Page 21 of Maximus

Max blinked and cocked his head a little to the left. “What?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” She was tired and in pain and didn’t want to play that game.

“You’ve fallen in love with me?” Max asked, making the same movement with his head.

“What?” Elena jerked and hissed at the sudden movement.She hadn’t said that, had she?

“You asked if my plan was always to make you fall in love with me. I’ll answer that with as much emphasis as I can. The answer is no. I didn’t believe there would be a connection between us for a second. I didn’t because I’ve never felt this way aboutanywoman. Connections are hard for me to form. Not because I’m autistic or have any physical or mental issues.” He sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair. “I rarely meet anyone who can hold my attention. I know that sounds stupid, but except for my family, there are maybe four people in the world that I … attend. Ilistento their words instead of working on problems in my mind. I’m with them at all times. With you,I’m present. I’m here with you because of some connection I don’t know how to define or recreate. I would if I could. I would make myself more normal and have a multitude of friends, but that isn’t how my brain is wired.” Reaching out, he placed hishand on her knee. “You asked me if I set out to make you fall in love with me. Have you?”

How did she answer that question? How did she explain? “I don’t know how to answer that.”

He looked down for a moment before lifting his eyes and saying, “Tell me what you feel.”

She stared at him. “Betrayed. Scared. Hurt. Used.”

“Fair enough,” he said as his hand slipped from her knee.

She sighed. “If you’d asked me before Sokolov attacked me, I would have said yes.”

“But now?” He reached forward and took her tea from her, setting it down on the table. Then he took her hands in his. “You knowing the truth about me, about why I’m here, doesn’t change how I feel about you. But what do you feel for me now?”

She stared at their joined hands. Her emotions were all over the place. “I suggest we wait and see.” She saw his head cock slightly to the left and realized he made that movement when he got an answer he didn’t anticipate. She clarified. “My feelings now are dominated by what happened tonight and what I learned about you and my employer.”

“How would you like to go forward? I’ll still go after Abrasha, but if you don’t want to be a part of it, I’ll find another way forward.” Max still held her hands in his. Their knees touched. They were linked physically and emotionally. To what extent, she wasn’t sure, at least not anymore.

“Is this the best chance of you arresting him?”

Max blinked. “This is the best chance we have now. It could take time to find another way.”

“And you can prove he’s guilty of these crimes you’ve said he committed?” She’d been sold a bill of goods and didn’t want her employer unfairly persecuted.

He nodded. “I can get you the evidence. It’s horrific, and it’s absolutely true.”

“I want to see the evidence. I want to confirm what you’re telling me is the truth.”

“And when I prove it is?”

“If you do, I’ll help you.” She watched to see if she’d see any relief in his frame, but there was none. He only nodded.

“I’ll have it for you when you wake up.”

“You’re leaving?” Her eyes darted to the door, which looked to be repaired to some degree.

“You asked me not to leave. I’ll sleep on the couch. One of my coworkers will bring the information you need.”

Relief flooded her body. He wasn’t leaving. He’d be there if Sokolov came back. “I should take a shower and go to bed.”

He stood up, still holding her hands. “Do you need help with anything?”

“Other than getting up out of this chair? No.” A small smile played on her lips when his head cocked slightly to the left. His eyes softened, and he stood firm, helped her stand, and walked with her to the bedroom.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back before saying, “I’m here, and Sokolov cannot hurt you.”

“You’d think he’d be the one I was concerned about hurting me, wouldn’t you?” She saw him wince as if he’d been hit. Maybe she wanted him to feel a bit of what he’d done to her.

“I can’t take back what happened. I can’t make that right. Nothing I do or say will change what I’ve done. But if you feel anything for me, judge me for what’s happening now. My actions, not my words, can prove my intentions and character. Let them speak to you, not the wounds from your past.”

She slid her hand out of his grasp. “Goodnight, Max.” He smiled and turned back toward the living room. She shut the door and leaned her forehead against it. How could she feel so much for a man like him? A man who had used her and still wanted her help to reach her employer, a man who had only everbeen fair with her. She’d need to be convinced Abrasha was the criminal they said he was.

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