“Allie, don’t do this to me. Please.”
“You did this!” I hurled at him. “You did all of it, and I’m sure far worse things that I don’t even want to imagine. If I ever feel ready to talk to you again, I’ll call. Don’t contact me.”
I allowed Max to guide me out of the office, away from the man who’d betrayed me more deeply than I’d ever thought possible. My heart felt like it would split in two. I pressed myself closer to Max’s strength, drawing on that well of support. My world had crumbled, but he would help me rebuild it. Just as I would help him find a new future with me.
CHAPTER 18
Allie
Max ran a hand through his hair, mussing it to cover his scar. I closed my fingers around his, stilling the anxious gesture.
“They’ll love you,” I murmured, bushing a kiss over his lips.
He rolled his massive shoulders, as though limbering up for a fight. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
I sighed and smiled up at him. “Just be yourself. I love you. My friends will too.”
For so long, he’d been subjected to cruelty and ridicule. He expected everyone to treat him with derision and fear. But he didn’t have to be scared of my friends’ reactions to him. They wouldn’t judge his scarred appearance, and Davis was already a fan of his brooding bad boy vibes. Charlie was still a little hesitant about his possessiveness, but she would come to accept him once she saw how good we were together.
I squeezed his hand. “They might ask some uncomfortable questions. Are you ready for that?”
This was the first time I’d seen them since the night Niko had proposed; I’d spent a week in bed with Max, as promised. My new phone had been blowing up with increasingly insistent texts, especially after my dad announced his retirement three days ago.
Max’s jaw firmed, like he was steeling himself. “I’m ready.”
A small, slightly sad smile curved my lips. My fierce protector had viciously eliminated all of my enemies with brutal skill, but his heart was vulnerable. He’d bravely gone to face his sadistic father to declare our relationship, but he was nervous to meet my friends.
Keeping his hand firmly in mine, I led him into the wine bar. My friends immediately surrounded me in a flurry of hugs and exclamations about how they’d been desperate to see me. My chest warmed at their affection and loving support. I might have lost my relationship with my father, but they were my family.
Davis grabbed my left hand, turning it in his. “Okay, what happened to that massive rock Niko gave you?”
“Yeah,” Isabel chimed in. “What the hell was that about? He showed up, looked all hot and pissed off, then left you with a diamond ring on your finger.”
“He did seem a little angry,” Charlie added, her voice low with disapproval.
As they talked about the sham of an engagement, Max stiffened at my side. I wrapped my arm around his waist and leaned into him, silently promising that I was his, and Niko had no claim over me.
“You guys, I’m with Max,” I said firmly, gazing up at my dark protector. “What happened with Niko was his dad trying to force us into a publicity stunt. He wanted our family names linked in the press to throw more support behind my dad. It was stupid and pretty crazy.”
That was putting it mildly. The whole affair had been insane, and if it weren’t for the money in my account from selling that ring, I’d have a hard time believing it’d happened at all.
But Max and I needed financial support now that we’d both left our families. We would start earning soon, but we needed to get by for a while. I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt over using that horrific diamond to provide a little cushion for our new lives together. It wasn’t like Niko had asked for it back.
“Yeah, that’s really crazy,” Charlie agreed. “I’m glad you were able to break things off. You don’t need that kind of energy in your life. I know you were really stressed about the paparazzi following you and Niko. His father had no right to put you through that.”
“Niko seemed nice enough, but his dad sucks,” Isabel agreed. “Do you think you’ll have to see him again now that your dad is retiring? I’m guessing there won’t be any more Ivanov fundraisers.”
“Nikolai Ivanov isn’t coming anywhere near Allie,” Max rumbled, wrapping his hand around my hip to pull me closer to his side.
He barely managed to keep a snarl from the words, and Charlie immediately noticed the flash of aggression. Her bright blue eyes narrowed slightly, and she pressed her red lips in a thin line as she studied Max.
I leaned into him, keeping my steady gaze on Charlie. “Definitely not. I don’t want anything to do with Niko. He’s not good for me.”
She hummed a wordless reply as Davis said, “But no more fundraisers?” He placed a hand over his heart, as though in pain. “Why is your dad retiring? He’s a great mayor.”
Davis still hero-worshipped my dad for his progressive policies. He had no idea how corrupt and monstrous he truly was.
Max immediately read the tension in my body and brushed his thumb over my upper arm in soothing circles. Charlie’s bright gaze followed his every move, assessing.