With This Ring

My heart was pounding so hard it was like one of those African drums. I called Bianca.

“Freya?” she asked sleepily.

“Can I stay with your friend, Aldie? Something bad has happened. I … I … accidentally shot Maxim. I didn’t mean to. I was drunk and it all happened so suddenly. My father wants to take me out of the country, but I can’t leave Maxim. I need to be here… to know what happens… how he fares… I have to make sure that Maxim is okay. Can I stay with her? Just for a little bit until Maxim gets better. Please. It’s okay if you can’t help me but please don’t tell Levan I called you.”

“Where are you?”

I swallowed the sob. “Outside the car park of Maxim’s home.”

“Got it. It’s not safe for you to stand there. Move to the next street. I’ll tell Aldie to pick you up in about twenty minutes. I won’t tell Levan a word.”

“No,” I choked out. “My father’s people are everywhere. I’ll find a way to give them the slip and sneak away. Send me her address and I’ll go to her.”

Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the upscale apartment in Bushwick. Both Aldie and Bianca received me at the door. Bianca immediately pulled me into her arms. I didn’t want to unravel all over again, but I held on to her as tightly as I could, and tried my best not to fall apart.

“He’s okay,” she whispered to me. “He’s going to be alright.”

My heart slammed painfully in my chest at her words, and I instantly pulled away to search her gaze.

“He is?”

I saw her gaze shift, and knew instantly that she wasn’t telling the truth. “Bianca, please don’t lie to me.”

She held my hand and led me over to the couch.

“Do you want something to drink to calm your nerves?” Aldie asked, but even the thought of alcohol at that moment made me feel sick to my stomach.

“Bianca?” I called as I stared into her eyes.

“He’s not completely in the clear,” she said. “But Levan said that the bullet missed his heart. He is undergoing surgery right now so we can only know for sure in a few more hours.”

I buried my head in my hands and pressed them against my mouth to muffle my sobs. I had never hated myself, but I did then. Why did I get drunk? Why did I provoke him like that? Why did I go back with the gun? When I was around him, I was a different person. An unrecognizable person. He truly brought out the worst in me.

“I didn’t mean it,” I sobbed. “I was just so scared… of every goddamn fucking thing.”

She put her arms around me and I felt even worse at the pity party I was evoking. He was the one lying on an operating table not me.

“I’m fine,” I said and raised my head. “He’s the one I hurt so… I have no right to cry like this. He’ll be fine. He has to be.”

“It’s alright to be upset,” she said to me. “It only means you care.”

I nodded my head in agreement, and at the shocking realization of just how much I did care. I had always deemed him indestructible, and not deserving or even needful of any caution whatsoever. What a freaking heartbreak it was to find out that he was just human, like the rest of us.

While I, on the other hand, was a total and complete idiot.

Chapter Forty-Three

Freya

I was sitting on the bed in Aldie’s spare bedroom when Bianca called me.

“What?” I breathed.

“The surgery went well. He’s still in Intensive Care, but he’s awake now, and the doctors are pleased with everything. He was lucky. The bullet just missed his heart. Since he is young and healthy they expect a normal recovery, but he has to remain in the hospital for a few days in case any complications develop.”

“I understand!” I nodded profusely, my hand on my mouth as tears filled my eyes.

Maxim was out of surgery. He was going to be all right. I tried to sleep but I couldn’t get him out of my mind, and neither could I do much about my business, especially since Britney was not around. After Aldie left for work I called up one of the sports bars that I had rejected as an unsuitable place of employment and told them I was accepting the job.

I didn’t want to be a burden to Aldie so I lied to everyone and told them I had found a small room to rent close to the bar. I sent my father a text to tell him I was safe, but since I didn’t want him or Maxim’s father for that matter, to find me I decided not to go back to my apartment. Over the next two days I worked as many shifts as I could, mostly so I wouldn’t have to think, and afterwards went to sleep on some blankets on the floor in our staff room. The manager knew I was doing that, but I told him it was just a temporary measure. He really needed the staff so he told me I could do that for a couple of weeks.