Page 35 of Bound to the Bratva
Maxim shakes his head, "No, I'm not. I'm gonna stay here and try to figure out who's behind this fucking bullshit. You need to go, got it?"
I curl my lip up in frustration, "I'm so fucking tired of men telling me what to do."
Maxim grabs the side of my neck and looks directly into my eyes, inching his face closer by the moment. "You and I can discuss that later, sweetheart. Trust me, there is plenty of time for us to fight about whether or not I'm being a controlling asshole later. Right now, your safety is my number one priority."
I shake my head yet again, "No, Maxim. I don't like this. Please, just come with us."
His grip tightens on the side of my neck, not tearing his eyes away from mine. "Aria, you're going with your brother and friends, and that's the last of it."
I want to yell and scream at him, but the more time that passes, the more I realize he's right—I should probably just go with them.
Relief starts to flood through me. At least I'm going to be safe, but at the same time I'm worried about Maxim and whatever he's going to deal with when I'm away from him.
Maxim continues to look right into my eyes, "I need you to stay safe. You're not just some woman to me anymore. You're my wife and that means it's my job to make sure no harm comes to you."
Our marriage might have been chosen for us, but I know now more than ever that we're the two who decide how it goes.
The sun is just beginning to set and the ethereal glow comes in through the windows.
It would have been an amazing wedding photo if we weren't running for our lives.
"You heard him, Aria. Come on," Sasha urges me and I nod.
A cold chill runs down my spine from the fear and shock coursing through my veins.
This might have been a business deal between our families, but now the stakes are much higher than we anticipated.
I knew I was marrying a powerful man within the Brava, but I never expected I'd be caught in the crossfire.
Maxim scans the area one last time and then his gaze jumps to me.
His gaze softens and he squeezes my shoulder. "I know this is a lot to take in. But please, for the love of God, just trust me."
I don't know what it is, but there's something in his voice that makes me want to trust him.
He's not the cold, horrible man I initially thought he was.
I'm starting to think maybe all of that was nothing more than a front.
Maxim's jaw tightens as gunshots ring out from behind us. "Go with your brother and friends. I'll come for you soon."
Almost as if it's coming naturally to me, I grab his forearm. "Promise me you'll be careful."
Maxim nods, a silent promise that no harm will come to him while we flee.
I hope he's not going to break this promise.
Sasha takes my forearm and yanks me along with him, tearing me away from Maxim.
My gut twists and turns as I'm taken away from him. Sasha goes out through the window first, and then helps each of us ladies out.
Soon enough, we're out in the courtyard of the church, getting away from all of the shooting that's going on.
Sasha is at my side and the girls are only a few steps behind us.
I allow Sasha to usher us toward the back of the courtyard.
I'm holding the skirt of my dress up a tad, making it easier for me to run, and as I turn back, I notice the ladies are doing the same to their own dresses.
