The Choice: The Debt, #2

By Sara Hubbard

After leaving Max, a well-connected criminal, Luna is questioned by the police about her disappearance. She lies to protect him and becomes the girl who cried wolf. Stigmatized, her life begins to unravel, and her connection to Max becomes front page news. She's determined to salvage her old life, but that proves so much harder when a hitman shows up to kill her. When she calls for help, there's only one person she wants. The only person who can truly protect her.

 

Max has a new career path and new ambitions, but he can't get his mind off of the girl who left him—twice. When their connection becomes public, he tries to pull her back into his life so he can protect her, but she resists. It's only when her situation is dire that she finally reaches out to him. Now that she's back in his life he's determined to protect her and keep her—no matter the cost. Little does he know how steep the price will be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Hubbard
• Release date: Oct 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781988212371

Sara Hubbard

Sara Hubbard is a romantic fiction author. She loves alpha males and the sweet, sassy women who make them believe in change. Sara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two children (four if you count her husband and her needy labradoodle) and works as registered nurse.  Sign up for Sara's mailing list to be notified about new releases and for bonus content: http://eepurl.com/NDwi5 

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Maxim: It’s done. My brother Andrei is king of Falmouth City.

You’d think I’d feel a sense of relief about this, like some heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders, but I don’t. Instead, I feel uneasy. I’m a man who likes and needs control, and I’ve just given a great deal of it to a man I don’t like, trust, or respect.

Not that I had much choice in the matter.

Recently, Andrei and I came to an agreement that if something were to happen to our father, he would take over our family’s legal and illegal businesses. And, also, I would give him my support.

When I made this deal, I didn’t expect it to come to fruition so soon after. Or that my brother would instigate a situation where I’d feel compelled to be the one to kill my father. I regret so little, but killing my father? I don’t know. I struggle with it, even though I know I’d do it again. Killing him was the only way I could protect the only woman I’ve ever really cared for. Luna. Fuck. Just thinking her name messes me up.

I push open the doors to Fighting Chance. Kara, the blonde at the front counter, smiles widely at me. She wears a tank so low and tight I can see her nipples through the thin pink fabric. She’s an attractive woman by most standards with a curvy body, blue eyes, and long wavy brown hair, but she does nothing for me. It’s hard to be aroused by a woman when your thoughts are constantly fixated on another.

"Welcome back, boss," Kara says. She plays with the ends of her hair.

Not yet, I say to correct her. Though I will be as soon as the paperwork is complete. For now, the gym belongs to my friend and trainer, Niko.

Let me know when you plan on celebrating. I’d love to buy you a drink.

Thanks for the offer, I say, knowing I won’t ever take her up on it. I push on the wooden door, pass down a wide hallway, and go through the double doors at the end.

With the exception of a medium-sized office in the center of the gym, about twenty feet off the ground, the entire space is open. I spy Niko near the back wall off to the left. With his arms folded over his chest, he is watching two men spar in one of the four rings.

I undo the cuffs of my black dress shirt and fold up my sleeves as I approach him. The sounds of fists on punching bags, the whir of the cardio machines, and the grunts of lifters and people working out are all music to my ears.

When I reach Niko, I release a sigh and mirror his stance. We’re about the same height, and our builds are similar. He’s put on a few pounds over the years, and all of it is concentrated in his stomach. Once upon a time, he was as fit as me, but that was years ago, back when he was younger and still working as a hitman.

He eyes me, but I set my gaze on the ring in front of us. I don’t recognize either man inside, but I’ll admit the bigger one with the red hair and beard has one hell of a jab.

Who’s the redhead? I ask, nodding at the ring.

He strokes the hair growing on his chin. They call him The Viking. His real name is Josh Harding.

I nod. His footwork is shit.

He chuckles. Yeah, it could use some work. But I think he has potential.

The Viking glances in our direction. The distraction is just long enough for his opponent to plant an uppercut to his jaw. His head snaps back, and he stumbles. He takes one shaky step, a second, and then a third before he crumbles to the ground.

That’s what distraction does to people. It forces you to look away just long enough to get sucker punched. I hate distractions. No, that’s not true. What I should say is I hate when I allow myself to be distracted. I turn away from the ring and slowly walk toward the changing rooms. Niko follows in step beside me.

Today was the day, wasn’t it? he asks.

