Page 179 of Bratva's Vow
“Time’s up,” she said gently. “We should take him out before the nurses come to check. We wouldn’t want to jeopardize Wren’s privileges while he’s here.”
Nik scooped up Jellybean, who whined in protest but didn’t struggle.
“I’ll take him.” Maxim stood.
He exchanged a look with Jess. She gave a small nod.
Maxim leaned down and kissed my forehead. “We’ll be right outside. I need to talk to Nik for a minute. It’ll give you some time to talk smack about me behind my back.”
“No smack, I promise.” I mouthed,thank you, as he and Nik stepped out with the puppy.
Jess took the chair closest to my bed, pulled it right up, and folded her legs underneath her like we were about to gossip.
“Well,” she said, voice light but eyes warm, “still feeling good?”
“Yeah, no longer thinking that I’m going to die. Not from this anyway.” I reached out and grabbed her hand. “Jess, we don’t have much time. What really happened?”
Jess didn’t answer but lightly squeezed my fingers. Her gaze flicked to the door Maxim had just exited through, like she was debating how much to say.
“Jess,” I said softly.
She sighed. “He told us not to tell you.”
“Tell me anyway.”
She nodded. “Archie told Leo that Maxim murdered Bradley and tried to get him to interfere with your treatment so you’d… never wake up.”
I stared at her, my breath catching. “Leo knows?” My heart ached for him. He always struck me as a genuinely sweet guy.
“Yes,” Jess said quickly. “But he refused. He told Maxim everything. That’s why you were airlifted that night. Maxim didn’t trust the situation anymore. Not after everything Archie had already done.”
I swallowed hard, stomach twisting.
“That’s not all, is it?”
“No.” She let out a shaky breath. “Maxim confronted Archie.”
I already knew where this was going. I closed my eyes.
“He’s dead,” I said flatly.
“Yeah. Maxim killed him. He did it himself. Darius told me it was awful. He couldn’t sleep that night when he came home to me. I’ve never seen him react like that to anything.”
Silence. Thick and heavy pulsed between us. So much had happened while I was focused on my treatment. It was the first time I was able to get Jess alone.
“Maxim’s selling the house,” she said. “Doesn’t want the reminders. Said that place could no longer be your home.”
I opened my eyes and looked toward the door, heart thudding.
“He loved Archie,” I whispered. “In his own way. They were so close.”
Jess nodded. “He did. But he loves you more. That much is obvious.”
A moment later, the door creaked open. Jess jumped to her feet, looking too guilty. Maxim stepped back inside minusJellybean. The air around him was cooler than before. His gaze flicked to Jess, then to me.
Jess mumbled that she had to go and would visit me tomorrow. She kissed my cheek and shuffled past Maxim. The door closed behind her, but Maxim didn’t move.
“She told you,” he said quietly.
