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“Now you can spend some quality time with that hunk of yours,” Julie said while winking dramatically.

“I don’t think so. Maxsim has been working. A lot.” I started heading back to my office. “With the warehouse being torched, he’s had to scramble for his clients all while working through getting the warehouse rebuilt.”

“That’s right. I haven’t heard anything about the investigation in the news.”

How was I to tell her that Maxsim and his men had ‘handled’ the situation themselves? While I’d been privy to only a few details, I’d been savvy enough to figure out several people had lost their lives for daring to cross him.

Even that hadn’t been in the news. It was as if the powerful man had control of groups of influential people. “Maybe they were arrested. I don’t know. But I do know with Maxsim’s international clientele, he has very powerful enemies.”

“You mean he crushed the assholes like bugs.”

Why bother denying any longer that I was dating a Bratva Pakhan. By now, it was old news and no one was terrified of the man. In fact, there wasn’t a single woman in the firm who wouldn’t shove me off a cliff to take my place.

I’d learned to watch my back in dark parking lots.

Ha.

Flopping into my chair, I’d never felt such satisfaction or relief. How many sleepless nights? How many frown lines had I accumulated?

“I thought you didn’t need your bodyguards any longer, but they recently reappeared. Did something else happen? Are the two of you still tight?”

I knew exactly what she was getting at. “You touch him and you lose your hand.”

She threw up both arms. “Just checking.”

He’d declared the war over before New Year’s. Then just last week, they’d had an issue where there’d been an explosion on one of their cargo ships out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. He’d been frantic for a few days after that.

“Black Diamond Logistics is currently dealing with a modern-day group of pirates. He’s a worrywart so for now, the bodyguards are back full time.”

“Pirates?” Her entire brow wrinkled.

“You heard me.”

She shuddered visibly. “Wow. I will admit the danger sounds exciting.”

The light knock on the door was followed by our receptionist sticking her head in. “A note was dropped off for you. He made it seem important.” She dropped it off on my desk.

“Oh, he did, did he?”

“Yes, urgent.” She laughed and walked out while Julie folded her arms.

“I wonder who that’s from?”

I shot her a look before fingering the envelope. What did the man have in mind? As soon as I opened the note, I burst into laughter. “He’s taking me on a trip.”

“Where?”

“Here’s the thing. I have no idea and he has no intention of telling me. I’m to grab a few toiletry items and be prepared to be picked up in one hour.”

Everything about Julie was beautifully dramatic, including her heavy sigh. “If only I had a boyfriend like Maxsim Aristov. Wait. He does have a brother.”

I wagged my finger. “Don’t try it or my guy will skip breaking your fingers and eat off your arm.”

“Damn it. I told you there was something extremely hot about one huge, handsome Russian man.”

“Yes, you did.” Evidently, the issue had been settled if he was willing to go away for a couple of days.

With each passing day, I’d come to realize I would never be able to control Maxsim in any aspect of life. He was a ruthless man offering zero excuses, never taking no for an answer.