Page 79 of Savage Vows
There’s a pause. He sets his cup down and shifts a little closer, his voice softer. “If you ever need anything—if you ever need to leave, or just talk to someone who doesn’t have an agenda—I’m still here, Adriana. I hope you know that.”
His words settle in the space between us, sincere and unhurried. I meet his gaze, searching for the hidden catch, but there isn’t one. Just Maksim, the same as he always was, and for a moment I let myself believe I still have a friend in this world.
“Thank you,” I say, and my voice cracks just a little. “That means more than you think.”
He smiles, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. “Good. Because you look like you’ve been carrying too much on your own.”
I clear my throat, trying to sound offhand. “You know, at the ball, you mentioned your club, Portello. Bella said it’s the place to be now, but…” I hesitate, watching his face. “I’ve heard people say something happened there. That someone disappeared. More than once.”
Maksim’s jaw tightens, and for a second he just stares at the dark surface of his coffee.
Then he lets out a breath, frustration clear in his eyes. “My partner wants the story buried. Said it was bad for business—didn’t want it to get around. No one was ever charged. Nobodycould even prove the girl left the club. Security footage was…inconclusive.” His words slow, as if he’s weighing every one.
My heart hammers, but I keep my voice steady. “What was your partner’s name again?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
He glances at me, eyes sharp. “Remik. Remik Sokolov. He handles the business side. I handle the rest.”
I nod, as if I’m just curious. “I hope you’re being careful, Maksim.”
He gives a dry laugh, no real humor in it. “I’m always careful.” He looks away, then back. “Listen, we’re having a big event next weekend. You should come by. See for yourself what the place is like now.” He tries for a casual tone.
I trace the rim of my coffee cup, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make it feel casual. Then I look up at Maksim, keeping my tone as light as I can manage. “This Remik guy—what kind of person is he?”
“I think you must have seen him, he was at the party the other night.”
My mind briefly flashes to the guy from Serrano’s club, but I dismiss that just as quickly. It can’t be him.
Maksim’s expression flickers, cautious for a beat. “Your husband would know better than me,” he says, a little too carefully. “He’s known Remik longer than I have. In fact, Dante introduced us. Said Remik was the kind of man who gets things done without asking too many questions. And he’s right, he’s good for business. Mostly keeps to himself. In fact, Dante approved of the changes we made to Portello.”
He sighs hard. “If it weren’t for those disappearances, we would be the biggest name in the city. There’s buzz, but there’s also bad publicity.”
“Did you know one of them was Julianne’s friend?” I ask.
He frowns. “No, I didn’t.”
The front door opens without warning, and Dante steps in, dropping his keys in the tray by the entrance. He pauses when he sees us, his coat still on. For a moment, he just looks between me and Maksim, some unreadable calculation flickering in his eyes.
He nods at Maksim, polite but cautious. “Didn’t know you’d be here.”
Maksim doesn’t shift, just holds his gaze. “I came to see her,” he says, calm but direct.
There’s something in the way he says it—firm, but without challenge—that makes my heart stumble. I can tell Dante notices too. His posture stiffens just a touch, but he doesn’t give anything away. His face is carefully neutral, but I can sense the tension under the surface. He’s not pleased about this situation, but he won’t make a scene.
Dante closes the door, hanging his coat on the hook, then comes to stand near me. “Everything alright?”
I glance at Maksim, grateful for his restraint, then nod. “We were just catching up,” I say.
For a long second, no one moves. The city sounds fill the silence, the distant honk of traffic, a siren somewhere far below, the faint hum of the refrigerator. I wonder if I should say something, offer to make more coffee, but the words stick in my throat.
Finally, Maksim gives me a small nod. “I should go,” he says quietly, and then to Dante, “Take care of her.”
Dante just watches him, unreadable, and nods once.
Maksim heads to the door, pausing only long enough to squeeze my hand in a way that’s both comforting and quietly protective. Then he’s gone, leaving just me and Dante.
Dante lingers by the door after Maksim leaves, the apartment suddenly feeling smaller with just the two of us in it. I tuck a stray hair behind my ear, unsure what to do with my hands. He glances at me, expression unreadable, then looks away, shrugging off his jacket.
The silence stretches, heavier than usual. Finally, I clear my throat. “Are you hungry?”