We couldn’t put it off any longer. To the world, my father is missing. Of course, I know better. With him gone, we looked weakened, so it was important to quickly establish a new leader.

How’d it go? Niko asks me.

As well as could be expected. There was more than one raised eyebrow around the table.

He meets my gaze but says nothing in reply—at least, not right away. I slide my hands into the pockets of my pants and clear my throat. We slow until we’re stopped away from prying eyes and eager ears.

You supported him, Niko says. It’s not a question.

Over the years, I’ve spent so much time with Niko that he’s become more of a father figure to me than my own father ever was. I don’t talk to people much, but sometimes I talk to him. And if I don’t, he always seems to know my mind anyway.

I shrug.

He wipes a hand over his chin hair. To say I’m surprised is an understatement. You and your brother have never got along.

It had to be done, and I wasn’t interested in the job. I’ve told you that already.

Yeah, you did. You could have waited, though. Your father could still come back.

I make a face. I can’t tell him what happened to my father, so I let him draw his own conclusions. We live in the same shady, underground world. If I didn’t know my father was dead, I would assume it and he must too. However, I do appreciate that he’s trying to be supportive and give me hope. Not many people have done that for me over the course of my life.

No, I say confidently, there was no point in waiting any longer. Best to get it over with before someone takes a shot at us.

"Again," Nikos says.

"Right. Again."

I keep my expression even. He’s talking about the other men who worked for my father who went missing recently. He also doesn’t know that I’m responsible for all their deaths, too. Truth be told, I didn’t want most of them to die, one I even feel remorse for—not something I feel often—but they all had to die. It was yet another choice I made to protect Luna.

She’d witnessed my father kill her own father. For that, she was supposed to die, too, and I was the man tasked to do it. But I couldn’t do it when I realized who she was, and who she was to me. I kidnapped her instead and eventually killed everyone who was there the night her father died—everyone except for my cousin, Yuri. If I didn’t trust him as much as I do, Yuri would be dead, too. Killing all of them meant I could let her go. I thought, when all was said and done, she might stay, but it was too much to ask. Our worlds are just too far apart.

Any ideas on who might be behind it? I can make some inquiries if you want.

I shake my head. Nah, but I appreciate you offering. Andrei can deal with it. I’m just an entrepreneur now.

He eyes me. Bullshit. You don’t want revenge?

I curl my hands in my pockets. Of course, but I’m not going to let it consume me. I want to build this business, maybe get into organized street fighting. I’ve had a hand in it for some time now, anyway. And this would be a great place to recruit new talent.

He nods knowingly. I could see that. I think it’ll suit you.

Now…if only I could find some guys who are as good as me.

He chuckles at that, but it’s weak.

What? I ask him.

He eyes me. Nothing. I just… I guess I’m surprised you’re taking this so well.

I struggle to know what to say in response. It’s hard to force feelings of anger when it’s not there. I clear my throat. My father did a lot of shit to a lot of people. Maybe he got what he deserved, and I’m sure I will some day, too. I pull my hands out of my pockets and raise my hand to grab the locker room door.

Hey, Niko says with my back to him. I…uh…I’m sorry he’s gone.

I feel I should turn, but I can’t make myself. There is emotion inside of me, deep in my gut. It’s like an ache and a burn all at once. I hate that it’s there and hate it more that I can’t decide how it makes me feel. And I hate that Niko thinks he needs to stay this to me, like I’m hurting on the inside. Because I’m fine. I’m always fine. Thanks, I say before I amble inside.

With my locker open, I unbutton my shirt and hang it on the hook inside. The room is completely empty and, knowing I’m alone, I give myself one minute to close my eyes and think. With my fists balled, I press them into the doors of the lockers on either side of mine, and then I hang my head. One minute. To clear my thoughts. That’s all I want.

But I don’t even get that before the locker room door flies open. I turn and watch my mother march forward in her black heels, tight skirt, and matching blazer, wearing the deadliest scowl I’ve ever seen on her face. I push away from my locker and face her, right at the exact moment she decides to swipe her hand through the air. It takes me a moment to process it because, of all the shitty things she’d ever done to me, she’s never once struck me.

