by Ruff, K. S.
I tried to keep Rafael apprised as best I could without sounding off too many alarms. He was receiving regular reports from Ethan and Brady, so I always had some explaining to do. We spoke every night, once I was settled in at the hotel. The lengthy phone calls seemed to help both of us cope with the separation and the chaos surrounding me.
The media started camping out in front of our hotel once they got wind of the teddy bears. They snapped pictures and pleaded for interviews when Maxim picked me up for dinner and when he escorted me back inside the hotel after our dates.
They went nuts every time they captured me carting out the gifts that Maxim had delivered to my room. They would snap off a couple of pictures while I loaded the car. Then they’d jump into their cars and race to the hospital so they could take more pictures of me unloading the car.
I threw them for a loop Thursday morning when I drove the gifts to a local orphanage instead. I was wrecked by the time I finished distributing the music boxes. I was heart sick over the conditions and had been sorely tempted to gather up every last dime that Michael had given me so I could personally adopt those kids. Shae had to talk me down from that one. I vowed to make a donation instead.
Sammi and Cory decided to join us at the orphanage Friday morning when I delivered the Matryoshka nesting dolls that Maxim had delivered to me. They were equally shaken by the experience.
Friday marked the end of our training for the Tavrida National Vernadsky University. We spent the first half of the morning quizzing our students. Then we asked them to share their thoughts about the training. The students offered testimonies about the conflicts they had endured and the conflicts they hoped to resolve with their new skills.
We broke for lunch. Then we invited the dean and a number of faculty to observe the students as they ran through a simulation. I was surprised when Maxim showed up for the event. The press pushed their way into the classroom near the end of the day. We tried to ignore the cameramen and reporters as we awarded our students with certificates of achievement. We gave each student a gift bag containing Ghirardelli chocolates, our business cards, and magnets sporting the peace sign. A number of students cried, and everyone hugged as we parted ways. I was humbled by the transformation the students had made in five short days.
The students weren’t the only ones transformed by the experience. Word got out about the changes we had made to the classroom. A number of faculty had stopped by the classroom to observe our teaching style earlier in the week, and the dean had indicated they would be adopting a number of these techniques.
As our award ceremony drew to an end, the dean offered all four of us permanent teaching positions at the university… in front of the media. We thanked him profusely and agreed to consider his offer while we were working in Sevastopol.
Maxim pulled me aside to let me know that he had something special planned for the evening, since it was our last night together in Simferopol. He told me that Konstantin was planning to take Shae out to dinner, but they would not be joining us. He was a bit evasive about where we were going but asked that I be ready by six o’clock. He garnered all kinds of attention when he kissed me goodbye.
I found a large gift box sitting on my bed when Shae and I returned to the hotel.
Shae laughed. “What did he send this time?”
I kicked my shoes off and sank onto the bed. I reached for the box, tugged the ribbon aside, and removed the wrapping paper. I melted when I saw the lavender dress. I stood as I lifted it out of the box.
The dress was strapless. A crystal pave brooch gathered the fabric between the breasts and cinched the material into an empire waist. The remaining fabric fell in a beautiful cascade of silk all the way to the floor. “It’s beautiful,” I breathed.
Shae ran her hand over the silk. “It feels amazing.”
I draped the dress over the desk and ducked inside the bathroom to touch up my makeup and hair.
Shae had changed into a black sheath dress and heels by the time I finished in the bathroom. She let her hair down and disappeared into the bathroom to touch up her makeup while I slipped into the lavender dress.
I reached into the gift box to retrieve the strappy silver heels that Maxim had included with the dress. I eyed the five inch heels. “What is it with these Ukrainians and their five inch heels?” I muttered as I wound the straps around my ankles.
Shae laughed when she saw the shoes. “Good luck walking in those!”
I tugged the bangle bracelets Maxim had given me for the charity ball over my wrist. “Do I look okay?” I took a few steps in the shoes.
“You look beautiful, but you might want to practice walking in those shoes a bit more before we tackle the stairs,” she responded teasingly.
I rolled my eyes as I walked across the room again. I glanced at Shae as she reached for her purse. “You look amazing in that dress. Do you know where Konstantin is taking you?”
She shook her head. “He said it’s a surprise.”
I laughed as I followed her into the hallway. “That’s exactly what Maxim said.”
Maxim and Konstantin rose from the couch when we entered the lobby. Maxim was wearing a black suit with a crisp white shirt and a white tie. He looked annoyed to see Brady and Ethan trailing after us, but his eyes softened when he looked at me. “Krasivo,” he breathed as he gently kissed my cheek.
I smiled as I smoothed my hands over his suit jacket. “You have exceptional taste in clothes, Maxim. Thank you for the dress, the shoes, and the Matryoshka dolls. The children at the orphanage have really enjoyed your gifts.”
He sifted my hair through his fingers. “Did you keep a doll for yourself?”
I kissed his cheek. “Yes. I’ve kept one gift from each delivery you’ve sent to the hotel. It’s a good thing I have an extra suitcase, now that I’ve given away all of my training manuals.”
Shae and Konstantin waved as they walked out the door.
