A large bookshelf takes up one of the walls. It’s filled with ancient-looking leather tomes. I take a few steps closer, examining the titles. The bottom two shelves hold encyclopedias, while the rest are classic literature. There are titles in English, French, and Russian.
Maksim comes up to me and hands me a glass of water. “I decided to split up my collection after I heard you lost yours in a terrible fire.”
My head snaps up to look at him. “How do you know about the fire?”
His thin smile twists my stomach into knots. “I like to thoroughly research things that fascinate me.”
My pulse quickens. What game is he playing now?
“Have a seat,” he says, gesturing at one of the armchairs next to the desk.
Surprisingly, instead of taking the seat across from me like I expected, he settles into the armchair beside me. His fingers hang off the armrest, just inches away from my own. I quickly withdraw my hand and place it in my lap.
“I find you incredibly fascinating, Mrs. De Luca,” Maksim murmurs.
I stay silent, waiting for him to say more. Nero’s voice filters through the French doors—he’s arguing in rapid-fire Italian.
“Your husband doesn’t sound too happy with his circumstances,” Maksim remarks. “Are his masters tugging on his leash too tightly?”
I pause for a moment, choosing my words carefully before responding. “I’m sure Nero wishes things could go back to the way they were before.”
Maksim nods. “Perhaps. But we all know that’s not possible. The past cannot be undone. However, we can shape the future. Your husband desires power, correct? A power he will never attain if he remains under Gino Ferraro’s control.”
I raise an eyebrow, giving space for him to continue.
“I can give him a way out. Not only that, I can help him take down the people that destroyed his life.” He gives me a thin smile. There’s something in his gaze that makes me want to recoil in disgust.
“How?” I force myself to ask.
“I can persuade the pakhan to take Nero under his wing. After all, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Especially when Nero could be a very useful friend. But I would be taking a personal risk by vouching for Nero. To make it worth my while, I’d want something in exchange.”
“What?”
Maksim lifts his hand and trails a knuckle over my cheek. “What I want is one night with you.”
A crater opens up inside my gut. “Wh-what?”
Maksim’s eyes bore into me. “One night, Blake. Don’t you love your husband enough to do this for him?”
My thoughts race in confusion. He wants me to sleep with him in exchange for helping Nero. He believes I would do anything to aid my husband escape a situation he despises.
It becomes clear to me then just how depraved Maksim truly is. He is pretending to be doing Nero a favor, but it’s all for his personal gain.
This is his way of testing the waters, of seeing how desperate Nero and I are to change our circumstances.
I swallow hard. I could never do what he’s asking for. The thought of being with Maksim twists my stomach.
But refusing would be the end of our mission. It would be giving up Nero’s chance at becoming capo. It would be giving up my only possibility of getting that passport—my ticket to freedom.
A ticket I’m not so sure I even want anymore.
“So…” Maksim leans back in his armchair, steepling his fingers in front of him. “What is your answer?”
I don’t know. I feel dizzy and a little sick.
Suddenly, the French doors swing open, and Nero strides in. “I’m finished, and I’m getting a bit bored of this scene, so let’s cut to the chase, Maksim. Why did you invite us here?”
“I was just talking to Blake about that.”
