Page 127 of Wicked Refusal

“Maks.” My phone cracks in my grip. “It’s done. Get it ready.”

44

MIA

Yulian’s car slows to a stop in front of the courthouse. I’m trembling with nerves. My palms are all clammy, my tongue dry as sandpaper.

“Thanks,” I whisper. “For driving me.”

It’s not what I want to say. What I’m feeling is too messy to unravel with a simple sentence. I’m not just grateful he took the time to drive me in person—I’m grateful he’shere,with me.

Even if he can’t be inthere.

The judge is a tough cookie. If she so much as glimpsed him there, standing behind me, she’d interpret it as a threat. She wouldn’t take kindly to that.

So it’s just gonna have to be me, flying solo.

As if sensing my frazzled state of mind, he reaches for my hand. “If you’re not feeling up to this, Isaak can handle it, you know.”

“I know.” I squeeze back lightly. “But I want to do this. No—I need to do this.” My voice drops to a whisper. “For Eli.”

Yulian’s gaze has never been more intense. “If you want meto handle this?—”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ve got it.”

It’s a bold-faced lie. I absolutely don’t got it, not any of it. But if I ask Yulian for help, he’s going to give me the kind I can’t afford.

He’s going to take care of Brad for good.

We’ve been over this a hundred times. I don’t want Brad killed. I just want him out of our lives.

And if I win this case, he will be. So I’m just gonna have to win.

“Hey.” He tilts my chin up. “It’s going to be fine.”

I give him a wry smile. “How do you figure?”

“Because you’re an amazing mother. And the judge would have to be an idiot not to see that.”

That drags a laugh out of me. “Don’t let her hear you say that.”

We kiss briefly. It’s just a peck on the lips, nothing more, but it warms me from the inside. Enough to soothe another one of my worries.

For the past week, Yulian hasn’t been coming home at night. Not until it’s very, very late. This morning, I woke up to find him still dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at me. His expression was complicated.

I don’t think he’s doing something as pedestrian as cheating. But he’s keeping something from me, something that reeks of Bratva business.

I tried to ask what was wrong, but he didn’t answer. Just kissed me deeply and pulled me into his arms.

Come to think of it, just like he’s doing now.

When we part, our foreheads touch each other. “Knock ‘em dead,” he tells me.

Actually, that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid.“I’ll do my best.” My smile can’t be too convincing, but Yulian doesn’t press. He knows better than anyone how anxious I can get.

I steal one last kiss and fly out the door.

At the courthouse, my family’s already waiting. Kallie and Nikita are there, too. Surprisingly, so is Isaak.