“I’ll vomit,” I confess feeling the bile churning in my stomach as we speak. I can’t eat. Not when I’m so terrified and worried sick about my mother.
“Why?”
“Do you have a mother?”
He holds my gaze. “I used to.”
“Wouldn’t you be worried if she were wheelchair bound and in danger? Could you eat?”
He squints and something softens in his hard stare that makes him put the cover back over the sandwiches.
I don’t know if that means a no to my question, or if something inside him realizes there’s little point trying to get me to eat.
“You’d better eat the next time he tells you to eat, and before you ask about his mother, I’ll warn you not to.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“She died trying to save him when he was a child.”
I blink several times as I take in the knowledge of another horrific loss in Aiden’s life. His mother was killed trying to save him, and he’s a widower.
He backs away to the rail where the other guard stood. I figure because we’re talking it couldn’t hurt to have his name rather than think of him as the guy who looks like Aiden.
“What’s your name?”
“You don’t need to know it.”
I sneer. “I was just being polite. You look like him. I just wanted a name to go with your face.”
It’s clear he’s being an ass because they think I’m a snake, but what’s also clear is he’s assessing me because he’s not sure I am.
“Maksim. I’m Aiden’s cousin and his Sovientrik, so don’t think you can fuck with me. I’ll issue the same punishment as him if the need arises for it.”
I decide to ignore his assholish manner and continue with polite. It could help to soften the blow of what could happen to me.
“My grandfather was that to his Pakhan.”
He inclines his head to the side and regards me with keen eyes. “I know.”
“Oh.” Of course, they seem to know everything that doesn’t help my case one way or the other.
I can see where they’re coming from though.
Things don’t exactly look good for me if Jude is a fucking leader of the Order and Eric is a member.
Eric… how could you do this?
Why would you do this?
As I spoke to Aiden the other night, I knew it would have been Jude who lured Eric to the dark side.
When Maksim straightens, I think of what I can talk to him about. Aiden’s wife comes to my mind.
“When did Aiden’s wife die?” I ask . Amy never told me when it happened. Maksim’s his eyes narrow in response. “Why do you want to know, that’s not
polite conversation.”
“I’m just curious.”