Maxim wrapped his arm around me as we followed them outside. A number of photographers immediately snapped our picture. Maxim answered a few questions before helping me into the car. I glanced at Brady, who had already climbed into the back seat. “Where’s Ethan?”
He looked up from his phone. “He’s planning to follow in our car.”
I shifted my attention to Maxim when he slid into the driver’s seat. “I hope the media loses interest when I go to Sevastopol.”
He glanced at me as he backed the car out of the parking space. “Things should be fairly quiet the first few days you’re there, but there could be some media backlash when they start seeing you with Rafael… especially considering the rumors about us getting married.”
I studied Maxim’s face. It was surprisingly unreadable. “Are you going to miss the publicity?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to miss you.”
I ran my fingers through the hair near his temple where it glimmered with the tiniest bit of silver. A pained look fell over his face as he leaned into my hand. I lowered my voice so it fell just above a whisper. “You do realize the media and the vast majority of Ukrainian women are madly in love with you?”
He looked at me pointedly, his skepticism clear.
I laughed. “It’s true. I think every single one of my female students wants to marry you.”
He merged onto the highway. “They don’t want to marry me. They just want to be you.”
The smile fell from my face. “I don’t like it when people say that.”
He glanced at me in surprise. “Why?”
I stared out the window at the darkening sky. “I’ve endured some really awful things. I was beat for nine years, kidnapped twice, nearly raped, nearly drowned, and I lost a baby when I miscarried from the drowning incident. I wouldn’t wish my life on anyone.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I don’t understand how you can be as kind as you are when you have been exposed to so much violence.”
I shrugged. “If I let those experiences harden me, then the bad guys win.”
He slowly nodded.
I reached for his hand. “What drew you to the mafia, Maxim?”
A cloud fell over his face. “I’m in the mafia because my father and my two older brothers were in the mafia.”
I twined my fingers with his. “Were?”
His jaw clenched. “Every single one of my family members has been killed.”
My breath caught. “Killed… like purposely murdered… not in an accident?”
He nodded.
My voice was barely a whisper. “Who killed your family?”
His eyes met mine. “The KGB.”
I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Maxim.”
He tried to shrug it off. “It was a long time ago.”
I nodded in understanding. I could tell he didn’t want to discuss it any further, so I changed the topic. “Have you ever been married?”
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He shook his head. “No.”
I laughed. “Let me guess. You’re a notorious playboy who goes through a different woman every week.”
He chuckled softly. “In all honesty, I’ve never met a woman who could hold my attention, until you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He frowned. “I’ve never said that to any other woman.”
I glanced at him in surprise.
He sighed. “Kristine, when I said I wanted you to move to Ukraine, to accept a position at the university or with the foreign ministry, I wasn’t feeding you a line. I was being completely honest.”
I tried removing my hand from his, but he tightened his hold. My heart sank when my eyes met his.
He continued. “When the prime minister told me to marry you, I could see myself married to you. I actually think it’s a very good idea.”
I shook my head. “I’m not ready to get married… to anyone.”
He nodded. “I know, kotyonok. I think I have Michael to thank for that. If I ever have an opportunity to meet that guy, I’m going to wring his neck.”
I laughed. “I doubt you will cross paths with Michael any time soon. Rafael… yes. Michael… no.”
He smiled as he gently kissed my hand. “We’re here.”
I studied the building sitting at the end of the parking lot. “Where is here?”
Maxim and Brady stepped from the car. Maxim opened my door. “The Crimean Philharmonic Hall. The prime minister and his wife invited us to join them for the symphony.” He reached for my hand as he helped me from the car.
I placed my hand in his. “He’s going to personally offer me that job at the foreign ministry, isn’t he?”
Maxim laughed. “I’m quite certain he’ll be encouraging you to take that job.”
My stomach attempted a round-off back handspring before disappearing somewhere in the vicinity of my toes. My brain slid into overdrive as I sifted through excuses for turning down the job.
Maxim wrapped his arm around me as we began walking toward the building. We stopped in front of a beautifully lit fountain. Maxim motioned for Ethan and Brady to back away as he encouraged me to sit next to him on the ledge. He shoved his hand in his pocket as he turned to face me. “I have one last gift for you, Kristine. You should know that I will be hurt if you decline it or if you attempt to give it away. This gift is for you… only you… and before you start worrying… it’s not what you think.” He pulled a small black velvet box from his pocket and set it in the palm of my hand. His hand folded over mine as he wrapped my fingers around the box.
My eyes filled with tears. “Maxim,” I whispered pleadingly. “You’ve already done far too much.”
His eyes captured and held mine. “Kotyonok, please.”
I gently caressed his face. “How will I ever say goodbye to you?”
He closed his eyes. “Don’t.”
I softly kissed each of his cheeks. “I’ll never forget you Maxim Markov.”
His eyes met mine as my lips hesitated over his mouth. He pulled me in for a passionate kiss. Maxim steadied me on the ledge when he finally released me. “The gift,” he encouraged softly.
