MAKSIM

He grew to hate flying. It reminded him too much of the short but unforgettable vacation he had with Raelynn. She had looked so pretty that night. Her hair wild, her belly full, the corner of her lip covered in ketchup.

This time, the jet wouldn't fly him to Arizona, and Raelynn wasn't on board. He was headed to Russia for business, with only his loneliness as company.

After Raelynn left him the first time, he didn't mind working. His anger fueled him from morning to night. He liked cranking out numbers because he was searching for the reason why Raelynn ripped his heart out. This time, things were different because he felt no anger toward her, and he had no questions. He knew things didn't work out because they simply weren't meant to be. He was supposed to swallow that bitter pill and move on.

During the flight, he allowed himself to get tipsy. There was nothing else to do, anyway. The damn jet had a problem with reception.

He flicked through papers, miserably wishing the rough material was Raelynn's soft hair.

The stewardess handed him a new drink and a cloth napkin. He touched the small square of cloth and envisioned his tiny sons wrapped in a blanket.

Desperate to smell the powdery, sweet, fresh scent of an infant, he pulled the napkin to his face. There was only the bitter scent of alcohol.

He was a fool for expecting otherwise.

Infuriated by his loss, he send the glass flying, not caring if he cracked a window and sent them all to hell.

– • –

When the jet landed, he checked his phone. He could only hope that nothing happened in his absence. He had a sensitive business that he needed to tend to personally.

All thoughts of real estate and contracts flew out of the window when a series of missed calls and texts from Viktor, Raelynn, and his head of security rolled in.

You need to turn around. Raelynn is here, and she's talking crazy. She thinks the babies are alive.

We're going after mother. There is no stopping Raelynn.

Call me. There is too much to explain. The Italian bastard had something to do with this.

I will do my best to protect her, brother. I know what she means to you.

Maksim stopped reading and flagged down his pilot. He needed a new plane, and a new plan.

He was tipsy, but he understood that Raelynn mattered more than any contract. He needed to get back to her.

"We're flying back to The States. Prepare a new plane."

"But–"

"Get it fucking done!"

He called Raelynn and waited for her to pick up with his breath caught.

"Hello?"

He released his breath. She was okay. She might be having an episode or hallucinating, but he would help her through it.

He knew how destructive grief could be. It didn't matter that Raelynn walked away from him twice. He would always be there for her.

"I'm coming home. Just wait, Raelynn. Are you alright? Where is Viktor?"

"Everything is okay now," she assured. "Viktor is here in a guest bedroom. I told him to get some rest because a lot happened today. He stayed because he wanted to look over me. The babies are asleep, too. They're the cutest. I can't stop looking at them."

Of course Viktor would want to stay with her. He knew better than to leave her alone in this mental state.

"I'm sure they look adorable," he forced through his clogged throat.

The love of his life was so broken that she was hallucinating their dead infants.

"Let me talk to Viktor, baby."

"So you two can scream at each other and wake the babies? No way. Come here, and I will explain everything."

He didn't want to argue with her. Not when she was at such a delicate state. The last thing he wanted was to snap her out of her fantasy and make her hurt herself.

"Why don't you get some rest?" he suggested. "I'm on my way back right now. We can talk and..." he swallowed hard. "We can listen to music. You know? The type the twins like."

"Okay!" she laughed. "We'll wait for you here."

He hung up and communicated with his men to announce his return and make sure Raelynn was safe.

He ran a hand down his face. This wasn't how he wanted Raelynn to return to his side. He wanted her happy and healthy, not depressed.

What did Dante have to do with his? Did he say something that triggered Raelynn's hallucinations?

Maksim was done playing games. There would be hell to pay.

– • –

The flight back was excruciating. He was so exhausted from the lack of sleep and constant pressure that not even the stop to refuel helped him relax.

He floored it home, thundering past his men as he b-lined for his penthouse.

Raelynn needed him. She was sad, confused, and lonely.

"Raelynn! Viktor!" He shoved past the doors, rummaging past the kitchen and into his bedroom. It was empty.

Where the fuck was she?

He shouldered past the guest bedroom and pinned a startled Viktor to the wall.

"Where is she? Where?" He was like a rabid dog. He shoved Viktor against the wall again, and the force accidentally sent the nearest TV to the ground.

The trembling cry of an upset baby made him stiffen with confusion.

Just how many drinks did he have? Was he drunk, after all? Was the fuzziness of his vision caused by alcohol and not rage?

"Oh, Maksim. You woke them up."

He turned slowly, his hands still gripping Viktor because he feared he was slipping down to insanity.

Raelynn stood on the entrance, holding two bundles to her chest. Only one twin was crying, but soon, the other got irritated by his brother's noise and started crying, too.

Was Maksim the one hallucinating? Did the alcohol, lack of sleep and wishful thinking finally get to him?

Raelynn's hair hung freely. He no longer had to glare at paper and wish it was her short, soft strands. Her feet were bare, and her face free from despair.

This was nice. If this was insanity, then he'd chose it over reality any day.

She smiled down at her arms. The picture was too wholesome to be real. Maksim had carried two lifeless little bodies and cried over them. He told his dead boys that he loved them. He spent months going crazy in search of vengeance.

He had declared his sons dead, so how could they be here, in the arms of their glowing mother?

When he felt Viktor's hand at his shoulder, he realized that his legs gave out and he fell to his knees.

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