Page 101 of Shadows of the Past
When I finally glance at my little sister, her mouth is hanging open.
“You did that?”
I nod, something like pride swelling in my chest.
“Wait, you were at my first recital?”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Her bottom lip trembles. In the next second, she’s launching herself at me again, hugging me like I’m the only thing keeping her afloat. I’ve never been one for public displays of affection, but for Vi, I’d never turn her away.
Across the room, Roman and Niko exchange a look. No words needed. She’s the treasure of this family. For her, we’d all lay down our lives, paint the streets red if we had to. She’s the one pure thing in all this darkness.
Before we leave, Anuska, the woman who made the cookies, touches my arm gently.
“Can we talk in private for a minute?” There’s something in her eyes I recognize all too well: guilt.
I simply nod and gesture to a quiet corner. The others stay in the living room, probably grilling Julia for every scrap of information about me.
I study Anuska’s graying hair, her face pale from too much time indoors, her hands worn but gentle. I never had a mother figure—Carmen was the only one who ever looked out for me—but if I had to imagine a mother’s hands, they’d look like hers. Hands that knead dough for hours but would wipe away your tears without a second thought.
“I wanted to apologize for keeping silent, Maksim. You deserved to be known. I know Roman blames himself for not finding out sooner, but I was afraid of what he might discover if he went looking for you.”
I get it. I could’ve been dead. I could’ve turned out like Ivan-a monster. Or maybe just an ordinary man, untouched by violence. Finding me was a gamble, and she couldn’t risk putting her family in danger.
“There’s nothing to forgive, Anuska. I could’ve reached out to Roman a thousand times, but I chose not to. And I don’t regret it.”
She nods and, before heading to the kitchen, rises on tiptoe and kisses my cheek.
“You have a good heart, Max,” she whispers, and my chest tightens as I watch her go.
A good heart? That’s not something I’d ever call what beats in my chest. Broken, maybe. Not enough. Weak. Guilty. If my heart were good, maybe I’d have been kept in this family. If my heart were good, maybe I wouldn’t have caught the attention of a monster searching for a reflection of himself in his heir. If my heart were good, maybe I would’ve seen the poison choking Zoya before it was too late.
No, my heart isn’t good. It’s worn out, gray, and the only reason blood still moves through my veins isher.
She’s laughing at one of Niko’s jokes, curls tumbling nearly to her elbows, that free, easy smile lighting up her face, too fucking beautiful for her own good.
Jealousy flickers in me as Niko studies her smile, but the moment her eyes meet mine, all my doubts vanish. There’s fire and light there, and I know no matter the life, no matter the world, I’d find her, and she’d be mine.
But the thought of Aleksandr still out there sends a prickle up my spine. He’s the last viper whose head I need to take. The last man who needs to pay for all the innocent blood he’s spilled.
Right now, it’s too quiet, far too quiet. I’m not naive enough to think he’ll stay hidden in whatever hole he’s crawled into. He’s plotting, I can feel it, and the storm on the horizon has me on edge.
All I can think about is keeping her safe.
Always her.
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Chapter 38
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Julia
How the hell does that worm keep slipping through our fingers? This is the third alert we’ve gotten about Aleksandr, and every time, we show up too late. The last official contact he had was with Roman, a few weeks back, when he just had to threaten Maksim.
I can’t help but grin when I remember Roman’s reaction—he felt the need to introduce Aleksandr’s nose to his fist. Pretty sure that bruised his ego, and I bet he’s still fuming about it. Honestly, that’s my only consolation. I just hope whoever fixed his nose left it crooked. It’s a childish thought, but I’m out of patience.
