Page 44

Hailey

"You're not asleep?" Max says, opening the door to my bedroom. The TV plays quietly—my failed attempt at distraction from worrying about him. But seeing him now, without a single new wound, I realize my fears were pointless.

"I couldn't fall asleep. I was scared I'd wake up and find out you were dead."

I mute the TV as he sits beside me, removing his bullet-proof vest and other equipment from the morning. Running my hand through his sweat-soaked hair, I notice his beard. He looks like he's aged a decade since I left him. Tonight clearly took its toll, but being apart was torture for both of us.

"I feel awful." He peels off his t-shirt, revealing his body bruised from the fight with Sean. Long, purple welts cover his back and side where the nightstick struck him .

"Do you need a doctor?" I kiss his shoulder and wrap my arms around him.

"No." He sighs, squeezing my hands. "I feel awful for not doing this sooner—making sure he doesn't come after you again.

I should have driven to your father's after Kaiser tried to kidnap you, taken his money, and threatened him.

Instead, I stayed loyal to my family. Lying to them, saying you were just a hook-up.

" He buries his face in his hands. "I kept hoping the marriage arrangement would disappear.

I acted like it didn't exist, even though I was falling head-over-heels for you. I'm a fucking coward."

"Max, no you're—"

"I am!" He cuts me off. "I saw your house today.

It wasn't a home, wasn't a place to raise a child—it was a shrine to that fucking narcissistic asshole.

You had a childhood of brainwashing. Kept from the outside world.

No resources, no money, and despite all that, you got out.

You wanted a new life, so you made it happen.

" He pulls away and turns to face me. His bloodshot eyes glisten as he wipes away a tear.

"And I didn't even have the balls to tell my family I was falling for you.

That I couldn't go through with the arrangement.

My whole life, I've just gone along with things and trusted my family.

My brother was bred to be the leader and I, a loyal soldier.

Then when I put him in fucking jail for life.

.. I didn't know what to do. I shut down. I coasted. "

He cups my face with both hands, and I barely recognize him. His usually calm brown eyes now show only anxiety and anguish. A slight tremor runs through his arm as he holds me.

"And because of all that, you had to go through something horrible and I'm so sorry. I can't imagine my life without you. I think I wired enough money this morning to pay back our debts, but I'm willing to walk away from my life to be with you. If that's what it takes."

"Max..." I start, but I'm too overwhelmed to continue.

I never knew he felt this strongly, never realized how tortured he was about the marriage arrangement.

I fell so fast for him I started putting up walls, assuming he didn't feel the same because I'm so used to people not prioritizing me.

"You saved me. You're the only person who cared that I was rotting in that hole.

Please don't feel guilty. Most people would have found out about my past and run away scared.

You didn't. You sneaked into that base knowing you were risking your life to save me. "

"I'm not the only one that cared."

"What?"

"Your mom," he sniffs. "She was real worried about you and asked for our help to get her out of there."

"That doesn't make any sense," I trail off.

She was never one to show concern. If I was sad or hurt, she'd tell me to toughen up or brush aside my issues.

But it wasn't always like that. When I was little, she acted like a loving mother should.

Every year she grew colder and more detached—not just from me, but from my father too .

"She said your dad was controlling her. That she was afraid of him."

My head swims with this information. I was prepared to walk away from my family completely. I don't know if I can handle her in my life.

"One of Enzo's men is taking her somewhere safe. I didn't want to bring her to you because I know you didn't get along. I hope that's okay."

"It is. It's just too much to process right now."

"I know, baby."

He pulls me onto his lap. The heat of his skin warms my hands as I run them down his bruised chest. Our lips crash together.

Then he tenderly kisses down my neck, lifting my shirt over my head.

This is nothing like our night in the casino; every touch from Max is tender and gentle.

His index finger circles a bruise on my stomach.

It's large, and I don't even remember getting it.

Maybe one of the guards kicked me when I was too exhausted to notice.

I see the anger flash across Max's face, but I don't want it to ruin this moment.

"It doesn't hurt." I stroke his unshaved face.

"It still drives me insane seeing you injured."

"How do you think this makes me feel?" I gesture to his torso, covered in far more bruises and scars than mine.

"That's normal for me." He shrugs with a smug smile. "An occupational hazard."

I laugh for what feels like the first time in years .

"There's that beautiful smile." He continues stroking my face, tears suddenly forming in his eyes. "I thought I'd never see that again."

He kisses me again, soft and tender. He falls back onto the bed so he’s lying down, pulling me onto his chest. I wish I could slow down time in this moment.

But instead I fall in and out of sleep, still recovering from the deprivation.

For the few seconds I wake, I find him cuddling me, stroking my hair.

He can’t take his attention off of me. I can't believe I was so convinced he didn't care about me before—because of his lies. Now I see how wrong I was.