Page 30 of Maxim

Very carefully I adjust my hold on Olena until I’m holding her bridal style in my arms.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience that happened today. Rest assured your daughter will learn her lesson, and it won’t happen again.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” He looks away from me and to the little girl at my side. “Come here, Daryna.”

I fight the urge to protect the little girl. Who the hell knows what he will do to her when I leave.

I wonder if I offered him money for her if he would give her to me as well.

While the idea holds merit, I can’t do that. I shouldn’t have bought Olena, and I’m already having problems keeping her in line. The last thing I need is to add a child into the mix.

Reluctantly, Daryna pulls away and walks toward her father with her head bowed.

Jan looks up at me and nods. “Szymon will walk you out. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

I shift Olena in my arms and nod. Silently I follow behind him. When we get outside, he’s nice enough to open the car door for me. Gently, I lower her into the passenger seat and then buckle her seat belt before shutting the door.

“Don’t let this happen again,” Szymon says quietly.

Before I can say anything, he spins on his heels and heads back toward the house.

Rounding the hood, I get in and start the car. As I start to drive away, I take my first real breath since I got the call.

That was close. Too fucking close.

One thing is for sure, though. Olena and I have to have a fucking talk because, like Szymon said, this can’t happen again.

Daryna giggles as I chase after her. The sun is beating down on us, and the air is sticky, but it’s beautiful. As soon as I looked out the window earlier, I knew I needed to get the kids outside to enjoy the weather while it lasts.

“You can’t catch me!” she screeches.

I reach out and wrap my arms around her. I twist as I take us both to the ground so she lands on top of me.

“I got you,” I tease.

She cups my cheeks and pushes them together. “You look silly.”

Before I can respond, Alek chimes in. “You know you two shouldn’t be doing that. If Father finds out, he will be angry.”

We look over at Alek. He sits on a plaid blanket I brought with us. It’s a beautiful day, but you wouldn’t know that by the way he frowns.

I don’t know what he does when he’s with Father, but it’s starting to eat at him. I can tell by the way he refuses to interact with us.

“Don’t worry, Alek. Sissy will protect us,” Daryna says.

“Always. I’ll always protect you two,” I tell them.

The dream from that day starts to fade, and I roll onto my back. The sleep starts to fade away, and as soon as I come to, I feel it.

I’m not alone.

Run.I need to run.

I shoot up in bed, gasping. Maxim sits in the corner of the room, in a chair that wasn’t there before, looking out the window.

Panting, I rest my hand over my racing heart. I know it’s silly because I don’t really know the man, but I find him far less scary than my father and his men.

“Why?” he rasps.

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