SWNOVELS The Arrangement: Chapter 34
While we’re flying to safety, Maksim starts spilling the beans on the whole operation. Turns out, he’s got a few buddies in the Chicago PD, guys who don’t mind bending the rules for the right price. The original plan? Have a few cop cars roll up to Aleksey’s place, put on a bit of a show to spook him into letting me go. Maksim’s not one for showing his hand unless he absolutely has to. But me being in danger? That changed the game entirely.
But he looks genuinely puzzled.
What showed up… that was way more than a couple of cop cars. I wasn’t expecting a helicopter. These are the Feds.’
I can’t help but chuckle, despite the craziness of it all. ‘So you didn’t order the dramatic rescue?’ I ask, half-teasing, half-amazed at the turn of events.
Maksim just shakes his head, a small smile playing on his lips. He’s got that look where he’s trying to piece together a puzzle with half the pieces missing.
The moment we get to the hospital, Maksim switches into full-on protector mode, his focus laser-sharp on getting me seen by a doctor ASAP.
‘Really, Maksim, I’m okay,’ I try to reassure him, attempting to slow his determined march to the emergency room.
But he’s having none of it. With a determined look in his eye, he retorts, ‘Not a chance. We’re not taking any risks with you or our little one. You’re getting checked out, end of story.’
I smile, despite the situation. His unwavering commitment to our well-being, this fierce protectiveness, it’s both comforting and a tad overwhelming. ‘Okay, okay, Mr. Overprotective,’ I concede, playfully rolling my eyes. ‘Lead the way.’
He glances back at me, a mix of concern and love softening his features. ‘Just doing my job. Keeping my favorite girls safe.’
Girls? I grin, imagining he has some magical ability to know the sex of the little one inside me.
I’m whisked off to an examination room, and Maksim’s right there, sticking close. When I grab his hand, look him in the eye, and assure him I’m really fine, he eases up a bit.
The doc finally gives me the all-clear, and I can’t help but feel a bit amused. I was half expecting Maksim to flip if there was even a hint of bad news. But all’s well, and seeing Maksim try to dial back his inner protector – just barely – is kind of funny, actually.
Right when I’m starting to really enjoy the calm after the storm, there’s a knock at the door. Igor walks in, and you can almost see the tension melt off him when he sees we’re both alright.
“Adelina and Irina are on their way,” he says. “They’re safe.” He turns to me and says, ‘Well, you’ve certainly had a memorable introduction into our world.’
I smile at him. ‘Most fun I’ve had in years.’ That earns a chuckle from him. It’s weirdly nice, finding humor after a night like we’ve had.
As Igor’s gaze settles on Maksim, there’s a gravity in his demeanor that wasn’t there before. ‘I’m disappointed in Aleksey,’ he begins, his voice heavy with regret. ‘But he chose his path.’ He pauses, and there’s a hint of introspection that suggests this situation has hit closer to home than he’d like to admit.
‘This whole ordeal has been a wake-up call for me,’ Igor continues, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. ‘I wasn’t as attuned to the growing rift in our family as I should have been. Perhaps I’m more ready for retirement than I thought.’
It’s a moment of vulnerability from a man who has been in control for a long time, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Maksim, with his unshakable composure, responds with a nod, his face an open book of readiness to take on whatever comes next. ‘I’m ready, whenever you decide it’s time,’ he assures his father, his voice firm and full of the resolve that’s gotten us through the night.
The air in the room shifts slightly, filled with the unspoken understanding that transitions are on the horizon—not just for Igor and Maksim, but for all of us.
Sitting there, witnessing this exchange, I feel a surge of respect for both men. They’re facing the aftermath of a crisis not just with resilience, but with a forward-looking gaze, ready to embrace whatever changes lie ahead.
Igor’s mood lightens, a smile breaking through the somber atmosphere as he looks at us. ‘You two deserve some rest, a bit of peace after everything you’ve been through,’ he says, the warmth in his voice a balm.
Maksim reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on his father’s shoulder. ‘We’d love to have you over this weekend. It’d be good for all of us,’ he suggests, the invitation genuine and open.
Igor nods, his expression softening further. ‘I’d like that,’ he agrees, a sense of relief in his acceptance. With one final smile of gratitude and affection, he makes his way out, leaving us to process the whirlwind of events that have brought us to this moment.
