Page 42 of Bratva's Vow
Fuck.
He was definitely at a seven.
I left the door wide open. In case I needed witnesses. Somebody would know where the scene of the crime was when my body washed up ashore for an unexpected person to find.
Maxim stalked toward me, fury written in every tense line of his body. He slammed the door shut behind me, the echo bouncing off the walls like he’d slapped me. Before I could react, his hands were on my shoulders, not exactly gentle, shoving me back against the closed door.
A loud gasp escaped me. Not so much from any actual pain but from the unexpectedness of him being so rough with me outside the bedroom. I was used to his yelling, his anger, but not this.
“Where the hell have you been?”
I blinked. “There was traffic. An accident?—”
“Bullshit. I called your phone like fifteen times, and you didn’t pick up once.”
“I didn’t receive any calls.” I patted my pockets. Myphone. Where the hell was it? Had I left it in the store? “I don’t have my phone. I’m sorry?—”
“Are you, Wren? Because you keep doing this shit. Disappearing and not telling anyone where you’re going. Not Nik. Not me.”
I looked away, swallowing. “Now that’s not fair. I called Nik, but he was sleeping, and I didn’t plan on being out for long. I was gone just for a second.”
“With whom?”
“What?”
“Someone saw you with Bradley in the lobby, and then you disappeared at the same time he did.”
I blinked slowly. “Are you hearing yourself? I did chat with Bradley in the lobby, but we went our separate ways. What the fuck, Maxim? What are you saying?”
“I’m just reporting the facts. It’s no secret Bradley’s been flirting with you since day one.” His grip on my shoulder tightened. He wasn’t getting any calmer, but the mention of Bradley seemed to have pushed him over the edge.
“Wait a minute. Is that why you’ve been sending Bradley on assignments outside the office? You think I have something going on with him?”
“I don’t know what the fuck to think when I tell you to let me know where you’re going at all times, but you don’t. What was so important that you had to leave the office without a word?”
“It’s just…important.”
Maxim’s nostrils flared, and hot puffs of breath hit my face. His fingers dug even deeper into my skin.
“Why won’t you believe me? You’re the only one I’ve been with.”
“Then tell me where you were.”
“Ouch, Max.” I tugged on my arm, but he didn’t budge. “You’re scaring me.”
“Good,” he hissed. “Maybe if you’re afraid of me, you’ll finally start listening. This is not a game, Wren.”
Something snapped in me. I shoved him back hard, teeth bared. My chest heaved as I stabbed a finger at him. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
He stumbled back a step, looking stunned that I would shove him.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I cried, blood rushing into my ears. “I’m not one of your men. You don’t get to manhandle me and question me like I’m on the witness stand because things don’t go your way.”
“I’m trying to protect you!” he shouted, voice raw with something dangerously close to panic. “Everyone else can see that except you.”
“Are you?” I spat. “Because all that Bradley nonsense sounds very much like you believe I’m fucking him. You think I’d cheat on you?”
His eyes flickered. “Then tell me where you were. Why is that so hard?”
