pretend to pout, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“It’s okay. I’ll get you more. All the flowers you want. We need to go.”

I pretend to cuddle into his chest more, making him hold me tighter. Then I take the pen and jam it into his neck. Pulling it out, I do it again.

He gasps, pushing me away. I rush him, continuing to jam it into him over and over until he stops moving.

I’m covered in blood as I look down at his body. My nerves are frayed. I feel like I might lose myself any moment.

For a moment, I’m back in that bathroom with the gashes in my arms as my blood flows freely. I can feel the life fading from me.

A gunshot from outside shakes me from the memory.

This isn’t my blood. I’m not dying.

Taking a deep breath, I center myself. Then I grab the gun from Szymon’s waist before I head down to my father’s office.

I have no doubt hearing him up here that he has captured Maxim.

He might have even killed him already. I can only hope that he is alive and the children are too.

I can’t focus on the worst-case scenario. All I can do is save them.

I can hear his voice through the heavy wood door. How many times did I sit here and eavesdrop on his meetings?

Not anymore.

Szymon is gone. My father will be too.

I have no idea how to use a gun, but it can’t be that hard. Just point and shoot, right?

Opening the door, I step inside. Father is facing away from me as Maxim is on his knees, two men behind him.

“Finally, where have you been?” Father asks as he turns.

He freezes when he finds me with a gun raised, pointed at his head.

“Hello, Father.”

When the door opens, I think my men have made it, but I’m surprised to find Olena covered in blood, a gun in her hand.

My heart lurches in my chest as I catalog her body for injuries. I have no idea where the blood is coming from. My worry for her skyrockets.

“Hello, Father.”

Jan scoffs. “Where is Szymon?”

Olena shrugs, “Busy. Let Maxim go.”

“Oh, she pleads for your life. You hear that?” He turns and points at me with a gun. “Put it down, Olena, or he dies.”

“Then kill him. Where are Daryna and Alek.”

Jan chuckles. “Oh my god. You are a broken fucking record. Why do you even care about those brats? Alek is a piss-poor excuse of an heir. I’m working on securing another one, but until then, he will have to do.

Daryna, on the other hand, has that tan skin like her mother did.

She is going to fetch me a good price at market. Better than you, even.”

“You are disgusting. You let Szymon escort me to appointments and monitor me knowing he wanted me since I was thirteen. You sold me to the highest bidder. Who the fuck does that to their child?” Olena yells, her arms shaking.

I need to make a move quickly. She isn’t going to shoot him. At least not dead. Maybe injure him.

I size up the two men behind me as she continues to speak with her father.

“Oh, this is great. Szymon told you that? Did he tell you that after I sold you, he asked to purchase Daryna? Said he didn’t want to miss out a second time. Fucker is a pedophile. It’s why he fit so perfectly into this place. He was too obsessed with you to be a true second, though.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. He sold you out. He told the Bratva all about your dealings. From what I understand, they are taking down your businesses right now.”

Jan hesitates. “You’re lying.”

She shrugs. “That’s what he told me at least. You better run and take care of that. Leave the kids.”

He shakes his head. “You aren’t going to shoot me, Olena.”

He steps forward. I can see the resolve melting in front of me. She is losing all the bravado she had coming into this room. Her body is conditioned to obey her father’s commands. She has spent so long conceding to him that she will fail.

As soon as he is within striking distance, he has his hand on her neck, pinning her to the wall.

That’s when I make my move. One strike to the man’s Adam’s apple has guard one down.

The second one tries to reach for his gun, but I pulled his ankle knife out before I made my move.

It now resides between his ribs and in his heart.

He crumbles to the ground as the other man tries to breathe. Taking a gun from the choking one, I flip the safety off and hold it to the back of Jan’s head.

“She might not kill you, but I will.”

He squeezes her harder. Her face is turning red.

“If you shoot me, you risk hitting her.

“She’s nothing but a toy, remember,” I lie.

He laughs.

“Yeah, right. You won’t kill me. You need me to unravel my organization. You are with the Bratva are you not?” he asks.

“I already know what your partner looks like. You were dumb enough to bring him to that meeting.”

“Or did I use a decoy to throw you off?”

I never considered that, but I guess I should have. Why would he have the man show up to a meeting with some small-time collector? Olena had me so distracted that I lost sight of what I was doing. I wouldn’t take a minute of it back, but we may never know who the benefactor is.

“I’ll find out now, won’t I? You won’t be here to know, though. Not if you don’t let her go.”

Olena’s face is starting to change colors, making me scared for her. My mission is to find the head of the snake, but I can’t wait any longer.

Without another word, I move the gun to his neck, pointing it up as I fire. Jan falls to the ground, Olena falling right along with him.

Quickly, I grab her, holding her to me. She is gasping for air.

“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” I ask, kissing her face.

“I’m fine. We need to go,” she says hoarsely.

“Where is Szymon?” I ask her carefully.

“He’s dead. We need to find Dayna and Alek,” she rasps.

I want to push, but now is not the time. The only thing that matters is that he won’t be in our way as we make our way out of here.

“They are in the woods. Let’s go get them.”

Helping her stand, I turn and shoot the remaining living guard. Then I grab all of their phones.

Leading Olena through the house, I’m surprised it’s so silent. Then I step outside and see them. Olena freezes, but I smile.

“Maxim.” One of the men bows his head slightly at me.

“Abram, good to see you. The children?” I ask.

“In the woods. The boy wouldn’t leave without Olena.”

I nod. “I figured. Thank you.”

“All threats have been neutralized. The boss is sending a convoy to come get you.”

“Come get me when it arrives. I need to get my girl to the kids.”

“We’ve got this. Go.”

Heading out into the woods, Olena stays by my side. That is until she hears the small voice call out.

“Olena?”

I smile as Olena runs for Daryna. They embrace as Alek moves toward them, standing guard. Olena is having none of it, though. She pulls him into her arms, hugging them both.

“We are safe now. He will never hurt us again,” she promises.

Alek looks over her shoulder at me. “Is he dead?”

Olena answers him. “You don’t need to worry about that anymore. We are safe.”

Alek doesn’t break eye contact, though, so I nod my head at him. It’s like the weight of the world is lifted off his shoulders as he melts into the hug.

As I watch them, I know I would do anything for them.

My family.