The beast inside of me roars loudly, and my fingers begin to twitch along with a nerve in my face, the one just above my left brow. I take two steps toward her and bend forward so we’re eye level. Even in heels, she’s much shorter than me. With gritted teeth, I fight severe irritation and anger. I have a good idea why she’s here and why she’s slapped me, and while I understand it, it doesn’t mean it’s deserved, and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s okay—especially here.

Good morning, Mother, I say. I lean in closer.

She knows I would never hurt her, which is why she likely feels she’s able to do this without me responding. Now, if anyone else ever laid hands on me, they’d be dead already.

How could you? she snaps at me. She holds her hand up and is about to hit me again.

I calmly say, I’ll give you the one, but if you hit me again, you won’t like what comes next.

A lean man in his fifties with salt and pepper hair and beady eyes walks into the locker room. He eyes my mother. She is in the men’s locker room, after all. But he has to know who I am, and people tend to tiptoe around me in every circumstance.

He slowly turns and walks right back out.

I refocus my attention on her. Who told you? I ask her.

She scoffs at that. Does it matter? The better question is why didn’t you?

I let out a long breath and try to let go of the tension in my muscles. I wasn’t given the chance, was I? The meeting only happened an hour ago.

That’s not what I’m talking about, Maxim, she says with a shake of her head. You knew what the meeting was about when you went to it this morning. You knew what you were going to say and what you were going to do. You always know. So, what I want to know is when did you decide to give up everything for that bastard brother of yours?

Recently.

How recently? she says through gritted teeth.

I shrug. A few weeks ago. I made a decision to buy this gym and take a step back from dad’s businesses. This is my future, not the guns or the strip club or the pawn stores. This—I point to the floor—here.

Her eyes widen in horror. I don’t believe you. You’re not telling me something. Since you were young, you wanted all of it. You told me you did! Now, all of a sudden, you’ve changed your mind?

I straighten and fold my arms over my bare chest. I remind myself she’s been through a lot this week with Dad’s disappearance. Though she doesn’t seem it, I know she loved him in her own way, and now that he’s gone, she’s likely worried about her future. She doesn’t do well alone. She’s my mother, so I give her this allowance. I give her this respect. Though I’m angry at her for the way she’s reacting to my decision—not that I would expect anything different.

I’m not sure I ever wanted it, I tell her. It was just something that I’d accepted. It’s the truth whether she believes it or not. It just took a push from my brother in order for me to realize it. Andrei thought I was giving up everything in exchange for him keeping his mouth shut and leaving Luna and her mother alone but, in reality, I wasn’t really giving up anything. I let him believe the opposite so he could think he was winning. I want him to think it still. It gives me the upper hand.

With a frown on her face, she slowly lowers herself onto the wooden bench in front of a row of lockers. Your father is gone and is likely never coming back. What am I supposed to do about his businesses then? Let Andrei run them?

Yes.

She glares at me. Why would I ever do that?

Because Andrei’s worked for Dad for years and he knows what he’s doing.

She rolls her eyes.

And, more importantly, we don’t know what’s in Dad’s will. I suggest you make nice in case things don’t go the way you want them to. And me being the head of the family or running the businesses in the meantime won’t change that outcome.

Yes, it will. Andrei would be helpless if you were to lead. He wouldn’t go against you if you were king. He wouldn’t dare. Not even if he ended up inheriting more than his fair share.

I shake my head at that. You’re kidding yourself. He still would. In fact, he would probably come at me harder.

So you’re afraid then? she says.

She’s goading me. My fingers twitch. I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that because you’re upset, and you’re scared.

She eyes me with the scrutiny of a cat.

The house is yours, I say. He agreed to that. He won’t touch your personal assets, but the businesses? Regardless of the will, you need to let those go. It’s not up for discussion.

She laughs. He agreed to that? Well, I guess I’m all set then. The clouds have parted, and the sky is blue. I have a fucking roof over my head!

I sigh.

I thought I taught you better.

I count to three. I don’t want this conversation, Mother. You’ll always be taken care of, I promise you this. It just won’t be in the way you imagined.

She shakes her head. This is because you had some sort of epiphany about what you want in life? Is that what you’re telling me?

I roll my head to the left and then the right and hear quiet cracks in my spine. Yes.

And that’s the only reason?

What other reason would there be?

She leans forward then, a grin on her face so wide I am curious about what she’s about to say.

It’s all over the news, Maxim. Yet, you’re still lying to me. She laughs before standing.

