Page 29 of The Bratva's Christmas Bump

It glows brighter and brighter until, suddenly, I open my eyes to sunlight streaming in through the slatted blinds. They paint stripes over the walls and the ajar door of the closet where Maxim stands a good distance away. I immediately clutch at the blanket as my mind catches up and the events of the previous days hit me like a brick.

“What?” I croak, fighting the allure to return to sleep.

“As much as I’d love to give you more rest,” Maxim says, “I need you to get up. It’s time to leave.”

“Leave?” Rubbing one eye, I prop myself up on my other arm. “What do you mean, leave?”

“I’m taking you to a new apartment.”

“What for?”

“To keep you safe. Now get dressed.”

11

MAXIM

“Has something happened?” Hollie stares at me groggily, fighting a yawn as she shifts beneath the covers. The bruise on her face has darkened a shade or two, and her hair sits atop her head like some kind of bird’s nest, but she looks oddly adorable.

“My father has free access here, which means I can’t leave you alone. I’d like to give you at least some freedom.”

My comment appears to wake her up immediately, and her face relaxes into surprise as I exit the bedroom. I spent all night searching for a new apartment that would have everything I need, including the top-tier security I’ve come to love, just without the free access my father has. Until he faces me about what he did, I’m not leaving Hollie alone until I’m absolutely sure she will be safe.

Theoretically, that will come naturally as news spreads about my marriage. Once more and more people learn that she’s my wife, she will become just as protected as she is threatened. A risk I have to take.

She joins me in the kitchen twenty minutes later dressed in the fresh clothes I had Toto bring from a local boutique. Unsure of her style, he kept it simple with flared jeans and a T-shirt to keep her comfortable. Her hair is tamed and neat around her face, her smile is small, and she’s much more alert.

“Let me?” I approach her, and a frown creases her brows, then she nods despite the uncertainty in her eyes. Catching her chin, I lightly turn her face and inspect the bruising on her face. “Does it hurt?”

“Only when I talk.”

“Is it bad?”

“Nah.”

“And your ankle?”

She shifts back and forth slightly and the corners of her mouth lift. “Much better.”

“Good. Hungry?”

“No, thank you.”

“You should eat in the morning.”

“I’m fine.”

Releasing her chin, I step back to give Hollie her space and grab my phone from the kitchen counter. “It won’t be a long drive.”

“You’re moving because of me?” There’s a note of suspicion in her voice and my heart skips faintly.

I want to know her thoughts, what stories her fears might have concocted within her mind so I can soothe them. Building trustwith her is going to be a challenge, and if she’s completely unwilling, I face a tough choice. Keeping her locked up forever will become my only option if we can’t find some middle ground.

“Well,” I say as we walk toward the elevator, “I’m a busy man and ideally, I’d like you to be able to return to your life. Having a place to keep you safe only works if I can control who has access, and after last night?” My fingers linger on the call button. “I don’t want my father having access to you at all.”

Her head tilts, sending her hair cascading over one shoulder. Both her hands come together at her abdomen as she watches me. “But he’s your dad. Isn’t… I mean, is that going to be weird for you? I understand you don’t want me to talk, but changing all of this just to keep me away from him…”

“Don’t worry.” The doors close with a soft hiss. “I had my issues with him long before you came along.”