The patio had grown quieter after Maya and Nadia disappeared inside the mansion.
The distant hum of the estate's fountains drifted softly through the night air. Warm lights illuminated the stone pathways below while the gardens stretched endlessly into the darkness.
Rege sat between Maxim and Nikolai.
Silent.
Completely silent.
Which wasn't unusual.
Except tonight it was.
Because neither of his brothers had missed the fact that his gaze kept drifting toward the mansion.
Toward the direction Maya had vanished.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Finally Nikolai exhaled dramatically.
"Say something."
Nothing.
Rege remained seated exactly as he was.
One ankle resting over his knee.
One hand draped over the armrest.
Expression calm.
Collected.
Controlled.
Only the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed him.
Maxim noticed it.
Nikolai noticed it.
They both knew him too well.
The truth was simple.
Rege wasn't calm.
Not remotely.
Maya wasn't beside him.
And somehow the absence felt wrong.
The evening had felt complete when she was there.
Now something felt missing.
Like a room missing its light.
Like silence where there should've been music.
And it irritated him far more than he cared to admit.
"Rege."
Still nothing.
Nikolai rolled his eyes.
"He's not even listening."
"He is."
Maxim lifted his glass.
"He just doesn't care."
That earned them both a look.
Finally.
Nikolai grinned.
The grin widened.
Then he leaned back comfortably.
"How did you find such a stunning beauty?"
Silence.
Again.
Maxim pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Nikolai."
"What?"
"Leave him alone."
"No."
"Oh, he's completely gone."
Maxim's lips twitched.
A rare occurrence.
Rege rolled his eyes.
Nikolai folded his arms and beamed.
Then leaned forward again.
"So."
He pointed.
"How?"
Rege remained quiet.
For a long moment.
Then something softened inside his expression.
A memory.
Maya laughing.
Maya smiling.
Maya sitting beside him beneath New York sunlight.
Maya stealing cake from his plate.
Maya looking at him like he was something worth understanding.
His lips twitched faintly.
And immediately both brothers noticed.
Nikolai groaned.
"Oh my God."
Maxim actually chuckled.
"He smiled."
Nikolai pointed aggressively.
"Tell us."
Rege shook his head.
Then finally spoke.
"She's..."
The words died.
Because no explanation felt adequate.
How was he supposed to explain Maya?
The way she brightened entire rooms.
The way she made strangers feel comfortable.
The way she somehow made him feel human.
His gaze lowered briefly.
And for the first time all evening he looked almost vulnerable.
Silence followed.
Then Nikolai groaned dramatically.
"That's disgusting."
Maxim laughed.
Actually laughed.
A quiet sound.
But genuine.
Nikolai pointed accusingly.
"Do you hear him?"
Maxim nodded.
Rege ignored them.
Maxim studied him for a moment.
Then spoke quietly.
"She's a keeper."
The patio became still.
Even Nikolai looked surprised.
Because Maxim never said things like that.
Ever.
He didn't approve of people.
He tolerated them.
Occasionally respected them.
Approval was rare.
Very rare.
Rege looked toward him.
Something unreadable flickered through his eyes.
Then he nodded once.
A silent acknowledgment.
Maxim returned the nod.
Conversation over.
For him at least.
Nikolai stared between them.
"Did I just witness Maxim approving of a woman?"
"I need this documented."
Maxim rolled his eyes.
Nikolai turned back toward Rege.
"I think you should treat her right."
Rege raised a brow.
"Lest someone steals her."
The glare that followed was immediate.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Nikolai burst into laughter.
"There he is."
Maxim chuckled.
"I think Nikolai is trying to say he would steal her."
"I know."
Rege's voice remained calm.
Very calm.
Which somehow made it worse.
"And I would kill him before I allowed that."
Silence.
Then Nikolai laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
"Relax."
He raised both hands.
"I know she's taken."
A pause.
"She's off limits."
Rege looked away.
Still unconvinced.
That only made Nikolai laugh harder.
For several minutes the brothers simply sat together beneath the night sky.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
The kind of silence only family could share.
Then restlessness returned.
Suddenly.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Rege needed to see her.
The realization annoyed him.
And yet there it was.
Unavoidable.
"I'll call it a night."
Nikolai immediately smirked.
"Of course you will."
Rege ignored him.
"Goodnight, little brother."
Nikolai grinned.
"And don't stay up too late."
He pointed dramatically.
"Breakfast is at seven."
Maxim stood.
"See you tomorrow."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Wrap up loose ends."
Their eyes met.
Understanding passed silently between them.
Rege nodded once.
