Page 25 of The Bratva's Christmas Bump
“He said I was protected, then he tried to kill me! What the fuck, what the fuck, what thefuck? I want to go home. I want my parents. I want to go home.”
Something unexpectedly heavy settles in my chest as I sit up, the freezing ground soaking its icy fingers through my jeans. “I can’t take you home, but I can take you back to the penthouse. You’re safe now with me. I promise.”
“Safe?” She scoffs and rolls away from me, then slowly climbs to her feet while dusting leaves and dirt from her clothes. “Nothing about you issafe.”
I climb up at a slower pace and step back so I’m not towering over her as much. “I married you to keep you safe.”
“Does this look safe?” She gestures around us but freezes when my father’s voice drifts closer. “You married me so I wouldn’t go to the cops about what I saw, didn’t you? You didn’t do this to keep me safe, you did it to keep you safe, and your dad’s trying to do the same thing bykillingme!”
“Hollie, if I wanted you dead, then you would be.”
“How is this any better?” A tear leaks down her cheek. “Please let me go home.Please.”
“I can’t. It’s not safe.”
Her face crumples. “I hate you.”
“Hollie…” I step forward, and she doesn’t move. “Marrying you is the only way to keep you safe, don’t you see?”
“I don’t feel protected. Your father dragged me into that car and tried to kill me. What about that is keeping me safe?”
“I made a mistake. I’m not asking you to trust me because you have all the reasons not to, but when you’re with me, and from now on, you will be protected. It’s how we work. It’s how our entire world works.”
“Because you’re Mafia?”
Even with only a flashlight to illuminate us, her eyes sparkle like stars and that strange weight in my chest increases. “Yes. I am.”
Her eyes close and the other voices grow closer. Toto is doing a great job of talking loudly so I can track them easier in the dark while I wait for Hollie to say something. Just as I grow impatient, she finally opens her eyes.
“Whatever. Killing me here or at your penthouse. What’s the difference?” The defeat in her voice carries through the air like smoke.
“So you’ll come back with me?”
She steps forward and hastily wipes away a tear. “Whatever,” is her last response, and she remains silent all the way back to the road. Once we’re back at my car, I call Toto and tell him she’s with me. Less than five minutes later, Dad climbs the embankment with his goons in tow, followed by Stu and Toto.
“I found her, Dad.” Our eyes meet and to my surprise, he doesn’t say a word. He strides silently toward his second car and getsinside. Fredrick follows while Yannis moves more slowly. He fixes Hollie with an odd look, drags his tongue over his teeth, and slips into the driver’s seat. They leave thirty seconds later.
“The fuck?” Toto stops near us, panting softly. “That’s it? He just fucks off?”
Moving around Hollie, I open the door for her and help her into the car. After closing it, I face my men.
“I want eyes on him. This isn’t over.”
10
HOLLIE
“Let me look at you.”
I’m far too tired to argue, so there’s no resistance when, an hour later, we’re back at Maxim’s penthouse and he guides me into the soft, warm lighting of his bathroom. Just behind him, a large square mirror shows the state I’ve ended up in.
Small leaves and a few twigs embed themselves in my messy hair. Dirt streaks my face and clothes and there’s a small tear in my top and a few small scratches along my bare arms. Around my throat, bruising rises from Igor’s hands and my bruised cheek from Stu’s blow darkens in color from Igor’s own.
I barely recognize myself.
Maxim stands before me, a head taller and infinitely broader. His brows furrow as he looks me over. He dwarfs me with his miles of muscle and a height I could only dream of. Maybe I should be scared to be back here with him, but I’m so exhausted, I don’t even feel it anymore. An ache rests behind my eyes that droops with every blink, and coldness seeps into my bones,creating a constant slight shiver despite the warmth of the air around me.
“He did this?” Maxim slowly motions to my throat, and I nod.
