Page 47 of Captivated By the Bratva

She moaned, taken aback by my hunger and impatience, and when the nurse retreated, her shoes squeaking on the floor, I waited until the door closed. Now with a semblance of privacy, I turned my elation and relief into annoyance and anger.

Nipping her lip earned me a sharp hiss. I broke the kiss completely and glared down at her.

This wasn’t the time for Mr. Nice Guy. I was livid, but happy. I was frustrated, but full of relief.

“Amnesia?” I demanded.

She licked her lips, as though she wanted more of my taste. Her gaze lowered, but as she looked me in the eye again, I growled at the desire in her expression.

“I’m so happy to see you.”

I grunted. “Are you?”

She winced.

“You ran from me.”

She shook her head slightly, grimacing as though it pained her to move like that. Sliding my hand through her long hair, I checked her over for a visible wound.

“I ran from Lev. And so long as you commit to bringing me home so he can get me, I am still running fromhim.”

Dammit. That was exactly what I’d told myself. How I’d rationalized it. But knowing she had the same thought process as me was dangerous. If I told her that I wanted her to be with me, it wouldn’t be difficult to convince her.

“I was scared. You told me that we’d fly out that day. And I just couldn’t.” Again, her eyes welled with unshed tears. One slipped free, and I furrowed my brow as I wiped it away with my thumb.

“I’m too scared. Scared that you’ll make me go home and I’d have to marry him.” Closing her eyes, she exhaled a long, heavy breath. “I can’t, Maxim. I just can’t.”

“What happened?” I asked instead of continuing this conversation. Not here. The door was closed, but I didn’t trust that we were truly private in this public hospital. “After you ran, what happened?”

“I was worried you’d realize I was gone and run after me. Or that someone else would be chasing me. That’s all I’ve done lately. Run, run, and run. That and hope to hide.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “It was raining, and I was so panicked that I ran out into the street. It sounds like the car was running a red light. I don’t know. Maybe it was my fault, hurrying and not paying attention or looking where I was going. But he hit me, and I knocked my head on the ground.”

I leaned closer, checking her over. “That’s all? No other wounds?”

“No. No breaks. They said I didn’t really have much of a concussion.”

“Then what’s this bullshit about amnesia?”

She licked her lips, seeming worried to explain. I gripped her chin and narrowed my eyes. “Nadia?”

“I lied. I played the doctors and nurses and let them think that I had amnesia. I pretended to not know my name, to not know where I was and all. I thought it would help to hide me. In case you were looking for me.”

I huffed a dark laugh. “I feel like I’m always going to be looking for you.”

I feel like I’ve been waiting for someone like you to crash into my life forever.

She almost smiled, but the expression faded.

“I wanted to stay out of your way. Out of Lev’s way.” She looked me dead in the eye and sighed. “But it only showed me how wrong I was.” Threading her fingers with mine, she ducked her head, almost sheepish. “Wrong to run from you. Because I’m really,reallyglad to see you, Maxim.”

When she lifted her face, piercing me with her vulnerable, gorgeous blue eyes, it felt like she was connecting with my soul. “I missed you the moment I left.”

18

NADIA

Maxim didn’t say much. He listened to the doctors when they came to check on me, and I was astounded by how fluent he was. The receptionist had spoken in English at the hotel, but here, I witnessed how experienced Maxim was at speaking in Spanish.

There was so much I didn’t know about him, and not for the first time, I wished I had all the time in the world to get to know him.

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