Page 32 of Maxim

“He got me pregnant. I wanted to keep the baby, but he made me get rid of it. I’m too old to have children now.” Her voice breaks and she stares at the pavement beneath her worn brown leather shoes.

“I’m so sorry.” I feel bad even uttering such pointless words. Nothing I say will give this poor woman back what she lost. “He’ll get what’s coming to him. I promise you that.” It’s not a promise I’m positive I can keep, but I will do everything in my power to make it happen.

Margana nods briefly and then stands. “Be careful,” I tell her. She pauses for a second and then reaches out and touches my hand with hers.

“You too.” Two words that feel so very ominous, given how deep the shadows are now.

Margana leaves in the direction of the south exit while I walk hurriedly toward the main gate. There are a few people still around but I’m on edge. Margana’s warning has spooked me.

I can feel eyes watching me. It could be paranoia, but I’m not so sure anymore. I duck my head low, wishing I’d worn something less conspicuous than a long, red coat. It stands out against the blue-black darkness, even as the brightly lit park entrance comes into focus.

A group of young men mill around by the tall metal gates. They are drinking and laughing. One of them looks up as I approach and whistles, but I ignore him.

He breaks away from his friends, preening like a rooster.

“Hey baby, wanna have some fun?”

I don’t dignify the question with an answer. It’s safer to pretend I haven’t heard him, but just as I reach the gate, he steps into my path, forcing me to stop abruptly.

My heart clamors in my chest, threatening to break free of the confines of my rib cage. The feeling of being hemmed in reminds me all too well of how often Rick used his physical strength to overpower me.

This young man doesn’t have the same bulk, but he’s still taller and stronger than me. Strong enough to overpower me if he chooses. He leans in and I can smell his body odor, a mix of cheap cologne and pungent sweat. The wolf tattoo on his neck snarls at me, its jaws dripping with blood.

My lungs seize to the point where I struggle to suck air in at all. Everything shrinks until there’s just the two of us. He’s so young, but in my mind’s eye, his face morphs into Rick’s. Sharp cheekbones become fleshier, brown eyes turn blue.

The logical side of my brain reminds me Rick left, but my body isn’t listening.

“Get out of my way, please.” My voice is firm even if my nerves are jangling so hard I’m concerned my legs might collapse from under me.

“Aww, why would I do that?” He smiles while edging closer, using his height to intimidate me.

The sound of my phone ringing in my pocket is a momentary distraction. I grip it tightly.

“Because I’ll scream if you don’t,” I manage to discretely swipe my phone screen to accept the call. I have no clue who just called me, but at least they might be able to hear what’s going on.

“Natalya? Are you OK?” Something in me calms. Max helped me once before.

I have to let him know what’s happening somehow. He’s probably miles away, but the knowledge that he can hear me helps ground me, giving me the courage to yell,

“Get away from me!”

Chapter twenty-two

Max

The moment I hear Nat shouting at someone I know she’s in trouble. If it wasn’t for the fact I made Sasha add a tracking device to her phone, which she helpfully installed via an email she downloaded, I’d have no idea where she is.

The app says she’s at the entrance to the city park.

“City park, main gate,” I bark. Artem doesn’t question my change of plan, he just drives. We’re less than five minutes away under normal circumstances, but thanks to Artem’s skill, we get there in three minutes.

I jump out of the car before it stops, provoking a stream of curses from Artem. With my gun at hand, I run through the gate. She’s there, surrounded by young men, all of whom I recognize as working for various low-level gangs in the city.

The ring leader, a tall, skinny guy with a tattoo of a wolf on his neck, looks up at my approach. I note the way his complexion pales when he realizes who I am. Before he can run, I’m on him.

The wet sound of my fists pounding his face and body is music to my ears. Within seconds, the rest of his friends melt away, crawling back under the rocks they came from.

Nat stands a few steps back. I can hear her choppy breathing and feel her panicked eyes on me. She’s probably terrified, but while I don’t want to scare her, this piece of shit needs putting down.

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