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Was I? Jeez, I’m too tired to be sneaky. “I was zoned out. A lot on my mind.”
He sighs. "It’s a pretty big life change, huh? Leaving New York, moving here, getting married.”
I sink lower in my seat. “It’s what I signed up for. Of course, I didn’t think I was going to be relegated to a society wife.”
He chuckles. “What’s so bad about being a society wife? You seemed to enjoy yourself today, trying on dresses and giggling over the latest styles with Liza.”
“Sure, that’s fun for, like, a day. But I’m capable of so much more, and Maxim knows it.”
Roman looks over at me thoughtfully. “Is it true you killed your father?”
My head snaps towards him. Talk about getting right to the point. I debate how much to reveal. The truth of the matter is, my history is well-known in bratva circles, and this might be the perfect opportunity to ask about Masha's death.
I twirl the ring about my finger. “Unfortunately, I’m not the one that pulled the trigger, but I would have if given the chance. After my failed attempt to take over the Antonov Bratva, my father hunted me for months. He’d already tortured and killed my aunt, Masha, to learn my whereabouts, and I was next.” I hold my breath for a minute and then casually add, “You must have heard about that?” I watch him closely, trying to discern if there's any sign of recognition or guilt in his expression about my aunt's fate, but I can’t find anything. Only … sympathy.
He scratches the back of his neck. “Yeah, of course. We were in Japan on business at the time, but I remember hearing about it. That really sucks. I’m sorry.”
“Japan? With Maxim?” The surprise in my voice is evident.
“Yeah, we were working on some deal with the Yakuza. Maxim was there for part of it. It was four years ago, hard to remember the exact dates. Why does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. Just curious.” My heart races.
What does this mean? Even if Maxim wasn’t in the country, he could've still orchestrated her murder from afar. But the way Boris spoke, it sounded like Maxim was directly involved in the killing.
“So how did you end up hooking up with the Kozlovs?” Roman asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I smile. At least this part of the story is happy. “I didn’t know at the time that they were my half-brothers. I knew the Kozlov Bratva was a powerful New York player and my father’s biggest rival, so I approached them to help me take him down.” I huff out an amused breath. “By approach, I mean blackmail… Maybe not my smartest move.”
Roman looks over at me, eyebrows raised.
I shake my head. “Long story short, during a very tense standoff with the Kozlovs, I discovered they’re actually my half-brothers—my father seduced their mother and then stole me from her when I was a newborn. Anyway…” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “My brothers helped me take down my father, and as you know, we've all grown quite close. A happy ending to a really messed-up situation.”
Roman whistles through his teeth. “Shit. Your story’s even crazier than I could've imagined. But also more badass.” He takes one hand off the wheel and high-fives me.
“See? I'm capable of a lot more.” My eyes dart out the window. “Maxim underestimates me.”
Roman’s knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. “Yes, well, Maxim’s cautious about who he lets into his world. It’ll take him some time to fully trust anyone, even his own wife.” He pauses. “Especiallyhis own wife," he adds under his breath.
Okay, mysterious much?
“In the spirit of sharing…” I lean in slightly, lowering my voice. “I know Maxim was married before. Alyona told me. I don’t understand why it feels like it's some big secret.” I pause, sitting on my hands to stop myself from fidgeting. “I also don’t understand how it ended. I thought there was no divorce in this world.” Unless he had his wife killed. Which, honestly, I’m not ruling out.
Roman shakes his head. “That’s a story that’s best left in the past. You won’t win any favors with Maxim if you ask about Irina.”
Irina? Is that her name? I’m tempted to ask if they had a child together, but considering Roman shut me down, maybe I won’t push it. “Do you realize how fucked up that sounds? I’m married to the guy, and I can’t ask about his past?”
“What did you expect? That you’d be braiding each other's hair and swapping secrets all night?”
His words strike a chord and I turn away sharply, feeling more upset by what he said than I have any right to be.
“Sorry, that came out harsher than I meant it to.”
I press my heated cheek to the window pane, acutely aware of Roman’s intense stare. “Maxim doesn’t need time. He needs an attitude adjustment,” I grumble.
We’ve pulled up in front of the mansion, but Roman doesn’t make a move to get out of the car. “He’s not all bad. After my father left my family, I was lost. Angry. Confused. I lashed out. No one wanted anything to do with me. I would have been on the street if it wasn’t for Maxim. He gave me purpose and direction when I had none.”
It’s great that Roman can see some redeeming qualities in him, but I'm not there yet. All I've seen is the cold, hard side of Maxim. “A real modern-day hero.”