What are you talking about? I say with a growl.

What’s her name? Moon? Or Star? Or whatever the hell she calls herself.

Horrified, I still and fix my gaze on her eyes.

The girl who was missing for nearly six weeks, she adds. Turns out that while the whole world looked for her, had late night vigils for the poor, sweet nurse, she was just shacked up with you.

I feel my jaw drop. I’m left utterly speechless. I can’t deny the kernels of truth in what she says, but they are small and misleading. This is on the news?

All. Over. It.

They said she was living with me?

My mother raises a single eyebrow. Want to tell me again why you suddenly made such a drastic change about what you want to do with your life?

I let go of a breath and attempt to look unaffected, but there’s little hope of that. It’s so rare that I’m left utterly speechless.

Head up, she grips the hem of her blazer and pulls it down to lay flat over her stomach. Then she marches for the door. Just before she pushes it open, she turns back to me. "I love you, Maxim. I always have. But I thought I taught you better than this.

I can see why a normal girl with a pretty face might attract a man like you, but you have to know how ridiculously futile a relationship with someone like her is. She lets out a laugh. Girls like her will never accept or understand a man like you. You’re nothing more than a curiosity to her. A brief shot at some excitement and danger.

I glare at her.

Don’t give up everything for a girl who’s nothing more than a five second fling. Leave her before she leaves you.

My mother shakes her head at me as the fight in her fizzles out. She leaves the locker room without another word, letting the door fall shut behind her.

I stare at the door, teeth gritted, with a fire in my gut and heaviness in my chest. There’s truth to what she said, yet it didn’t make it any easier to listen to. Thinking something and having someone else confirm it are two different things. Deep down, I knew Luna and I didn’t make sense, but I foolishly thought that if we wanted us badly enough, we’d make it happen. I was wrong.

Just like my mother was wrong about Luna. She didn’t stay with me for excitement or danger or because I was a curiosity. That was what drove her away. She stayed because she loved me. She told me so, and I believed her. It just wasn’t enough.

Now she’s gone, and she’s alone. And the world knows she was mine. My enemies will see her as a tool they can use to get to me or hurt me.

Fuck.

I pull my phone out of the back pocket of my pants and open the Internet. It takes me maybe five seconds to find a video of reporters following a thin, rosy-cheeked and glassy-eyed Luna as she hurries into the diner her mother works at. The headline at the bottom of the screen reads: Missing Girl Not Missing At All.

Fuck.

I keep watching, listening to a news anchor report that Luna was thought to be missing, or worse, but she recently returned, only to tell the world that she was hiding at my house. They make mention of my name, referring to me as the son of the infamous Sergei Morozova, noting that he is missing now, too.

I need to act. Now. But she left me. Again. Leave her be. She doesn’t want or need me in her life right now. This is what she wanted.

She’s unprotected.

When a couple of guys talking animatedly saunter into the locker room, I turn toward my locker, phone still in hand. I pretend to be looking at something when, instead, I’m thinking, debating, agonizing, until I make a decision.

I would rather insert myself back into her life and piss her off than live in a world where she doesn’t exist. I grab my shirt and quickly fasten the buttons before I slam my locker shut and stride to the door.

CHAPTER 2

Luna: Flattened boxes under my arms, I amble up the stairs to my third-floor apartment. I pass my next-door neighbor, Ms. Ellis, as she’s walking down. She’s in her seventies and has always been friendly to me—until recently. Since we don’t have an elevator, I often helped her carry her groceries up the stairs and into her apartment. Today, I offer her a small smile and say, Good afternoon.

She clucks her tongue at me and continues past. I hear her whisper something under her breath when she reaches the landing below me, and I can only imagine what she said. A knife twists in my gut. Two weeks ago, I was a missing person, and people feared I’d been abducted or killed. Now that I’m back, people treat me with sneers and awful comments. I know it’s my fault, though, because I lied to the police and let them believe I took off because I wanted time alone. But I never imagined the story I offered to the police would be leaked to the press. And I certainly never imagined the whole city hating me and thinking I’m a perpetrator instead of a victim. I could stand the police hating me and thinking I’m a selfish bitch, but my family, friends and coworkers? It’s much harder to ignore.

Tears brim my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. At the top of the stairs, I turn left, and at the end of the hall, I reach my apartment. Taped to