He held her hand as they walked into the elevator, and she smoothed her skirt.

"Maksim?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask how much this dress cost?"

He shrugged. "Whatever it was, I'd pay more to see you naked."

She looked anxiously at the men behind them. They were expressionless statues.

"Don't be vulgar," she whispered.

"Did you wipe down the kitchen countertop?" he whispered back.

Unimpressed, she crossed her arms over her chest.

Maksim pulled her hair, and she hissed. He knew what the gesture did to her. It was more than control and intimacy. It was a reminder that he fell apart without her to cling to.

"I'll behave," he kissed her cheek.

They walked out of the elevator, and the surrounding men multiplied. Raelynn could no longer see what was ahead.

"What casino are we going to?"

"Not a casino anymore. I had to change the location to one of my family's underground clubs. It has impenetrable security." He turned to one of his men. "What is it?"

His English became Russian, and his composure wrinkled.

Raelynn was silently awed when Maksim's tight hold relaxed when she rubbed his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"My mother," he spat. "She was seen nearby."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Their evening would be haunted by dark memories and angst.

Maksim pulled out his phone and began shooting orders. It was like he was back in the office, sorting through boring mountains of paperwork.

She hated how the playful aura cooled. She wanted more of Maksim's rare smiles.

She scanned the rows of men and located their driver. A plan was stitched together, and she took a step away from Maksim.

He pulled her right back. "Where are you going?"

She raised her clutch silently. "To offer the guys some candy."

Maksim released her, already used to her habit of fattening his guards up. He disapproved of the exchange because he didn't want the guards getting attached, but there was no stopping her.

He eyed her as he continued his call. To hide her face, she gave him his back and walked a few feet to the driver.

"Hi. I need you to stop by the airport. Can you do that?"

"I first need clearance from–"

"It's a surprise. Can you help me out, please? I'll sneak you some caviar next time?"

He looked surprised. Surprises probably weren't common in the mafia world, unless they involved drive-by shootings.

"He'll fire me, or..."

"Maksim?" she scoffed. "No, he won't. The boys and I will take care of that, okay?" she cupped her belly and gave him an encouraging nod.

With a sigh, he relented. "Yes, Mrs. Kuznetsov."

She didn't even bother to correct him. She gave up a long time ago.

"Thanks!"

She returned to Maksim's side and tried to pick out words from his conversation. He played with her hair, and hung up a minute later. "She will be taken care of."

"Taken care of?" she repeated, knowing that could have a very bloody meaning.

"Taken away. She shouldn't be getting this close."

"Oh, okay."

She wanted to ask if his mother was still considered family by Maksim's brothers, but didn't feel like it was the right place or time.

Maksim helped her into the car and turned back to his phone. She took the device, locked it, and tossed it onto a seat.

She needed to distract him away from the windows. The ride to the airport would be long, and Maksim would start asking questions if she did nothing about it.

Seeing no other option, she messed with the levers on his seat to recline it, and propped herself on his lap.

"Are you taking charge? I like this," he smirked. "Maybe you should be the mafia boss."

She rolled her eyes and touched his tie. "Can you teach me more Russian?"

"The PG way or the Rated R?"

By rated R, he was referring to the night he dove under her skirt and muttered Russian as he did obscenities to her.

"Why do you think of sex all the time?"

"Says the one who was watching me sweat on a treadmill."

She moaned her embarrassment and leaned in to rest her head on his shoulder.

"You really look beautiful tonight."

She smiled against his shoulder. "Thank you. Looks like the babies want some attention, too." She pressed the bump deeper into him, so he could feel the shifts inside it.

He inhaled her hair. "My boys look beautiful too."

"How do you say beautiful in Russian?"

"прекрасный."

"Uh... say that slower."

"Pre...kras...nyy."

She repeated it, but Maksim kept shaking his head. "No. Try again."

She repeated it ten times and got more disheartened with every attempt.

"One more time," he encouraged while staring at her mouth.

Seeing what he was up to, she stuck her tongue out. Maksim ducked his head and slurped her tongue.

Raelynn was hopeless against his lips. She grabbed his hips to stabilize herself and jumped when she felt something against his hip.

"Get that damn gun away from me."

"Good idea. Don't want you to shoot my dick off this time."

She gently patted his injured arm. "How's the pain?"

"I told you it was a scratch."

They talked for twenty minutes, with Maksim occasionally sneaking in sexual comments.

She remained on his lap and kept glancing out the window. Soon, they'd be at the airport.

They were at the half hour mark when Maksim noted, "what's taking them so long?"

He tried to sit up to look out the window, so she panicked and shoved him back down. Maksim was surprised, but didn't question her.

"Do you remember how we used to sit on the couch every day after work?"

He nodded.

"I never told you, but I always wondered if you kissed me and took me to bed because you got tired of my yapping."

"Are you kidding? I loved hearing the office gossip."

She smiled and fussed with his tie. "Really? You were always so blank-faced. I thought I annoyed you."

"So you only let me fuck you because you thought that was the only way to please me?" he frowned.

"Well... I kinda liked it, too," she admitted.

His shoulders lifted as his ego was boosted up to the moon.

"I had a lot on my mind," he admitted. "There was always this fear that connections with the mafia would resurface."

"Why did you abandon them in the first place?"