My gaze shifted to the little black box. I slowly opened the lid. The air rushed from my lungs when I saw the ring tucked inside. The ring shimmered, then blurred as tears spilled from my eyes. “What is it?” I finally asked.
He took the ring from the box. “This is an alexandrite. Genuine alexandrite stones are extremely rare.” His eyes met mine. “Much like you. I want you to consider this a promise ring.”
I sat spellbound as he slipped the fiery purple and green stone onto my finger. The alexandrite was completely surrounded by diamonds, which ran down both sides of the ring. Two heart shaped diamonds were nestled on either side of the center stone. “A promise? For what?”
Maxim looked surprisingly shy. “I’ll promise not to push you to marry me before you leave, and I’ll back off while Rafael is here, if you promise to return to me when your relationship with him fails.”
I sighed. “You’re assuming it will fail.”
He nodded. “I know it will fail. There is no way you can marry that man when you are in love with his brother… and I know you will never take Michael back. He has caused you far too much pain. I hear it in your voice every time you talk about him.”
I looked down at the ring, which sat sparkling against my right hand. “There is another man who believes we were meant to be together.”
He shrugged. “If you were in love with him, you’d be with him now. You’re not, which means your heart is fair game for me.”
I shook my head. “I could never live in Ukraine.”
His head tilted as he studied me. “What if I quit working for the mafia and moved to the United States?”
My head shot up in surprise. “You could do that?”
He nodded. “I would certainly consider it if that were the only thing standing between the two of us.”
“A promise,” I murmured uncertainly.
Maxim reached for my chin. “You do realize that I have fallen completely, hopelessly, and irrevocably in love with you?”
My heart tripped. A single tear stole silently down my cheek. Our lips hovered, suspended in time, until they met in an earth shattering kiss.
Chapter 8 - Demons
I sat in silent contemplation during the drive to Sevastopol. Ethan was driving, Brady was sitting next to him in the front seat, and I was sitting by myself in the back. Shae, Sammi, and Cory were in Konstantin’s car. Konstantin had insisted on overseeing our security until Maxim could join us in Sevastopol tomorrow afternoon. Maxim had lined up a number of other men from Sevastopol to meet up with us when we arrived.
I felt conflicted about Maxim coming to Sevastopol. I wasn’t convinced that Maxim would temper his advances with Rafael around. I didn’t even want to think about how he might respond to Rafael touching me, and Rafael wasn’t likely to hold back. Rafael wasn’t going to tolerate the kind of touching or kissing that Maxim had grown accustomed to, either.
I studied the ring on my finger. How would the media react to seeing me with another man? The press had ensured my relationship with Maxim was larger than life. That strategy may have ensured my safety in Simferopol, but once the media got wind of the fact that I was with Rafael in Sevastopol, I knew there would be hell to pay. Never in a million years had I imagined I could get into so much trouble on a peace-building trip.
I sighed miserably as I stared out the window. I really missed Rafael. We talked on the phone for over an hour last night, after I returned from the symphony. I was both anxious and terrified to see him tomorrow. I glanced at my watch. Rafael’s plane would soon be landing in Paris. He would be speaking with Michael in just a few hours.
I thought about Maxim’s comments. I couldn’t understand why he thought I was still in love with Michael. I shook my head. A part of me would always love Michael, but I wasn’t in love with him… not anymore.
But what if Maxim was right? What if my relati
onship with Rafael was doomed to fail because of my relationship with Michael? What if Michael asked Rafael to end his relationship with me? Would Rafael continue dating me if he knew it would cost him a relationship with his brother?
Ethan glanced over the seat as I huffed out a breath. I thought I had my feelings for Kadyn, Rafael, and Michael all figured out. How could I still be so damned confused? I cursed Maxim for filling me with so much doubt. I looked down at the ring again. Did Maxim really love me, or had he simply gotten caught up in the media storm?
I continued staring at the ring as I attempted to sort through my feelings for Maxim. The guy was a complete contradiction, just like Michael. Had I somehow transferred my feelings for Michael onto him? I couldn’t move to Ukraine, work for the foreign ministry, enter into a serious relationship with Maxim, and immerse myself in the Russian mafia! How could I even consider such a thing?
I looked up in surprise when the car came to a stop.
Brady leaned over the seat. “Looks like this is the hotel.”
I slid my shoes back on while Ethan parked the car.
Shae and Konstantin joined us as we pulled our luggage from the trunk. They were holding hands. Seeing them together made me miss Maxim, and the fact that I missed him depressed me even more.
Shae’s eyebrows knit with concern. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head as I bit back tears. “I feel wrecked.”
She released Konstantin’s hand and pulled me in for a hug. “Konstantin said the Chersonesus ruins aren’t far from here. They’re located right along the Black Sea. Let’s go visit the ruins after we get checked in. That way we can walk around and get some fresh air while we talk.”
Ethan and Brady began rolling our suitcases toward the hotel. Konstantin grabbed Shae’s suitcase as we fell in behind them. Konstantin glanced worriedly at Shae. “We should wait for the rest of our security team to get here.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand how this all works. Why didn’t Maxim just send the same security team that was watching over us in Simferopol?”