Page 66 of Unholy Tsar

He practically elbows people out of the way to reach us. “Maksim,” he starts in an obnoxiously loud voice. “So nice to see you. It’s been years, hasn’t it?”

“Felix,” Maksim greets him sourly.

Felix shifts his feet so he’s facing me. “I see the rumors are true after all,” he says, staring down his nose at me. “You’ve found yourself a younger woman to bed…”

The whole room falls silent. Maksim stiffens. But Felix continues, oblivious to the tension. “Listen, if you like younger girls, I have a daughter around this one’s age—hell, I have another one who’s even younger if that’s what you like. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, but they’re of a far greater quality than your average…” he doesn’t have to say whore, but the word lingers in the air like a slap. “Plus, marrying into my family would help you become even more powerful, I’m—"

Without a word, Maksim lunges to his feet and seizes Felix by the throat. The Italian chokes, his eyes bulging in terror as he finally realizes his grave mistake. He tries to claw at Maksim’s vice grip, but to no avail.

A chill descends over the restaurant, and everyone averts their gaze, desperate not to witness what’s about to happen.

But I’m not sure I can stomach any more violence, not after I learned about what happened to Trey.

“Maksim,” I say, rising slowly from my seat when I realize no one is going to stop him from killing this man. Felix is an obnoxious fool, but being foolish and not knowing when to shut up isn’t exactly a crime that should be punishable by death.

Maksim’s eyes blaze when they meet mine, and I shake my head, “I think I’ve had enough for the day. I’m starting to get a headache. Can we go up to our room now, please?”

For a moment, I’m not sure he’ll listen to me, but then his lips curl in disgust, and he turns his attention back to the man he’s choking. With a vicious snarl, he shoves him away, sending him sprawling to the floor, gasping and coughing.

“Thank you,” I whisper with a grateful smile.

“Sit down, Malyshka,” Maksim commands, rage still burning through him.

I do as he says, having no idea what will happen next.

Cranking his neck, Maksim tugs on the lapel of his suit and calmly takes his seat across from me. “Felix, I believe you owe someone an apology for your… poor choice of words.”

Felix clambers to his knees, still gasping for air, as he stretches out his hand and bows his head to the floor. “I must have lost my mind. I am so sorry, Mr. Smolov. It will never happen again. I’m sorry.” His words are choked, barely audible through his gasps.

“You are not apologizing to me,” Maksim barks. “You owe Cecilia an apology; she’s the one you offended. Right now, your life is in her hands. If she chooses to forgive you, I’ll allow you to leave this restaurant alive; if she doesn’t—” Maksim trails off, leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air.

I gulp as Felix raises his head to lock eyes with me in a desperate plea. Then he scrambles forward to grab my feet. “I am so sorry, ma’am. Please spare my life, I will never—”

“Let go of her feet,” Maksim growls, cutting him off. “You don’t get to touch her. You’re not worthy to even lick her shoes.”

Felix hurriedly releases my leg and looks up at me with such fear in his eyes that I’m scared for him. “Please, madam. I’m sorry. I mean it.”

“I know. I forgive you,” I whisper, my own cheeks warming up in embarrassment from all the attention we’re getting. But if I’m being honest, the power Maksim has placed in my hands is making my head swim. It’s a little intoxicating, even if I have no intention of exploiting it.

Felix thanks me profusely, tears streaming down his face.

“That’s enough. You may leave,” Maksim says with disdain. Felix doesn’t wait for him to say it twice. With a sense of urgency, he bolts upright and runs, actually runs out of the restaurant like Maksim might change his mind.

When he’s gone, Maksim stands up and scans the restaurant. “Anyone else have something to say to me? A marriage proposal, perhaps?” His deep voice booms around the hall.

You can hear a pin drop in the silence that follows. “That’s what I thought.” With that, he turns around and offers me his hand. “Shall we go back to our room, dushen’ka? We have a flight to catch.”

Amidst all the chaos, I had completely forgotten about our little trip. Apparently, we’re going to Russia. I’m still not sure why, but when he told me this morning, there was no way I was going to refuse.

I never want to leave this man’s side again.

“We do,” I nod. Taking his hand, I let him help me to my feet. As we walk out of the restaurant, Maksim’s hand rests against the small of my back, and the crowd parts for us, not daring to say a word.

Once we’re alone in the private elevator, I let out a sigh of relief and sag against him, feeling weak.

“All of that attention was exhausting,” I confess, my voice strained. “I don’t know how you put up with it… or why you put me on the spot like that.”

“Get used to it. That’s how dirty lowlifes like Felix should treat a queen like you.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I can’t help but sink into him.