Page 67 of Bratva's Intern

Nik kept his gaze on Maxim, and the alert look in his eyes was even more intense than usual. That look, plus Maxim’s strange behavior, set my worry into overdrive.

The night air hit me, crisp and cool, but Maxim didn’t react to it at all. The valet opened the car door, and Maxim motioned for me to get in. I glanced up at him, but he gave me a slight push I couldn’t ignore.

“Get in, Wren.”

The second we got into the car, the door shut behind us. Nik handed Maxim a discreet pill case and a bottle of water. With trembling fingers, he flipped it open, revealing a row of neatly arranged pills.

He tried to shake pills into his palm, but the tremor in his hand made it difficult.

“Let me.” I took the pill case from him. The box clattered against his knuckles, the noise loud in the silence of the car. “Nik, how many?” I asked.

“Two.”

Maxim froze, an unreadable expression on his face as I carefully shook out two pills into my palm.

“Open up.”

“You don’t?—”

I shoved the pills into his mouth, unscrewed the water bottle, and held it to his lips. He had no choice but to swallow or suffer the indignity of choking and getting his clothes wet.

He took several gulps, then pulled away.

“What are the pills for?” I asked. They didn’t seem likeover-the-counter medication. At least nothing poor people like me used, or I would have recognized them.

He flexed his jaw, his breathing even but a little too measured.

“None of your business,” he said at last, voice clipped.

My cheeks burned from his chiding. He was right. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… Maxim, are you okay?”

He pressed the back of his hand to his temple, squeezing his eyes shut for a second. He inhaled deeply and straightened.

Nik glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “You should’ve taken those earlier.”

Maxim exhaled sharply. “Don’t start.”

Nik muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue. I shifted in my seat, my unease growing. Maxim was always so composed, so in control, but he looked like he was barely holding himself together.

His recent doctor’s visit flashed through my mind. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but maybe I should have paid attention.

Minutes passed in silence, the low hum of the car the only sound. I stole another glance at Maxim. His shoulders were rigid, fingers curled into loose fists on his thighs. His breath hitched once, but he exhaled through his nose, eyes still fixed straight ahead.

His fingers twitched.

A sharp, almost imperceptible jerk in his hand. Then another.

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words died in my throat as his whole body went rigid.

His back arched against the seat. His head snapped back against the headrest with a dull thud.

The air choked out of my lungs. “Maxim?”

No response.

His jaw clenched so tight his neck strained. His fingers spasmed, then curled into tight fists.

“Shit.” Nik’s voice was sharp. “It’s happening.”

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