Page 68 of His to Own

“Right.”

“How are you doing with him? I know he can be a bit of a playboy. Is he being loyal to you?”

“Yes, actually. He has been.”

Alisa makes a pitying sound in her throat.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I know Maxim’s reputation. We all know it. I worry that he might not be keeping it in his pants.”

I frown as my chest tightens. “What makes you say that?”

“My husband. He and Maxim sometimes meet up at this one club to discuss business. He said he saw Maxim flirting with other women one night. After you and he were already married.”

“Maxim tells me he’s at work.”

“Do you know everything he does for work?”

“No,” I admit. “I think it’s better that way.”

Her pitying smile makes me annoyed. Who is she to think this? But then again, she has known Maxim longer. Maybe I’m the one who doesn’t know my husband well enough. “Ignorance is bliss. You’re taking that path. I can’t blame you for that. But if I were you, I would find out what your husband gets up to when he’s at work. I think it’s better for a mafia wife to know.”

“You know what your husband does?”

“Yes. He tells me everything. You should find out what Maxim does. Find out everything.”

“Would that help?”

“It can’t hurt.”

I’m not sure if I agree with Alisa. I think it could hurt a lot if I find out what Maxim does.

But now I can’t help but wonder. Should I know? What if Maxim is still sleeping with other women and has been lying to me about it? Maxim is sometimes gone for hours at a time, even at night. Mafia business doesn’t always play by normal work hours. What exactly is my husband doing?

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I don’t know if I should find out.”

“Listen, I know for a fact that my husband is meeting up with Maxim tonight. At the club I told you about. I would go and see what Maxim does. I can go with you, if you want.”

I hesitate.

“Elena, this is a good thing. You shouldn’t bury your head in the sand. Go to the club tonight and see what your husband is up to. I’ll give you the address. What’s your phone number?”

I tell her my number of the brand new phone I got after I married Maxim. He was shocked to find out I had never owned a phone before. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that it was because my father denied me one even though he gave my sisters phones.

“Great.” Alisa smiles and it seems genuine enough but her words have rattled me. “I’ll send you the details. It was nice talking to you, Elena. But I have to run.” She waggles her fingers at me before walking away.

I stare down at the club’s address on my phone, wondering if I should go tonight or not.

After hours of pacing the house, I finally decide to go. Maxim is still at work and has been all day. I couldn’t even eat the dinner he had the chef prepare for me. My stomach is twisted into knots.

If Maxim has been seeing other women still, even after he’s touched me and shown me pleasure, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to handle it. Everything feels so fragile on the brink of collapsing.

The club is busy when I arrive. People are lined out around the side of the building. I swallow hard. Can I do this? Do I even want to do this? I can turn back now.

Alisa offered to come with me but I thought I should do this on my own. I don’t want anyone to see my reaction in case Maxim is flirting with another woman.

I get in line with the rest of the people and wait my turn even though it’s killing me. By the time I make it inside, I’m in full panic mode. What am I going to find when I step foot into this club?