Page 14 of Surrender: XXX Maxim
“A hunter’s nature is to kill,” he says softly. “Somethingin the wolf made him forsake that purpose, even for a second. Even if his following actions were misguided. Something in the wolf made him, for a moment, question his sole intent. It might not fit the average definition, but why, in his viewpoint, would the mere desire to spare that one wolf, not be worthy of being called love?”
I inhale raggedly, my mind buzzing. “Do you know what—”
A classical ringtone cuts me off, and Lucius fishes a cell phone from his pocket, answering it one-handed. “Sir? You mean… Understood.” His jaw clenches, concern clouding his weathered features. “We’re already on the way. Yes, sir.”
He hangs up, and the car lurches forward as his speed noticeably increases.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, scrambling for my seatbelt.
He doesn’t respond.
Within minutes, we reach the building housing the new suite. Lucius takes the dress and ushers me from the car, up to the penthouse. I follow him inside, but my footsteps falter before I truly process the scene before me.
Maxim’s thunderous bellow reaches me first. “Find himnow,Milton,” he growls. “I want his fucking head on a platter… No! Don’t lie to me. You’ve always pitied him, coming to his rescue. Little Dima. Iknowyou’re aware of where he is. Do you think Anatoli is cunning enough to plan this on his own? No. Someone is pulling his strings—don’t talk to me about strategy!”
He stands in the large sitting room off the foyer hunched over a black end table, a cell phone held to his ear. His posture alone sets every nerve in my body on high alert. He’s trembling, his fingers grasping the edge of the table so tightly it rocks on its axis.
“Find him! I want a location by tonight—you owe me this. But it might be too late, even then. They all know it by now. They’ll be coming for her.Fuck!” Hissing in rage, he rips the cell phone from his ear and throws it across the room.
I take an instinctive step behind Lucius before I even think to focus on what might be the source of his rage. On the table before him lies a square-shaped object I can’t make out at first. It’s gray, made of metal. A briefcase?
As Lucius continues to advance, Maxim looks up and his eyes... I don’t even think he sees us at first. Just phantoms from a nightmare he can’t seem to wake up from.
“Sir,” Lucius calls to him, his tone level. I can tell from his careful stance that the words he spoke in the car weren’t bravado. He’s used to dealing with Maxim in this state—a caged, feral wolf. For one, he wisely keeps his distance. “Can I be of any assistance?”
“Lucius.” Maxim blinks and refocuses his attention on the older man. “Thiswas delivered to one of my offices,” he hisses, gesturing to the case. “It came from Anatoli himself. It seems the bastard couldn’t wait for me to come to him. I’m sure you know what it means.”
“I believe so, sir.” Lucius’ jaw clenches in recognition. “I’ll review any breach in security immediately. As for this. I can remove it—”
“Like it would do any fucking good. Leave,” Maxim demands. “But you—” He turns to me. “You stay.”
“As you wish, Sir. I’ll make adjustments to your security immediately.”
“The house first,” Maxim snarls. “They may start there.”
“Of course. I’ll double the detail.” With a wary glance in my direction, Lucius retreats from the suite. In his absence descends a silence so heavy it’s suffocating.
“What’s going on?” I manage to rasp.House.That word won’t leave my fucking brain. The only one I know of him owning just so happens to house my entire family.
As I watch, Maxim braces his hands on the table, his expression like thunder. Slowly, he nudges the case, tracing the corner of the lid with his thumb. Then he lifts it, revealing a sliver of plain, gray material and a flash of red. That’s all I see before he slams the lid shut. His eyes cut to mine, and I swear my heart stops beating.
It’s like my entire body can’t function again until he turns away, his shoulders hunched, hands curling into fists. “I changed my mind,” he snaps. “Go! I need to be alone.”
I flinch toward the door without actually taking a step. The tormented figure who devised the phrase “hot and cold” had to have Maxim Koslov in mind. In some moments, his apparent need for me burns so fucking hot, I can pretend it means more than lust. More than a sadistic whim. But then his gaze can go so cold. Like now.
And it’s like I don’t even exist.
Lucius referred to a wolf and a cage—but the analogy he should have used was that of a doll and a child who can’t decide if he wants to play with it or smash it to pieces.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, taking a cautious step toward him. “What happened—”
“You got your wish,” he says, his mouth twisted in a cruel sneer. “There won’t be a fucking wedding. So smile. You can remain as nothing more than my whore. What?” He cocks his head as I stiffen. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Well, now you have an excuse to turn tail and run. Though, I suggest you don’t go too fucking far.”
He’s right. Hurt pride could drive me away from him now. Make me run. It’s what he expects.
And it dawns on me that it’s exactly what hewants.
“What’s wrong?” I ask instead. The strength in my voice surprises me almost as much as it seems to surprise him. “You let me go to the fitting,” I point out. “So whatever changed, it had to happen—”
