Page 71 of Arranged Bratva Virgin

“He was here a moment ago, but then he got really pissed off and stormed out to his car.” He shrugs, sighing heavily. “Sorry, I need to go and help—maybe try calling him. I don’t know where he went.”

I spin around, trying to find someone else who might know something.

“Darya, I think you need to tell me what is going on.” Maxim walks up beside me and places his hand on my shoulder. I bite my lower lip and close my eyes. Stefano will be furious with me, but I am so worried right now.

Where would he have gone?

“Well, I mean, I think it’s obvious that something happened to his shipment,” I sigh in frustration.

“I can see that, but why didn’t Stef say anything before he rushed off like that?”

“Because he wanted to sort it out himself. He doesn’t want to feel like he owes you guys anything. He doesn’t want you to think he can’t handle his business.” I feel guilt flood through me as I confess what I have been holding back for Stefano’s sake. I never wanted to betray him like this, but right now, all I care about is his safety. I don’t know what to do, and Maxim is here to help.

Maxim’s eyes narrow and his brows knot. “That’s ridiculous, though. We have all had issues like this in the past and we’ve been there to help each other.”

“I know. It’s just—Stefano is—he’s never had family support like us before.”

“I see.” Maxim’s jaw flexes as he thinks things over.

I glance around the room, trying to figure out where Stefano would have rushed off to—then it hits me. He’s gone to confront the man who he believes is responsible for all of this.

“Shit,” I say out loud. This is bad. “Maxim, we have to go right now.” I grab his arm and start pulling him towards the doors.

“Where to?”

“Marco Colombo.”

“Why would we want to go to him?”

“Because that is where Stefano went—to confront the person he thinks did all of this. Marco has been threatening him and demanding that he pays his father’s old debts off. Stefano has been making payments to him, so it doesn’t make sense that he would still be messing with him, but I guess Marco is just impatient, I don’t know. But I am convinced that that is where he went—alone. We have to go help him.”

The stress in my voice registers in Max’s reaction. He starts running towards the car, pulling me along with him now as I struggle to keep up with his long legs.

“I don’t get why that idiot would go alone. Why didn’t he just ask for help?” Maxim complains as we rush forward.

I roll my eyes. “Can we please just focus on one issue at a time? Do you know Marco? What is he likely going to do if Stefano barges in there all heated and confrontational?”

“It’s never good to walk into someone’s space alone, aggressive and angry. He really should have taken some kind of backup.”

In the car Maxim accelerates, obviously now as worried as I am. We both know Stefano can be really quick to reach a boiling point, and then he acts irrationally.

I sit tensely in the passenger seat, wishing that we were there already.

“I should call the guys.”

“Don’t you dare. I am going to be in enough trouble as it is because I told you about it.”

“And what would you have done right now, Darya? Would you have gone running off after him alone if I wasn’t here?”

I bite my lip. What would I have done?

“Honestly, I think I would have called you.” I say, hoping that I would not have been stupid enough to go alone.

“Hmph.” Maxim doesn’t seem convinced. “Before or after you stole Paval’s car?”

“Just drive, will you? I can’t deal with this now.” I throw my hands in the air in agitation.

My anxiety is through the roof, and I just need Maxim to focus on getting us there, not on lecturing me.

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