The road ahead will clearly be filled with its own set of challenges, particularly for Igor. But there’s a sense of unity, a strength in the promise of facing them together.
With Igor gone, the room feels a whole lot quieter, a private bubble in the midst of the hospital’s ceaseless hum. Maksim looks at me, his face etching into something serious, and my heart kicks up a notch. Is another storm coming?
I dive right in, overflowing with gratitude. ‘Maksim, I can’t even start to thank you enough for everything you did tonight, for saving me.’ I mean every word, feeling both awe and deep appreciation for this man who’s turned my world upside down in the best way possible. “I shou—”
He cuts me off with a simple, ‘No.’ That’s it. Just ‘no.’ And I’m sitting here, totally befuddled.
He moves closer, perches on the edge of the bed, and takes my hand in his. The serious vibe doesn’t budge, and if anything, it deepens. ‘No, I’m the one who should be thanking you,’ he insists, and I’m not sure where he’s going with this. ‘You’ve opened my heart in ways I didn’t even know were closed. You reminded me there’s so much more to life than this endless cycle of scheming and crime.
“And… thank you for the gift of carrying our child,’ he says, and there’s a shimmer in his eyes, like he’s on the verge of tears. But just as quick as I think I see it, it’s gone, like a raindrop evaporating in the sun.
‘And, I need to apologize.’
I squeeze his hand, trying to convey a world of support and confusion in one gesture. ‘Maksim, apologize for what? After everything tonight, I can’t imagine…’
He looks away for a moment, collecting his thoughts, then locks his gaze back on mine. His voice drops. ‘I need to apologize for being a coward,’ he starts, and a bubble of laughter threatens to escape. The idea of him, of all people, being a coward just doesn’t add up.
But he’s serious, his gaze steady. ‘I’ve been hiding my feelings, Tory. Carrying this love for you in my heart, but too afraid to let it out. I’ve been a coward in that sense.’
His confession stops me cold, laughter dying on my lips.
‘I can’t hide it anymore. I love you, Tory. Truly, deeply, endlessly. And I want to spend my life protecting you, being with you if that’s what you want.‘
The room feels charged, filled with the gravity of his words, his offer hanging between us like a lifeline.
‘But if you don’t want this, if you don’t want the danger and the complications that come with my world, I’ll understand. I’ll step back, and I won’t trouble you with it again,’ he finishes, his voice barely above a whisper, leaving the choice entirely in my hands.
How do you even respond to an offer like that? To a declaration so raw and earnest? It’s overwhelming, the depth of his love, the sincerity in his offer to either dive into this life together or to let me go for my own peace.
I reach for his hand, entwining our fingers together, the gesture simple but filled with my own unsaid feelings. ‘Maksim,’ I say, my voice steady, ‘I don’t want an out. I want this life, as complicated and dangerous as it may be, but only if it’s with you.
‘I love you too, Maksim,’ I whisper, the words feeling like they’re sealing some sacred vow between us. We lean in for a hug, a perfect movie moment, until I let out a sudden ‘Ow!’
“What? What’s wrong?” he asks, looking at me.
“Apparently, I’m a bit more banged up than I realized.”
Maksim’s concern is etched in every line of his face. ‘Maybe we should stay a bit longer in the hospital,’ he suggests, always the protector.
‘Hell no,’ I answer immediately. “The idea of spending one more minute in this hospital room is about as appealing as a root canal without anesthetic.”
He chuckles, the sound warm in the sterile room. Then he gets serious again, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. ‘And if you even think about joking that you’re going back to your office and that damn Murphy bed, you’ve got another think coming.’
A surprised laugh escapes my lips, remembering all the times that Murphy bed had been the center of our little adventures. ‘Hey, I’ve got some pretty good memories of that Murphy bed,’ I retort playfully. “Thanks to you.”
His voice is soft but firm when he says, ‘I want you to come home with me, Tory. To live with Adelina and me.’
The words wash over me like a balm, soothing away the last of my doubts. His offer is everything I didn’t know I needed to hear. Smiling, I look into his eyes, seeing our future reflected back at me. ‘I’d like that,’ I say, my heart full. ‘I’d like that very much.’
And just like that, in a hospital room that’s seen more than its fair share of pain and heartache, we find a moment of perfect happiness.