BEASTS OF BRATVA: Maksim: Part 3 by Cassandra Korbell

Author:Cassandra Korbell [Korbell, Cassandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Published by Cassandra Korbell
Published: 2016-08-11T18:30:00+00:00

TEN

LILLIAN

Months passed by, and I began rebuilding my life. I had several long talks with Priya. I spent much needed time thinking about what I really wanted in my career. It felt good to run my old route again, though the familiar Audi still followed me around my neighborhood. Along with the security guard posted at the entrance of my building, Viktor constantly patrolled my hallway.

A week after returning to my apartment, I knocked on my neighbor’s door and asked where I should send my rent check. He gave me a funny look before disappearing into his apartment and returning with a small piece of paper scribbled with the address for Odessa Holdings, Inc. When Odessa Holdings, Inc. returned my first two rent checks, I stopped making rent payments. I considered moving to another apartment, but I needed a job first.

I knew that a law firm like Williams, Goldstein, and Halloran wasn’t an option for me; I wouldn’t be happy there. After much thought, I decided to focus on family law, specifically adoptions. After an interview with the director of Home Again, I accepted a position as the lead guardian ad litem for children undergoing adoption. My salary at Home Again was little more than half of what I earned at Williams, Goldstein, and Halloran, but I was happier and the hours were much more reasonable.

I’d finally settled into a routine, running every morning before Alek took me to the Home Again offices. I never heard from Maksim. Neither Viktor nor Alek said anything about him, even when Alek drove me to and from work. Maksim didn’t contact me, except for the flowers delivered to my door every Friday. The arrangements were always gigantic and always included lilies.

I hadn’t seen Maksim for more than three months when I jogged out my building’s entrance for my morning run. Though most of the winter ice had thawed, certain patches still remained along my usual running route. I was about thirty minutes into my run when I approached the commuter bridge. Under constant shadow, the portion of sidewalk under the commuter bridge contained the most patches of ice; but, having run the same route for months, I was confident in my knowledge of where the ice was located.

I increased my speed, hoping to pass under the dark bridge as quickly as possible. In the absence of light, I could see only my breath escaping as vapor into the predawn air. I was sprinting, lifting my knees high and kicking off with the balls of my feet. Then, I was on my back, gazing dumbfounded at the trusses supporting the bridge. I lay there wheezing as shock numbed my limbs.

I sat up slowly, testing my strength by propping myself on my elbow. I heard the footsteps running toward me only a half-second before hard, strong arms wrapped around my waist. I didn’t need any light to know the arms around me were Maksim’s; I could tell from his touch.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, still short of breath.

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