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CHAPTER 17
Maxim
When I finally get out of bed, I quietly exit the room, so as not to disturb Anna. Even though I’ve been up for a while, I like watching her sleep. All the different emotions and feeling are getting to me.
This girl, I’m falling hard. I know the only way for her to be mine is I’d have to forgive myself and her family. I don’t think I can do that, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that.
If I forgive them for what happened, then I’m going against my sister. My sister was an innocent victim, nobody came around to save her.
It’s a battle between my heart and brain that won’t stop. I don’t know which one will win. I don’t know how to make it right in my eyes, for me to forgive them and let them live.
I also think to myself, I’ve already forgiven Anna. She was the one that was in charge of saving her. Why can’t I forgive the rest of the family then?
I want her to be happy and I want us to be happy together. Until I can decide, she’ll continue to stay here with me. Even if I decide to kill them later, she’ll continue to stay here with me. It might take years but one day she’ll be able to forgive me and see why I did what I did.
My emotions mess with my head. I need to be around her. I want her to know everything there is to know about my sister, Sophia. I send off the text message to Booker to go and grab her. Bring her to me.
I walk over and grab my decanter and two glasses, taking them back behind my desk. This is a hard subject for me to talk about, so I’ll drink. It’s all I’ve been doing lately.
Anna walks in a little unsure. She’s probably wondering why she was called down here. “Why did you leave this morning? You should have just woke me up.” She bites her bottom lip. I know exactly how she wanted me to wake her up.
I hold a hand out for her to sit across from me at the desk. I want us to be farther apart. It would be easier just to grab and take her instead of finishing my story.
“Six months ago, I had to return to Russia for a while, to take care of family business there. I should’ve been gone for no more than a week. But, shit and life happened.” Anna just watches me as I pour us both a drink.
She looks between her drink and mine never reaching for it. I take a few deep sips before I continue with my story. “Two days before Sophia died, I received a call from Dima, my brother, he explained everything to me that happened and how long she’d been missing for.”
I quickly slam back the rest of my drink. I wish she would say something, but I know I need to finish. “Why he waited that long to tell me, I have no idea. I would’ve handled things much differently, I would’ve found her.” I shake my head as I sit back down in my seat. “I’ve never been more mad at my brother since that time. I was five hours away from landing when it was reported she died.”
Anna reaches out for my hand, but I quickly pull it away. “I’m sorry,” she mutters. I’m pretty sure it’s for me losing my sister then for Anna trying to grab my hand.
“When I got back, we went to see her at the morgue.” Anna’s head snaps up and looks at me. She knows I must’ve seen the shape she was in. Anna was the one to find her.
“You know how she looked,” I ask her, she nods. “I went down and got the fuck that did it. I cut off his dick and broke both of his legs. I don’t think he knew she was my sister. It doesn’t matter now, the piece of shit Cooper will never be able to do this to another girl.”
“He’s still alive, but he’ll never walk properly, and he’ll always have a catheter.” I chuckle, it’s been a while since I went to visit him. I need to go soon, I remind myself. It’s sick of me to keep him around, but when I need the release for what he did to her, I’ll go and pay him another visit.
“I’m so sorry about your sister. I wish I was there sooner. He got what he deserved, he hurt her bad.” As she speaks, her eyes well up with tears. Her hand moves down to her left side and she rubs an area underneath her clothes. She catches me watching then says, “I almost died that night, too, because of that bastard.” Anna lifts up her sweater. I can see the jagged pinched skin.
Why did I not know this? I didn’t even know that she got hurt. I just knew that she took out three huge guys and gave Jared Cooper a good punch in the face.
I walk over to her side, I want to see the wound up close. It’s four inches long and it looks like it was deep. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that happened to you.” I say as my fingertips run over the scar.
After I stand up, she does the same. Her arms wrap around me as she pulls me into a tight hug. It’s awkward for a minute, I don’t remember the last time I’ve ever fucking hugged someone. When the unease passes. I wrap my arms around her, squeezing just as hard.
