Page 17 of Big Bold Gambler

Gorshkov sneers at him, spits out, “Oh, shut up. You couldn't even do your one job right and keep Ilina safe and alive.”

Maxwell’s voice is like a whip, quick and biting. “Hard to keep someone safe from fucking cancer.”

The air in the room shifts in an instant, and suddenly, the gun’s swinging toward Maxwell.

“Shut up,” Gorshkov screams, unhinged and red in the face. “You know nothing!”

“What I know is that Ivan was a damn good husband. Ilina loved him and she would have chosen him over you a million times over.”

I hold my breath as Gorshkov’s finger twitches over the trigger. But Maxwell doesn’t blink. He’s not backing down. I have the sinking feeling I’m about to watch someone die.

Then—BANG—a gunshot. My heart stops. Everything stops.

I blink in shock, barely processing the loud, deafening noise that filled the room. When Gorshkov screams and blood begins to pour from the hand holding his gun, I can’t help the sick relief I feel that it was him and not Maxwell or dad. I look over and see dad is the one with the smoking gun, literally.

Overwhelmed by the pain of being shot, the gun clatters from Gorshkov’s hand. Maxwell’s faster than I can think, and in one swift move, he lunges forward, grabbing the gun and swinging it on Gorshkov. And just like that, the power shifts.

It’s all happening too fast. My heart’s still pounding in my chest, and I can’t move. My hands are shaking, my legs feel like jelly. I can barely register what’s happening until I see my dad raise his gun again—level with Gorshkov’s head.

I squeeze my eyes shut before I can even think about it. I don’t want to see this.

The second gunshot rings out, loud, violent, and final. A moment later, I hear the sound of a body hitting the floor. My body tenses up as I open my eyes, and before I can even think about anything else, Maxwell’s arms are around me. He’s holding me, pressing me against his chest, his hand sliding through my hair as he murmurs soft words I can’t quite hear through the ringing in my ears.

I don’t even know what to do, how to react. My head is still spinning. I should feel relieved. I should be thankful. But instead, all I feel is numb. A hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Jeannie, sweet girl,” Maxwell’s voice is so low, so gentle. His hand rubs circles on my back. “You’re safe now.”

Safe? Safe after all this?

I don’t know how to respond to that.

Patrick’s footsteps are heavy, drawing closer, and I pull away from Maxwell just as my dad kneels down next to me.

Meeting Maxwell’s gaze, he knows immediately what I need from him.

“I’ll give you two some space,” Maxwell says softly, rising to his feet. “I need to check on Ashton.”

As he walks away, I glance at my dad again. His shoulders are sagging, the weight of the world pressing down on him.

“I’m so sorry,” he says immediately, his voice cracking and his hands shaking slightly as he reaches for me. “I never wanted you to see any of this. To be a part of this. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

I swallow hard. It’s not that I don’t believe him. It’s just hard. So hard. My whole life, my whole world, everything’s been turned upside down.

But this isn’t about blaming him. This is about moving forward, right?

“I get it, Dad.” My voice is soft as I lean forward, reaching for his hand. “I know you were just trying to protect me. But you have to understand, no amount of hiding me away will stop the world from coming at me. I can’t live like this anymore, like a princess locked in a tower.”

I see the guilt flash across his face and normally, I’d back down now. I feel bad about hurting him. But he needs to hear this. I need this myself. If he can’t accept that I’ve grown up, if he can’t let me go, I hate to think that I can’t have my dad in my life anymore.

“I’m not a little girl anymore,” I continue, trying to steady my voice. “I need to make my own decisions. I need to be able to decide for myself, and I need you to trust me on that.”

“I will,” he promises after a long, weighty beat. “I’ll support you, Jeannie. I’ll let go of the reins. You have my word.”

“That goes for dating Maxwell,” I add in warning. He scowls at this, but I give him a stern look. “I know you don’t love it, but I love him. I want him in my life and that’s ultimately my choice to make.”

With a sigh he finally caves, “I know. I don’t like the idea, I won’t lie. But, you’re a woman now. You choose and I support. I get my role.”

We hug, and I feel all the tension in my body start to slip away, just a little bit. The past few hours have been a nightmare, but maybe this is the first step toward something better.

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