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“I’ll decide what’s a waste of energy and what’s not,” I snap.
“Maxim, I only wanted to help?—”
“I understand,” I say, forcing a softer tone. It’s no secret that Nadya isn’t a fan of Kira’s, and right now, her help feels more like interference. “If you’d like to help, take Pavel to the medic. He needs to get stitched up.”
Pavel steps forwards and nods at me, a conversation taking place in our silent exchange. Roman managed a decent field dressing, but Pavel does need stitches. More than that, I need him to keep Nadya busy while we sort out what the fuck actually happened.
Nadya gives me a final pleading look, but she doesn’t push the issue.
Roman and I follow Viktor into his office. The click of the latch is a sharp note as he closes the door behind us.
“Tell me about the drones,” I demand, pacing the small space.
"I launched them after New York. It’s still in the final testing phase, but they cover every blind spot we have. If anyoneapproached the house or left unexpectedly, the drones would've caught it. The feed isn't live-streaming to our servers yet, only recording locally.” Viktor's expression tightens with frustration. “Which means we’ll need to manually retrieve the footage from each drone, which could take hours.”
“Do it now,” I instruct. “Roman will help. Until we know who to trust, this stays between us three and Pavel. Let me know when you have something.”
As I turn to leave the room, Roman falls in step behind me, a silent shadow in the dimly lit hallway. I know better than to ignore him—he’s a dog with a bone when he’s got something to say.
I spin to face him. “Out with it.” I cross my arms in front of my chest.
“Tell me you don’t really believe Kira orchestrated all of this to escape you? Can’t you fucking see how she feels? Shelovesyou. She wouldn’t?—”
“What? Leave me?” I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“You know I’m not. Stop being a pussy, and admit that what you two have is as real as it gets.”
Self-hate consumes me. Roman has no idea how I failed Kira, how I have no one but myself to blame for her running.
“Fuck you!” I explode, gathering the front of Roman’s shirt in my hand and pushing him up against the wall. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” My breath comes out in a ragged huff. “I told her about Ilya. Told her I’d never have another kid, all while she’s pregnant with my baby. And a day later … fuck … she goes missing. Nadya got it wrong. Kira didn’t run because she doesn’t want a baby but because she doesn’t want one with a broken man like me.”
“Says who?!” Roman yells.
We continue to grapple, crashing into a side table, sending it toppling over.
“You don’t know if she ran—she could have been taken. Forced.” Roman shakes his head and looks at me like I’m losing my grip. “Tell me what you know to be true, right here.” He pounds on my chest, just above my heart.
I shake my head in disgust. “The only thing I know to be true is that if I were Kira, I would’ve run from me as well. Pregnant by a man too damaged to tell her how he really feels.” She’s probably on her way to New York right now, needing to put as much distance between us as possible.
Roman's grunt is laced with annoyance, his arms crossed tightly. “I don’t know if you’re buying your own bullshit, but let me lay it out for you. That woman is in love with you. I’ve seen how Kira lights up around you—she’s genuinely happy. And so are you, whether you admit it or not. Wake the fuck up and face the truth already, so we can get serious about finding her.”
His words sink deep into my soul. Does he see something I don’t? I know I love her, but does Kira love me?
Memories flood my mind. The way she snuggles into my chest as if it's her safe haven. Her beaming face after she broke Leung. The way she held me when I told her about Ilya, her eyes full of tenderness and free of judgment.
Am I a fucking idiot for not seeing what’s in front of me? Roman clearly thinks so. I’m no expert on the matter, but somewhere in the depths of my heart, I know it’s true. She loves me as fiercely as I love her.
This revelation changes everything. Every instinct to protect Kira and our baby claws to the surface. Even though she deserves a better man than me, I won’t let her go. Not now or ever. She bears my name and wears my ring, and she ismine. Body and soul.
"She wouldn't leave on her own," I say, my mind whirling with the stark clarity of the truth. “This was planned. Someone timed it perfectly and covered their tracks.” But they underestimated one thing—my resolve to get Kira back, no matter what. I'll move heaven and earth to find her.
Roman pounds me on the back. “Thank fuck you came to your senses, or I would have had to punch you out.”
“And then I’d have to shoot you.” I smirk at Roman, my chest filled with appreciation for the stubborn bastard. “Now, go hunt down some drones. I have a wife to find.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
MAXIM
