Page 29 of Surrender: XXX Maxim
“Funny. I would dream about amassing my own power. But some things never fucking change, do they?” Maxim reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small, rectangular item that I recognize as a business card. From this angle, I can only make out a silver letter X gleaming on the front of it. “When you get tired of hiding behind another man’s pant leg, you know where to find me—” He tosses the card onto the floor. “Come when you’ve made your choice as to what role you’ll play.”
“What about as a spectator?” Vadim laughs again, but there’s no mistaking the sound for what it truly is. A growl. “The decision as to ‘where I stand’ was made for me a long time ago—I am no Koslov. And you’ve always made sure to remind me of that. Haven’t you?” He extends his throat, drawing my attention to a reddish scar stretching from his jawline down beneath the neckline of his shirt. It’s nasty, betraying the severity of the wound that made it.
I swallow hard and run my fingers along my own neck. Images sneak into my skull before I can fight them back—the feel of a knife, biting into my flesh.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Vadim’s eyes flicker toward me, meeting my gaze directly. Maxim snatches my arm, pulling me to his side, but something won’t let me turn away. It’s his expression. He doesn’t blink, his stare open and raw. With one look, I get the sense he understands all too well. “And I can tell your little friend has already gotten a taste of your…let’s call it,affection—”
“You speak to me,” Maxim demands in a hiss. “No one else.”
“If only you listened. But you are right. Let’s cut to the heart of it…” Vadim turns his attention to one of the intricate silver chandeliers hanging overhead, his frown wistful. “As much as I’d like to see the old man burn in hell, I don’t have a problem with Anatoli. In fact, you could say I’ve made peace with the idea of letting his time run its course—” His lips twitch in a fleeting smirk. “As for my help, tell me how someone as lowly and worthless as I can be of service to someone so great?”
“Cut the bullshit.” Maxim releases me and takes another step in Vadim’s direction. Mere feet separate them now, and for the first time, the other man displays a hint of wariness. He sets his bottle on the counter, freeing his hands. “I know Milton has been protecting you—”
“Milton is Milton.” Vadim lifts his arms in a casual shrug. “And as far as I know, he’s made his choice of allianceveryclear.”
“Then you know as well as I do whose side that is. You’ve been attacking my network. Don’t insult my intelligence by insisting that he just found out recently. He knows your handiwork better than anyone. I’m sure he’s been aware of your scheming since day one,” Maxim continues. “You must have some resources to hide your tracks so well. Though scheming from the shadows isn’t too much of a stretch for a rat.”
“What can I say?” Vadim smiles, and the slight tilt to his mouth transforms his face. He’s a different man in a heartbeat, charming and bright. “I was taught by the best. You should know—he trained you too. Good old Anatoli. Tell me something.” He strokes his chin, suddenly thoughtful. “When you brought your new ‘friend’ to him—and I use that term loosely, all things considered—did he fuck her first? Or did you toss her to Sevastyn to have her broken in?”
A roar of anger reverberates like thunder. Maxim. In a blur of motion, he lunges at Vadim, his arm raised, fist poised for a blow.
But Vadim stands calmly in the line of fire. Right before Maxim can touch him, he says, “Youdid, didn’t you?” A shadow falls over his face, enhancing the nuances of his expression concealed until now. He’s not afraid. He’s angry—but in a different way from the furious figure standing between us.
Where Maxim radiates fire, this man is cool, controlled ice.
“You threw her to Sevastyn.” Awe paints his tone, mingled with horror. “Either that or you failed to protect her from him. For some reason, Maxim, I never pegged you as a womanizer to quitethatextent. Even with your quirks…”
Maxim says nothing, his fist still raised, body trembling with tension.
“I thought it was a lie, the last, juiciest bit of gossip fluttering around about you,” Vadim adds. “I guess not. Anatolihasput out a bounty, after all, merely to spite his golden boy. A hefty one.”
“Oh?” Maxim lowers his fist but doesn’t back away. If anything, he towers over the slender figure, but the pairing doesn’t seem quite as unbalanced as it should.
Maybe because his opponent meets his glare unflinchingly.
“A blood price to be exact.Krasnyy konets,” Vadim says. “So archaic and dramatic of him, but somewhat fitting in this sense. How else can he better define the rules of that precious family?Koslov. Otherwise, it’s figurehead may get the urge to induct some unworthy whore into such a stoic bloodline, and the world will fucking end.”
“Watch your mouth,” Maxim snarls.
“You know it’s true,” Vadim taunts. “Even in his old age, the man can still read you like a book, Maxi. Youfinallymove to declare your independence from him, and he issues you a spanking you can’t ignore. A blood price is no small offer considering the old man—bless his soul—could keel over at any moment. I could claim the bounty now, for instance, and earn my place in the family, right over your head. In the event of Anatoli’s unfortunate demise, I might even be able to take the reins of the entire precious Koslov empire. Such a prize.”
“Am I supposed to feel threatened every time the old man decides to test me?”
“Oh, but I didn’t say the bounty was onyourhead.” Vadim’s gaze finds me again, glinting with renewed curiosity. “Did I? I see now, why you picked this one. A wide-eyed innocent little girl who won’t ever question her master. Who stays by your side, even when you toss her to the wolves. How much was she worth? A few grand? You wouldn’t pay any more than that—”
“Enough.”
“Yes. I’ve had enough.” Sighing, Vadim easily slips beyond Maxim’s reach and starts for the exit. “Goodbye for now,” he calls with an enthusiastic wave. “But we really should do this again. It’s been far too long…brother.”
Shock nearly robs me of the balance I have left. I almost miss Maxim’s reply. “You are nothing to me,” he hisses. “You want to play games? Get the fuck out.”
“Ah, yes, well, we can’t choose family, can we?” Vadim confidently strolls for the archway connecting this part of the club to the rest. “Oh, and I won’t be needing the calling card. I’ll just name my price outright. Since you like to whore out your woman, then that’s what I’ll take. An hour with her, alone—”
An object hurls through the air and smashes to pieces above Vadim’s head. A torrent of clear liquid and broken glass miss him by mere inches, but his steps don’t even falter.
“That’s the price,” he says, oblivious to the murderous glare Maxim directs his way. “And don’t think about having me followed. Your men are good, but they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, so to speak. Invest in more skilled minions if you hope to find me. I’ll await your real answer once you’ve thought on it.Dasvidaniya.”
“Follow him,” Maxim growls the second he’s beyond view.
