Page 232 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
MAXIM
Grace and Elena have been gone for a while, and I feel uneasy about this. Dmitri is thinking the same from the way he is looking around the ballroom. The wives are back from the bathrooms so should Grace and Elena. Where the hell are they?
Our main course has arrived, which makes the girls’ absence more noticeable.
“They’re in the garden, talking,” Damon says in my ear. “Oh, shit!”
I cover my mouth with my serviette. “What?” I hiss behind it.
“Your sister is CIA,” Damon says quickly.
What the hell?
“Can you excuse me for a moment? I seemed to have lost my date,” I say, leaving the table, not caring if they think I’m being rude. I make my way through the tables and head out to the gardens. Opening the French doors, I see Elena and Grace talking animatedly.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Maxim, what are you doing here?” Grace asks, looking nervous.
“I could ask the same thing of you both.”
“We were just grabbing some fresh air before going back inside.”
I know Grace is covering for Elena, and if I wasn’t so confused by Damon’s comments, I would be proud she’s protecting her.
“Grace, it’s okay.” Elena steps closer to me. “I know you know. Grace told me.” Elena smiles over at my girl, the camaraderie already there between them.
My body relaxes as if this stupid charade can finally be over. “Elena?” My throat is dry saying her name out loud, the emotions of finally being able to acknowledge that my dead sister is alive hitting me.
“Maxim.” Her tears begin to fall as she stares at me.
“How? I don’t understand.”
“I have so much to tell you, but I don’t have time, Dmitri is probably wondering where I am.”
“I’ve missed you,” I tell her.
“And I’ve missed you.” She rushes to me, pulling me into her arms. She wraps herself tightly around me as if she doesn’t ever want to let me go. “I’m so sorry.” She’s crying, her face buried in my chest.
I pat her hair. “Ssh, it’s okay. I don’t care—you are alive; my sister is alive.”
“Your sister?” Dmitri’s voice echoes through the still night.
I push Elena away, shielding her. Then I pull my handgun from my side holster and point it straight at Dmitri.
“Don’t give me an excuse to end you right here, right now.”
“Fuck you, Maxim,” Dmitri spits at me. “Is this true?” he asks Elena. “Is it fucking true?”
“Yes.” Elena steps out from behind me.
Dmitri is shaking his head in disbelief. “No, there is no way.” He looks stunned. “Who the fuck are you?”
Is that hurt on his face? Does he have feelings for my sister?
He takes a step toward her.
“Don’t move, fucker.”
