Page 163 of Wicked Proposal

Even Kazimir stops smiling.

I look around the table. “Any other thoughts?”

No one speaks.

No one dares.

I nod once, then turn to Maksim. “We’re done here.”

He moves without a word, falling in beside me as I stride out of the lounge. On the table, where I sat moments before, my cards rest uncovered.

Ace of spades, ace of hearts.

I don’t stop to collect the pot, though. I just force my feet to move before my itching hand can reach for my gun and leave me onevorshort.

The door swings shut behind us, silence falling in our wake.

“Was that wise?” Maks asks once we’re out of earshot, on our way back to the car. “Making an enemy of your oldestvor?”

“He’s the one who made an enemy of me.”

“No. He was crass and rude, but he wasn’t lying.” Maksim steps between me and the car door. “I’m serious, man. You’ve made your decision. Either change your mind, or learn to live with it.”

I don’t answer him.

I can’t.

Because I know, as I fold into the Maybach and slam the door hard enough to crack it, that he’s fucking right.

50

MIA

I bite back tears the whole rest of my shift.

Despite my suspension, I knew I couldn’t just leave Gwen to scramble for a last-minute replacement. That’s what Adams never thinks about: that we are actuallyneededhere. Might as well be the tagline for nurses everywhere.

First in line for the grunt work. Dead last for credit.

I’ve never cared about any of that—just seeing patients get better has always been enough for me.

But it makes rage coil tight in my gut that he thinks we’rethisdisposable. That he can just put my head on the chopping block and the ER won’t suffer for it.

By the time I’ve hung up my scrubs, I’ve turned my rage into purpose.

One month, unpaid. Before Yulian’s advance, it would have been unthinkable. I would have had to take out another loan just to survive, and what bank in its right mind would have given it to me?

But now, I can breathe a little easier. Sure, the anxiety of five years of food insecurity won’t disappear overnight, but at least I know I’ll survive. ThatEliwill survive. My boy will lack for nothing.

In the car, my hands tremble around my phone. I’ve wanted to text him all day, but haven’t had a single break.

Now, I’m hesitating.

What’s he gonna think?Worry crowds my mind, mixing with the anxiety I was already nursing. I don’t want to be the girl who only texts or calls when she’s in trouble. I’ve never needed a knight in shining armor to bail me out of my messes before.

But with Yulian…

With Yulian, it’s different. It isn’t about need—Iwantto call him. To share how my day went, the good parts and the shitty parts. Tell him he can stop sending Tamara over and invitehimover instead.