Page 44 of Fatal Bonds

“Yes,” Maks states.

My skin tingles, my body running hot and cold all at once as my shock leaves me speechless. I’m confident I must have misheard him, because he’s made it perfectly clear he never intends to marry. Not just me—he doesn’t want to have a wife at all. He wouldn’t go against that—reverse all the decisions that have led him down this path in life—just to keep me alive.

“And you think she would agree to this?” Lucian asks like I’m not even in the room. “From where I stand, it seems like she’s rather eager to get away from you.” If his expression weren’t so matter-of-fact, I would think he’s taunting Maks. But the man would have to have a death wish to do something that stupid, and from what I’ve gathered about Maks’s business partner, I don’t think he’s reckless. Dangerous, yes. Insane, maybe. But even during the meeting I overheard that got me into this whole mess, Lucian was clear on what he would risk—and his life was not on that list.

“If she agrees, would that satisfy you?” Maks demands, his hands fisting at his sides.

He still hasn’t looked at me, and I don’t dare take my eyes off Lucian as the Italian considers the question. His hazel eyes narrow on me as he weighs the risks, assessing what might drive me. I swallow hard, fidgeting anxiously as he picks me apart without a word.

“Alright,” Lucian concedes. “If she’s willing to marry you by tomorrow—with me as your witness—that would be enough to convince me she’s loyal to you, for now.”

All eyes shift to me, but I don’t know what to say.Am I ready to sign my life over to Maks? Do I even have a choice?I don’t know how permanent or binding a marriage contract could be in his world. It must be more substantial than what happens in Vegas if Lucian’s willing to take it as a sign of good faith.

“Well, Miss Payne?” Lucian asks, his sharp gaze fixed on my face.

I don’t know why he knows my name, but it only intensifies my feeling of being watched—my inability to escape. If I don’t say yes now, I might not live to see another day.I might not get the chance to meet my baby.The unbidden thought releases a primal instinct inside me, an overwhelming desire to survive—and more importantly, to keep my baby alive. “I’ll marry him. Tomorrow,” I agree, the words rushing from me.

Lucian’s dark eyebrows lift in mild surprise, and he gives a single nod. “Good. It’s settled, then. Just know, Miss Payne, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from now on.” His eyes shift to Maks, and he flashes a smile. “Let me know once arrangements are made.” With a nod, he turns toward the elevator.

Lucian’s men follow without a word. No one else moves until the doors slide closed, and only after the red-lit numbers above them start to count down can I release the breath I’ve been holding. My skin prickles as several sets of eyes shift back to me. The silent scrutiny comes with a new, keen interest—Maks’s men, no doubt, wondering why theirpakhanwould stick his neck out for someone like me.

“Back to your posts,” Maks says to his men.

They step into action without question, moving toward the exit and following the Italians down to the lobby as soon as the elevator returns. I can sense Mak watching me, but I don’t dare to look at him until we’re alone again, and even then, the quivering fear in my stomach makes me want to sprint to the bedroom and bury my head somewhere he’ll never find me.

“Thank you,” I murmur, watching my hands fidget when I can’t find the courage to look up. “For saving my life—again.”

“I know it’s not optimal,” Maks states, his low voice sending a shiver down my spine.

That’s the understatement of the century.Biting my lip, I force myself to meet his eyes, and my heart skips a beat at the regret in their sky-blue depths.He doesn’t want this. He only did it to save my life.The knowledge shouldn’t hurt as badly as it does—he’s given me every indication he can that the relationship we have is temporary—but it reinforces my decision not to tell Maks I’m pregnant. That would be the worst thing I could do right now. He doesn’t need another reason to change his mind about protecting me. After everything that’s happened, I think a baby would only make me feel like a bigger burden to him—another problem to solve.At what point would the scales tip? What might bring him to the conclusion that killing me is the only real solution?I feel like I’m treading dangerously close to that point.

“It doesn’t have to be permanent,” Maks says.

My heart flutters as I have the irrational fear that he heard what I was thinking. Then, as he continues, I realize he’s talking about our marriage.

“We can get it annulled as soon as Emiliano is dead and the Italians move on.” Combing his hair back from his face, Maks shifts his gaze to the wall of windows that look out across the city. “You probably wouldn’t be safe to stay here. But I can send you to New York with a new identity after things calm down. My cousin Dimitri lives there. I’m sure he would keep an eye on you—keep you safe.”

Again, I’m left with the feeling that I must not have heard Maks correctly. In one fell swoop, he’s promised me my freedom—and rejected me completely. Of course he didn’t intend to spend the rest of his life with me. I was stupid for assuming he wouldn’t already have a plan to get out of it before he made the offer. He wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise. But that doesn’t make the pain any less as he twists the knife in my heart.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I fight to regain control of my emotions as I collect my thoughts, but Maks seems to become impatient with the silence, and his sharp blue eyes snap back to mine.

“It’s your best option if you want to get away from me. I don’t know that Chicago will be safe for you anymore unless you’re my wife.” He says it like the words hurt, his voice gruff and his hands clenching as he watches my reaction closely. “Even then—well, I’ve told you the dangers that come with living in my world.”

A thrill races through me, even as my blood runs cold. Maks put the ball squarely in my court. He’s giving me the choice, but my options are entirely outside what I’m prepared to make a decision about. Emotions churn in my stomach, and my breath quickens as a vise tightens around my chest.

I don’t know what would be the right thing to do. I don’t want to leave Chicago. Over the past year, I’ve truly started to think of it as my home. I like my job, my friends, and my apartment. I’m not ready to think about where Maks fits into that world. But I am sure I want to keep this baby, so I’m not sure I have an option. If I go to New York, then I’ll be far from Maks and the danger that surrounds him. I wouldn’t have to tell him I’m pregnant. I wouldn’t have to risk him not wanting it. If I choose New York, I could go anywhere from there, start a new life, one where I wouldn’t have to worry about Maks finding out about the baby, one where his cousin wouldn’t have to ‘keep an eye on me.’ My child and I would have the opportunity to live a normal life away from all the violence and danger.

“Maybe New York would be the best place for me,” I say softly.

Maks draws back, his shoulders squaring, and he gives a single nod. “I’ll make arrangements,” he assures me.

As I retreat to the bedroom, I should be grateful he’s willing to let me go, but still, I have to blink back tears so he won’t see me cry before I disappear around the corner.

19

MAKS

Sighing, I rest my elbows on my desk and knead my temples. My eyes ache from the lack of moisture and sleep, and a dull throb has started just behind them. I stayed up all night making wedding arrangements—not that I need all that time to get the necessary requirements put in place. If I’m being perfectly honest with myself, I did it to avoid the bedroom, where Lindsey locked herself away as soon as she agreed to leave for New York when everything’s settled. I only bothered her once for the rest of the day—to ask if Lindsey would like to invite anyone to the wedding. But I knew the answer before I even asked it. Her mom died when she was young. She hasn’t spoken to her father in years, and she’s worked actively to keep her friends out of the picture to protect them from me. Smart girl. So, not a single soul will be there for her today—just me.

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