Page 97 of Secret Heir

There’s a pause. I can almost hear my brother’s mind working and assessing the threat level. “What’s happened?”

“We have a situation that requires immediate attention. And Nikolai?” I look at Aria, who’s holding my gaze. “This doesn’t leave this conversation until you get here. Come alone. Trust no one.”

Another pause. “I’m on my way. Give me forty-five minutes.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

I hang up and pull Aria back into my arms. She’s trembling violently now, the adrenaline and fear finally catching up with her.

“What if this makes it worse?” she whispers. “What if telling Nikolai is what gets us killed?”

“Then we die fighting instead of hiding.” I tilt her face up to mine. “I’m not letting Alexander threaten our children. I’m not letting him plot against my brother. And I’m sure as hell not letting him hurt you.”

Aria swallows heavily. “I’m scared.”

“I know.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “But I’ve got you now. Both of you. And I swear on my life and on everything I am, I will protect you. No matter what it takes.”

She nods, tears still coursing down her face, and I hold her while we wait.

14

ARIA

The guilt crashes over me like a wave.

I was wrong.

Maksim wasn’t the traitor. He wasn’t planning to kill his brother. I heard “he came up with half the plan himself” and assumed it meant Maksim. But it didn’t. It meant someone else—maybe one of the Corsicans, or another member of Alexander’s conspiracy. But not Maksim.

Eight years. Eight years of struggling to feed Daniel and watching him go to bed hungry some nights because I couldn’t afford groceries and rent both. Eight years of Maksim throwing himself into work to avoid the pain of losing me.

All because I misunderstood and was too stupid to verify what I heard before I ran.

The sobs come from somewhere deep inside, wrenching and violent. I can’t breathe through them while the enormity of what I’ve done crashes down on me.

“I ruined everything,” I breathe while I sob. “You-you lost out on Daniel because I was too terrified and fucking stupid⁠—”

“Stop.” Maksim’s arms are around me, pulling me into his chest. “Stop, moya. You didn’t ruin anything.”

How can he say this to me? How can he be so forgiving?

“I did!” I exclaim, wiping tears and snot off my face. “I kept your son from you! I⁠—”

“You were twenty-one years old and you witnessed a murder.” His voice is firm, cutting through my spiral. “You protected our son. That’s exactly what you were supposed to do.”

I shake my head. “But I was wrong about you⁠—”

“You made a decision based on the information you had,” Maksim says firmly. “You saw me execute someone then heard plans to kill my brother. From where you were standing, it looked like I was involved.” He pulls back so he can look at me, his hands framing my face, his dark eyes locked on mine. “You’re not stupid, Aria, and you’re certainly not a coward. You’re a mother who did what she thought she had to do to keep her child safe.”

Tears spill down my cheeks as self-hatred grows within me. “Daniel could have grown up with everything he deserves. Instead he was⁠—”

He places a finger over my lips. “But he’s here now. And he’s safe and happy.” Maksim’s thumbs brush away my tears. “And you kept him alive to get here. That’s what matters.”

I shake my head, unable to accept his forgiveness. “You searched for eight years. I know you did. I know you never stopped looking.”

“No, I didn’t.” There’s pain in his eyes, but no anger. “Because I loved you and needed to know what happened. But you know what I found when I finally found you?”

I can’t speak; just shake my head.