Then walked away.
The mansion was quiet.
Most of the household had already retired for the evening.
Soft golden lighting illuminated the corridors while moonlight spilled through towering windows.
Rege eventually reached Nadia's room.
He knocked softly.
No answer.
After waiting a moment, he entered.
The bedroom sat empty.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Of course.
The closet.
He crossed the room quietly and opened the walk-in closet doors.
Then stopped.
The sight waiting inside stole every coherent thought from his mind.
Nadia and Maya had fallen asleep.
Curled into opposite ends of the enormous cream sofa.
Golden lighting bathed the room softly.
Designer displays surrounded them.
Luxury handbags.
Shoes.
Clothing.
None of it mattered.
Because his attention immediately found Maya.
She had changed into the cream sweatshirt and matching shorts.
Her long dirty blonde hair spilled around her like silk.
One arm rested beneath her cheek.
Her breathing remained slow and peaceful.
She looked impossibly beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
Like something unreal.
Rege stood completely still.
Just looking at her.
Then Nadia opened her eyes.
She smiled immediately.
Not surprised.
Not even slightly.
"She fell asleep."
Her voice remained barely above a whisper.
Rege nodded.
Nadia glanced toward Maya.
"She must be exhausted."
Something protective tightened inside him immediately.
He knew.
Maya always carried more than she admitted.
Always.
"Thank you."
The words came quietly.
Sincere.
"For looking after her."
Nadia's smile softened.
And for a brief moment she watched him watching Maya.
The way his gaze never really left her.
The way his entire expression changed whenever he looked at her.
Oh.
He was gone too.
Completely.
Nadia almost laughed.
Instead she simply nodded.
"I'll bring her clothes tomorrow morning."
Rege nodded.
"Goodnight, Nadia."
"Goodnight, Rege."
Then carefully—
Very carefully—
He lifted Maya into his arms.
Like she was something precious.
Fragile.
Irreplaceable.
Maya immediately moved closer.
Instinctively.
Her face pressed against his chest.
A soft sigh escaped her.
And Rege's heartbeat stumbled.
God.
Even asleep she trusted him.
The realization hit harder than it should have.
Nadia watched quietly.
Then smiled to herself.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
These two would stop running in circles someday.
The walk back to his room felt entirely too short.
Maya remained asleep the entire time.
Curled against him.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Rege entered his bedroom quietly and closed the door behind him.
The room sat dimly lit.
Soft moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate grounds.
The massive bed waited near the center of the room.
He approached slowly.
Then lowered Maya carefully onto the mattress.
Gently.
Delicately.
Like she might break.
For one glorious second he thought he had succeeded.
Then he tried pulling away.
And Maya immediately whined.
A soft sleepy sound.
Her arms tightened around his neck.
Refusing.
Absolutely refusing.
Rege froze.
"Maya..."
Nothing.
Still asleep.
But she tightened her hold anyway.
Her face buried itself closer against his neck.
And every nerve in his body immediately became aware of her.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then she whispered.
So softly he almost missed it.
"Rege..."
His breath caught.
"Maya?"
No response.
Only another sleepy murmur.
And then—
"I'm sorry."
Everything inside him stilled.
Completely.
His frown appeared instantly.
Sorry?
For what?
The words echoed inside his head.
"I'm sorry."
The apology sounded genuine.
Heartbroken.
Small.
Like something she carried deep inside herself.
Something she never spoke about.
Something painful.
And suddenly he wasn't thinking about attraction anymore.
He was thinking about Maya.
About whatever burden she carried.
About whatever had hurt her enough to apologize in her sleep.
His hand moved unconsciously.
Brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
She relaxed immediately beneath the touch.
Trusting him.
Even now.
And God.
That somehow made everything worse.
Because she looked beautiful.
Because she felt warm.
Because she was wrapped around him.
Because every instinct inside him wanted to pull her closer.
To bury his face in her hair.
To kiss her.
To finally discover whether her lips tasted as sweet as he imagined.
Or sweeter.
Far sweeter.
His throat tightened.
Every muscle in his body protested.
Rege closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
Control.
He needed control.
Because Maya deserved that.
Deserved him at his best.
Not at his weakest.
Still—
When she unconsciously moved closer again—
Pressing herself against him—
His jaw tightened painfully.
This woman would be the death of him.
And she didn't even know it.
Outside, moonlight illuminated the estate.
Inside, Maya slept peacefully.
Still holding onto him.
Rege remained exactly where she wanted him.
Trapped between desire and restraint.
Completely helpless.
And utterly, hopelessly lost.