“This is Daniel Maxwell,” Maxim said, giving her shoulders another squeeze. “He killed your sister.”
Sofia sucked in a breath and studied the man closer. He wore a black shirt, pants, and combat boots. Daniel looked at her, then at Maxim with defiant, hate-filled eyes.
Sofia found herself standing in front of Daniel. She wanted him to look right into her eyes. Of course, hired killers like Daniel would dismiss her in a room full of predators.
“Did you kill my sister, Aurora?” she asked him.
Daniel spat on the floor in answer. Maxim stood next to her, rubbing his inked and scarred knuckles. Daniel didn’t need to affirm or deny it. Sofia saw the truth in his eyes.
“Why?” Sofia asked softly.
“Look lady, business is business. That’s all,” he said with a shrug.
“Who hired him?” she asked Maxim.
“The Rossis have been using him for years,” Lev answered her. “He’s been doing their dirty work ever since he’d been dishonorably discharged from the Navy.”
“Do you enjoy your work?” she asked him.
The gleam in his eyes told her he did. The cold hard cash hadn’t been enough for him. Men like Daniel Maxwell actually enjoyed the thrill of the kill. Aurora had simply been on her way to work.
She had never hurt anyone. The Rossis had her killed simply to hurt her father and make their alliance look weak.
“Just one last question. What did you do with her body?” Sofia asked. The grin he gave her churned her stomach. Sofia snatched the gun from Maxim’s belt without thinking. Her hands shook as she pointed it at Daniel’s head.
As the daughter of a Don, Sofia had taken self-defense lessons and shooting lessons growing up. She never had to shoot anyone before though.
“You’ve never killed anyone before have you, princess?” Daniel asked in a mocking voice. “You won’t do it now because you’re not like these two monsters in the room.”
“Sofia, you don’t need to dirty your hands. Lev and I can finish this,” Maxim told her, rubbing circles on her back.
“You don’t need any more information from him, right?” she asked in a hollow voice.
“He’s the kind who won’t talk no matter what,” Lev confirmed.
“Good. You’re wrong, Mr. Maxwell,” Sofia said.
A flash of fear momentarily appeared in his eyes before Sofia fired the gun. Sofia didn’t miss. She got him right between the eyes. A lucky shot.
Maybe her sister’s phantom hand had been guiding her all this time.
Maxim gently pried the gun from her fingers. Sofia started to shake, but Maxim was there to hold her, ground her.
“I needed to do that,” she told him. “I don’t think I’ll regret my actions. Is that a good or bad thing?”
“If it brings you closure, then what does it matter?” Maxim asked, stroking her hair. He began leading her out of that suffocating room and back up the stairs where there was plenty of sunrise.
“I feel…” Sofia hesitated. “I’m happy I avenged my sister. She didn’t deserve to die.”
“She didn’t,” Maxim agreed. “But I think she’ll be proud of you today.”
“I hope so,” Sofia whispered. “Take me upstairs, Maxim. Make love to me so I’ll forget about today.”
“Come on,” Maxim said, tugging her hand.
Maybe, Sofia thought, she was born to be Maxim’s wife. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine feeling like she belonged to his world.