Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 57121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Another laugh escapes me. This one is far darker. What am I even thinking? What deranged thoughts am I letting grow in my mind?
Lia: You don’t know me, Maksim.
Maksim: I know enough. I know you care more than most. That you work harder than most people can even imagine. I know you’ve been waiting for a chance to live.
I type quickly, anger bubbling up inside me.
Lia: And this is my chance?
He’s turning this situation into something it has no right to be. I’m a regular Joe swept up in the madness of his world. Not the object of some projected desire.
Lia: Is this about keeping me safe, or making me yours?
I stare at my message, not clicking the send button. Hesitation grips me. I know I’ve got every right to send this message. But the confusing truth is, I don’t want him to think I’m completely against the idea of something happening between us.
My thoughts go to the moment we almost kissed yesterday. He was standing so close, heat radiating from him, looking down at me with those gray eyes that make me melt. I remember the way he looked months ago, the respect each time he glanced at me, the shock that I was willing to speak to him like a regular guy.
I delete the message.
Lia: And the big, strong man is my chance to live?
Maksim: You called me big and strong. I’ll take that, my light.
I bite down as another jolt of desire goes through me. And something else, something softer.
Lia: Not many people know that my name means that.
Maksim: It’s a beautiful name. It fits you well. You ARE a light, Liora. Especially in this grim, dark world.
Lia: I don’t plan on being in this grim, dark world forever. I was just stupid and stood up to the wrong man.
Maksim: Never call yourself stupid.
I can feel his fierceness through the phone.
Maksim: Don’t do that. You’re brave and courageous. You’re the type of woman any man would be lucky to have.
Lia: Reminder, Maksim, you don’t know me.
Maksim: I know you twirl your hair when you’re anxious. I know you can’t stand creamer in your coffee. I know you have to take a moment before visiting a patient to smile. I know you put everyone else before yourself.
I let his words sweep me along for a few stunningly beautiful moments. How can he pick up on all of this just from minutes together? I’ve never felt so seen.
No. I need to take control. I can’t let this go too far, we only just met. If we were in person and he were saying this, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself though. Ah, the magic of texting…
Lia: I need to get ready for work.
Maksim: Me too.
I want to ask him what work means for him on a day-to-day basis. Cracking skulls? Meeting in seedy rooms to make senators and congressmen do his bidding? But he obviously wouldn’t discuss that over text.
I put my phone away, then take a shower. There’s no way I’m getting any more sleep tonight, so I might as well start my day. His words play on my mind, as if he spoke them in his gruff voice and didn’t text them.
All my stuff is in the formal living room of the townhouse, and I mean all my stuff. Boxes and boxes of it. I find one labelled clothes, get dressed, then go to the front window to find my rust bucket sitting out front. It doesn’t fit among all the politicians’ vehicles.
A car follows me in the rearview as I drive to work. How did life get so crazy again?
At the hospital, Joel meets me at the door. I know something’s wrong immediately.
“What is it?” I say, dread in my voice.
“Daniel Mercer is gone,” he replies.
For a moment, reality splits. I don’t know Daniel Mercer. But he reminded me of my baby brother. It’s like I’m hearing about Evan’s death all over again. “I thought he was still out?”
“He was. But it seems he woke up. We found his window open and footsteps in the grass near his room.”
“Anything on the CCTV?” I ask, voice dry.
Joel shakes his head. “He used blind spots. We’ve got nothing.”
“Have you reported it to the police?”
Joel frowns. “We can’t report someone for deciding to leave a hospital.”
I massage my forehead, feeling a tension headache forming already. Too much caffeine and too little sleep.
“I can’t deal with this right now,” I murmur, walking on shaky legs into the hospital.
I’m in the staffroom when my sleepy mind finally catches up to something.
I assumed Maksim guessed all that stuff about me, but it’s too specific. How would he guess I hate creamer in my coffee? A less sleep-deprived mind would’ve realized that immediately.
Has he been following me? Watching me?
CHAPTER 10
MAKSIM
Nikolai walks across the furniture-repair store, feet crunching over broken glass and shredded fabric. I stand at the door, arms folded, jaw clenched. Several of our businesses were trashed last night.