"I didn't agree with some of the family business. My father was in the flesh trade."

"What? Are they still–"

"No, no. My family stopped trafficking after I left years ago. I didn't go back though."

"Why?"

"Because that would mean giving up my life with you."

She truly felt beautiful then. Not because of her expensive dress, but because Maksim's words and eyes caressed her very soul.

She stared with her lips parted for a few minutes, only noticing that the car came to a stop when the locks clicked.

"Finally," Maksim sighed as he sat up and looked out a window."Why the hell are we at the airport?"

"Because..." she climbed over to her seat. "You're going on a much needed vacation."

Maksim was silent for a second, and she waited for signs of anger.

"How did you set this up?"

"I bribed. Now, promise me that you won't hurt or fire anyone."

He hesitated, so she poked his belly.

"Say it..."

"For fuck's sake, Raelynn. You can't use your pull to manipulate. I have a business to run, and sometimes men have to be punished to set an example."

"The only man that will get punished is you if you don't leave those poor guys alone."

"And what in the world will your short, little round pregnant ass do to me?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow.

Maksim ran a hand down his face, because he knew Raelynn had him by the balls.

"Where do you want to go? We can't just fly out. I need to shift things at the company and have a doctor fly with us."

"You have a phone, don't you?"

He growled like a wild animal. "Be grateful you're pregnant, or else you'd be over my lap by now."

She passed his phone to him. "We're going to Arizona."

Maksim stiffened. "Why?"

"Because it was home. Your penthouse is pretty and all, but it's too cold. I don't know. I just think this is something we have to do."

"We're not going."

"Why?"

Maksim pursed his lips.

She cupped the cheek she slapped days ago. "Don't start with the silence."

He caved. "Last time we were in Arizona, we went separate ways. I don't want it happening again."

She shook her head. "There's a lot we still have to figure out, but as long as you don't try to separate me from the babies, I won't run again."

"Fine."

She could tell he still wasn't happy, but she appreciated his effort.

"Thank you. Now, call the doctor so we can get out of here."

"Normal women would ask to be flown to Paris, not that shithole."

"Don't call it that," she frowned. "We made some good memories there."

"Like what, the twins?" he deadpanned.

"Yes. Make those calls."

He grumbled but obeyed. The doctor brought over their documents forty-five minutes later, and they were in the air soon enough.

Her stomach didn't agree with the pressure. She got sick, while Maksim harassed the poor doctor who couldn't do much.

He kneeled in front of her and rubbed her back.

Her pretty dress was wrinkled and she felt awful, but she knew it would be worth the trip.

After a snack and a nap, she was gently shaken awake.

"We're landing."

Her excitement rushed back to her, and she wiggled into her seat.

"Will the seatbelt be long enough to wrap around that belly?"

"Maybe not, but it'll be long enough to wrap around your neck."

He laughed. "Your threats are sexy."

"Look at the mountains!" She pointed out the window like an excited child, and Maksim only nodded.

She continued until they landed. A car was already waiting, and they headed right home.

When they arrived, they realized the door was locked and Maksim didn't have the key.

"Maybe you should call the..."

Maksim shouldered the door once, twice, until it busted open.

"Maksim!"

He glared at the busted doorknob. It had been way too easy to break in.

"I can't believe I kept you here for so long."

She walked past him and took in the mess. "Holy shit... what did you do to the living room?"

"Wait until you see the rest," he muttered.

"What!"

She walked around the debris. Her dress was caught in splintered wood, and Maksim had to rip it free.

"Rip it to my ankles."

"Are you sure? It will be ruined for good."

"I'm sure."

He destroyed the skirt of her dress, and she got to work. She picked up the broom and swept through the glass and paper.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up your mess. Why in the world did you do this?"

"I was not happy when I read that letter."

"Well, I wasn't happy while writing it."

"Put down the broom. I'll have someone clean this up."

"Nope. Pick up the mop, mister kingpin."

Maksim tossed his jacket and tie off and cleaned with a scowl on his face. Garbage was piled up, and she screeched a little when a rat ran by her feet.

Maksim caught her, and she breathed the scent of his clean shirt.

He kissed the top of her head. "So you threaten men with strangulation, but can't handle a little rat?"

"That was not a little rat! It was the size of a cat!"

They reached the bedroom, and Maksim's face lit up.

"Here we go, boys. This is where you were procreated. Right on that dusty mattress."

She picked up a bottle of shaving cream and sprayed him. Maksim swiped a hand across his cheek and brought a handful to her own face.

Raelynn protested, but was unable to escape.

He laughed at her unimpressed face. "I think I prefer when you have a different kind of white on your face."

She cleaned her cheeks. "Animal. Can we take a break? I'm starving."

"Yes. Let me look up some restaurants."

"No restaurants. Let's go to Robbie's."

"The junk spot you used to work at? No way."

"Yes way." She took his hand and guided him through the piles of garbage. When they reached the hallway that connected to the living room, she hesitated.

"What if the rats..." she smiled sheepishly. "Can you carry me, please?"

"Oh, so my ankles can get bit, but not yours?"

"They're swollen all day. They suffer enough."

"Relax, baby. We'll have to find a hotel. This dump site won't do."

He rambled about the garbage as he carried her across, unaware of the nickname that slipped off his tongue.