Page 64 of Captive Union
“That would mean you would become a member of the Bratva again, and I seem to remember banishing you.”
“Then you can un-banish me.”
Maxim’s grip on his knife tightens. “I don’t show traitors mercy.”
“Maxim,” Alexei says softly. He’s been so quiet that I almost forgot he was here. “I’m a big part of the reason Erik came after us, why he took Kira in the first place. You forgave me. Showing mercy doesn’t make you weak. It makes you a good leader. It shows others they can depend on you and trust you. Erik only retaliated because of what we did to him. I think you owe him mercy.”
“What happened to my brother who lived for chaos?” Maxim spits out.
Alexei smiles. “He’s grown. Just like you always wanted.” He places his hand over Maxim’s, tugging the knife away from my throat. “You can be better. You’re always looking to make peace with others rather than fight. This is a good opportunity to make amends with Erik. Kira’s right. Their marriage is a peace offering. We could be a family again and be happy. Kira would come home. You just have to put your pride aside to do it.”
Maxim glances back at Kira, who gives him a small nod, a hopeful look in her eyes.
After a tense beat, Maxim finally nods, dropping his hand, the knife clattering to the floor. I breathe out, the sweet knowledge that I’m not going to die today coursing through me.
Kira runs up to Maxim and hugs him, and he doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her. “Thank you,” she says into his chest.
Maxim pulls back, keeping his hands on her arms. “Does he truly make you happy?”
“He does.” A couple of tears fall down her face. “He really does. Let Erik and me be together. Don’t keep me from him. Let me go, Maxim. I promise that I’ll still be around. I’ll always want to spend time with you. So please make a truce. End this war.”
Maxim leans down and kisses her head. “If this is what you truly want.”
“It is.”
“Then, all right. Peace sounds better than war, I’ll admit.” He turns back to me. “You need to hold your end of the deal up. You’re to keep my sister safe and unharmed.” I nod weakly. “And you are to report to me again. You’ll no longer run your own mob. I’ll be your boss. Don’t try to backstab me like you did in the past.”
“I promise,” I whisper, my head dropping back with a thud against the wall.
“Maxim, he’s dying,” Kira says. “Help him.”
Maxim nods at Alexei. “Bandage him and get him out of these chains.”
My body falls to the ground once Alexei undoes the cuffs around my wrists. Kira runs up to me, placing her hands on my head.
“Are you all right?” She shakes her head. “Silly question.”
I smile up at her. “I’m right as one can be after being tortured for a few days.”
“Hurry,” Kira orders Alexei as he comes over with bandages. He hands her a bundle, and she wraps gauze one around my waist. At least it stops some of the bleeding. “He needs serious medical attention.”
Maxim sighs. “Call the doctor.”
“On it,” Nik says, getting out his phone.
Kira places my head in her lap.
“Careful,” I manage to say. “You’ll get blood all over you.”
“I don’t care.” She leans down and kisses my forehead. “All that matters is that you’re alive, and we get to be together. And I still have my family in my life. It’s a win-win.”
I chuckle, but the sound comes out more like a strained gurgle than anything else. “I love you, Kira. Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”
“Yes,” she sniffles, speaking into my ear so only I can hear her. The rest of the room has faded away, and it’s just the two of us. “I should have told you sooner, but it took me losing you to realize how much I want to be with you. I love you, Erik. So, so much.” She peppers kisses onto my cheek.
“That’s good.” My vision is blurry and dark spots flicker at the corner of my eyes. “That’s good.” I breathe out a happy sigh before letting the darkness take me.
The last sound I hear is Kira shouting my name.
