Page 114 of Wicked Proposal

Better let it cool down a bit.

“Separated from your princess?” Maksim smirks, appearing at my side with a glass of champagne.

“She wanted to see the prototypes.”

“More like Tikhon wanted her to see his tech babies. If you’re not careful, he’ll steal her away for the rest of the night.”

“I’m sure his husband will catch up at some point.”

Maksim barks out a laugh. “Dammit. I was hoping you didn’t know that.”

“Why? Wanted to make me jealous?”

“A bit.” He snatches a tart from a passing tray and shoves it in his mouth with zero grace. “Maybe then you’d have realized you care.”

Care.That word stabs me right in the gut. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Nah, I don’t think I am.” He grabs a few more tarts and shoves them into his jacket pocket. “Kalinda is convinced you’re either going to save her or break her heart. And I know for a fact you’re not here to play white knight, so that only leaves one option.”

“I didn’t ask for your girlfriend’s opinion.”

“Hah!” he laughs again, but this time, it comes out bitter. Sad, almost. “If only I was twenty years younger. Hell, even ten.”

It’s enough to make me listen. Enough to put my anger on hold. I’ve known my second long enough to realize when he isn’t joking around anymore, and right now, that sadness feels far too real for comfort.

“Kalinda didn’t seem to mind the age gap,” I remark, studying Maksim’s reaction closely.

If he’s distracted—if he can’t be objective about our plans anymore—then I have to know now.

“Ah, she was just embarrassed.” He waves my words off. “Even if she’s got a thing for silver foxes, that’s not the kind of thing that lasts. And I’m afraid I’m not like you, Mr. Playboy. One night isn’t enough to scratch off my itches.”

Me neither.

Not anymore.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in a pining mood.”

“What’s the use in pining for men like us?” he sighs. “Besides, Kalinda isn’t made for this life. Her soul is still pure. I’d hate to drag a good girl into a bad mess.”

The guilt stabs even harder now that Maksim isn’t trying to make me feel it.Good girl, bad mess—it’s Mia and me in a nutshell.

And I’m the one who dragged her in. I’m the one who isn’t going to let her out of it until I’ve reached my goals. The one who’s putting her in danger.

The one who doesn’t care if she gets hurt.

The wild, primal part of me howls at the thought. That part has long claimed her.

Mine,it snarls even now.Mine to use, mine to own, mine to keep.

Mine to protect.

I won’t let anything happen to her. Not because I care, but because I’m damn good at what I do. Mia is bait—that doesn’tmean she has to be there when my enemies bite. It doesn’t mean she has to be swallowed whole.

What kind ofpakhanwould I be if I couldn’t keep a single woman safe?

If I let my enemies take from me again?

When I snap out of my thoughts, Maksim is watching me. Closely, his eyes narrowed, like a hawk. “Whatever you’re thinking,” he says slowly, “remember the goal, Yulian. You can’t afford to split your focus. Either you’re willing to sacrifice everything, or you’ll end up with nothing.”