Page 28 of The Arrangement

“That being said, I don’t regret it,” he adds, prompting a smile to dance on my lips.

As the cityscape blurs past us, my emotions are a tangled mess. I should be furious, and part of me is. Yet, there's another part, confusingly touched by his protective instincts, however misguidedly executed.

"Okay," I finally say, the word more an acknowledgment of his honesty than forgiveness. "But you have to take them down."

He lets out a halfhearted chuckle, the tension easing just a fraction. "Of course."

"Take me back to my shop," I demand, the words sharp, cutting through the tension. After that, I retreat into silence.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him open his mouth. Maybe he wants to say another word in his defense. But whatever is on his mind, he closes his mouth, shaking his head.

He's paid my debt, a fact that keeps replaying in my mind. But it strikes me, hard—wasn't that debt imposed on me unfairly to begin with? My emotions are a whirlwind, gratitude mingling with resentment, relief shadowed by a deep-seated anger for the privacy he's stolen from me.

The realization that Maksim, for all his protective gestures, is entangled in a world fraught with betrayal, leaves me reeling. Knowing he's associated with people who wouldn't think twice about harming others adds a layer of fear to the already complicated mess of my feelings.

Rationally, I should want to sever all ties with him. To run as far from his dangerous world as I can get. Yet, despite the chaos, despite the fear and the violation of my privacy, there's an undeniable pull that I can't ignore. My body betrays me, craving his presence, his touch, even as my mind screams caution.

The silence stretches on, a chasm filled with unasked questions and unresolved emotions. The more I think about it, the more conflicted I feel. Grateful for his intervention, yet still furious for the intrusion. Terrified by the danger his life represents, yet inexplicably drawn to him. It's a paradox I can't seem to resolve.

As we drive, a suspicion starts to worm its way into my thoughts—we're definitely not headed back to my shop. The silence between us is thick, charged with all the things left unsaid, until I can't take it anymore.

"Hey, where do you think you're taking me? Drop me off," I demand.

Maksim's response is frustratingly calm. "I just want a chance to talk, to explain. We're going to my place—just for a bit." He adds, with a hint of something that might be concern. "And I need to ensure my father's truly going to back off. You’ll be safe there.”

I let out a sigh, half irritation, half resignation. Sure, part of me is curious to hear what he's got to say, and the other part—the one that's not keen on being a mob target—admits that a confirmation of being out of danger wouldn't be the worst thing.

"Ty's probably flipping out wondering where I've vanished to."

He offers his phone to me, an olive branch. I eye it, fighting the impulse to knock it out of his hand in a fit of defiance. But as much as I want to stick it to him and demand he turn the car around this instant, a bigger part of me is dying to hear his side of the story. After all, Maksim's not the one who got me into this mess; that honor goes to Ned, and that guy's not around to answer for his sins.

"Alright, give it here," I grumble, taking his phone. Might as well let Ty know I haven't been abducted by aliens or run off to join the circus—not yet, anyway.

As I dial Ty's number, I feel like I'm walking a tightrope between my fierce need for independence and the unsettling realization that Maksim, in his own twisted way, might just have my back. It's a weird place to be, caught between wanting to throttle him and wanting to hear him out.

As the phone rings, I rehearse a quick explanation in my head, something to smooth over my unexpected absence without causing a panic.

"Hey, Ty, it's me," I start, trying to sound calmer than I feel. "Had a bit of an emergency. Everything okay at the shop?"

Ty's voice is a balm to my frayed nerves. "Yeah, got a call from our first client on my cell. Made it there in time, so no issues. What's up? You alright?"

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Yeah, I’m good. Glad to hear you were able to cover. Thank you. Today's a slow day, thankfully. I'll be back soon and fill you in on all the drama."

“Drama! I am intrigued!” he replies with a relieved laugh. “I’m just glad you’re all right. See you later.”

“Thanks, Ty.” Hanging up, I hand the phone back to Maksim. "Thanks for letting me use your phone. And for... this, I guess." I gesture vaguely between us, the car, the road – this whole bizarre detour my day has taken.

Maksim takes his phone back, a hint of something like gratitude in his gaze. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain. Everything happened so fast between us, some things slipped through the cracks," he says, and it's sincere enough to tug at the edges of my resolve.

But as we drive, I wonder if I’m trading one mess for another? Sure, Maksim stepped up, played the hero when I needed one. But the more I think about it, the more I question whether his rescue comes with strings attached. Is this just trading one kind of trouble for another?

"Look," I start, turning to face him fully, "pulling me out of the fire with those two? That's on the plus side. But don't think I'm not weighing my options here. Getting involved with you... it's like hopping from the frying pan into the fire."

He nods, a wry smile playing at his lips. "Understood. But let me try to even the scales a bit, okay?"

I settle back into my seat, crossing my arms as I mull over his words. Part of me is ready to bolt, to get as far from Maksim Morozov and his complicated world as possible. But there's another part, curious and undeniably drawn to the man beside me, that wants to give him a chance.

"Fine," I say finally, "but it better be one hell of an explanation."

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