Page 49 of Maksim

I had no idea how much I missed it until just now.

I walk to the stove, avoiding looking at Elira as much as she avoids me then look down at the dish. It has a yellowish, solid yet creamy top that looks unfamiliar. Whatever it is, it smells good.

“It’s tavë cosi,” Anya tells me. “Lamb and rice with a yogurt/egg mixture on top.”

“Wow.”

Where the fuck did the ingredients come from? I turn my head to Elira, but she doesn’t meet my eyes, of course.

Did she fucking leave the house?

“Tomorrow we’re going to make blini. Like Mom used to make.”

My eyes widen for half a second before I neutralize my expression. Anya doesn’t talk about her mother. Ever. Not to me. I didn’t realize she even remembered her mother, let alone her blini. She was only three when her parents died.

Discomfort washes over me while I try to debate what to say.

“Cool.”

When her face falls, I open my mouth to say more, but nothing comes out. Now I can feel Elira’s eyes on me, intruding on something so private that, to her, must feel basic. That’s what she’s been since she’s entered my life, one big intrusion.

Bitterness tries to curl my lip, but I keep my attention on Anya and give up on saying anything further about the blini. I don’t want Elira anywhere near her, certainly not near a hot stove or kitchen knives.

What the fuck is Elira’s game plan?

I don’t know, but this can’t continue. She can’t continue. With a glance her way, I debate what to do. I could kill her myself as soon as Anya inevitably runs to her boyfriend, or… I could just give her back to the people who really want her. All it would take is one phone call. Hell, one text.

Nikita will understand. He will think I’m weak for allowing her to get away, but when he sees the video, he’ll understand that she isn’t a typical woman. He’ll respect my decision and find another way to punish my other choices.

“I’m gonna step outside,” I say, eyeing the exit. When I slip out the back door, I pull out my phone and search for the contacts I originally got when I looked for Daniel Storm’s identity.

The door slides open, and I watch Anya come through and shut it before walking to me with her hands behind her back, her head shamefully bowed.

Okay, seriously, what the fuck is going on?

“Hey.” I lower my phone. “Are you okay?”

She nods while chewing on her lip, but when her face ripples with an impending sob, I widen my eyes and open my arms for her as she crashes against me. She hugs me tight, tighter than I can remember, and cries against my chest.

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbles before sucking in a deep breath.

I smooth my hand over her back, at first awkwardly, but then my eyes close and I squeeze. My chest aches at the tension that’s been so tightly wound between us, and although the hug is still fresh, I get the sudden dread that this will be the last time I ever feel her arms around me. It doesn’t feel possible for us to ever be close again, so this small taste is almost too painful to bear.

“I’m sorry too.” I run my hand down her hair and squeeze. “I know I’m not enough for you, Anya. I know you need more. I’m so sorry for the things I’ve said to you and the things I have and haven’t done. I swear to you, I’m trying.”

She pulls away and shakes her head, wiping fresh tears from her eyes. “No, that’s bullshit. You’re more than enough. I just treat you like shit because…”

She looks off like she’s ashamed, and again, I search for words to make her pain go away, finding none. I’m terrible at comforting her.

She looks up and takes a sharp breath. “Because I thought you were a bad guy. Because of your job. I thought…” She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. I said awful shit to you, and it turns out, I’m just a shitty judge of character. You were right about Tanner. He’s a lowlife asshole.”

I stare at her, more confused than I was when I walked into my house.

She hates me because of my job? Okay. That’s fair. But why does she suddenly think she was incorrect in her assessment?

“Elira told me everything,” she says, answering my unspoken question. Sort of. It actually makes me more confused.

“What is everything?”