Anna accepted her hand and they walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. She felt dirty and useless. There was nothing she could do to save Adam's life. Because she was sure that if her father couldn't, Maxwell would kill him. He wouldn't forgive someone who blackmailed him with the lives of his children. Adam was arrogant and didn't understand that his father was a man who knew how to act at the right time. He must have had a good reason for ordering the Costas guards home before she did.
She got into the car and in a few minutes they arrived at the apartment. She rushed to the front and went straight to Ian's room, where he was asleep, with two trusted men watching over him. Then she went into the bedroom, where Maxwell was still sleeping, and his sleep was heavy. Anna took the jug of water from the bedside table and poured its contents into the bathroom sink. Then she went into the kitchen, poured more water into the jug and brought it back to the bedroom. She lay down next to Maxwell and hugged him, as if that would take her mind off her worries.
She took a long time to fall asleep, her face bathed in tears. She was going to lose one of them. And she didn't want to lose anyone else.
...
Bonnie was awake when Adam arrived. He undressed and, completely naked, lay down beside her, caressing her body with his eyes closed. Bonnie understood that he was trying to satisfy his need to be with Anna with her, and was using her to pretend that he was with his true lover. But she stopped caring about that a long time ago. She liked him and having sex with him. And that night, in particular, he was very inspired.
After he had satisfied his craving, contrary to Bonnie's belief that he would fall asleep afterwards, he stayed cuddled up with her, talking about his plans and everything that was likely to happen the next day.
After making her aware of everything, still cuddled up to her, he fell asleep. And Bonnie had time to think about what she would do. Surely, the next day, they would no longer be welcome there, and she wasn't willing to stay any longer, in a strange country. Not with Adam and his obsession. He wasn't cooperating in making her want to stay. She wanted to go away and be near her sister. Smoke her weed in peace, and relax by the building's pool, enjoying the warmth. She would do as Adam asked, so that he would know he could always count on her, but after that, she would say goodbye. And with that determination, she fell asleep.
...
Anna woke up as soon as Maxwell moved to get up. Despite the care he took to get his arm out from under her, she woke up and looked at him with a sad face.
"What happened?" Maxwell asked, frowning.
"We have to get away today." Anna said and told him about her meeting with Adam.
Maxwell stared at her thoughtfully for a few seconds, then stood up without saying anything. Anna knew he was angry with her, but she couldn't hide something so serious from him. She heard the noise of the shower and felt like joining him, but instead she changed her clothes and went into the bathroom, just to brush her teeth. She went into the kitchen. She wanted to have coffee without having to look at Adam.
...
When Anna entered the kitchen, it seemed that everyone had thought of running away from each other. Her father, Bonnie and Adam were already eating breakfast in the kitchen. She took a deep breath and joined them, keeping quiet as no one greeted her or even looked at her when she arrived.
Maxwell appeared in the kitchen, and when he saw Adam there, he made his way towards him in large strides and made him stand up, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and pinning him to the wall, lifting him a little off the ground.
"I shelter you and your whore in my house, and you act like a snake behind my back? How dare you? How dare you blackmail my wife, threaten my family?" He spoke between his teeth and danger flowed through the air. It was almost palpable. They seemed to be involved in a firefight. With invisible weapons.
Anna looked at her father in a mute plea for help, but he just held her hand and patted it lightly to reassure her.
Bonnie stood up and walked away.
Adam looked at his brother calmly with a debauched smile, taking his brother's hands away from him and staring at him with a cold glint in his eye.
"So Anna told you about our adventure tonight... I thought she'd be more discreet. Did she tell you any details?" Adam said, implying that they had had sex and Maxwell punched him in the face. Adam was taken aback by Max's unusual reaction, but reacted quickly and returned the punch. Soon the two of them were curled up in a fight on the kitchen floor, with Anna walking around them, asking them to stop.
Anna's father continued to sit calmly, drumming his fingers on the table and watching the two brothers as if he wished they could kill themselves.
After a few minutes, he took out his cell phone and typed something into the screen. Almost immediately, three of his men appeared and broke up the fight. They both had bruises on their faces and were panting. They were still shouting insults at each other.
"She's mine, Maxwell! You took advantage of her body, as was your right as a Lensman, but now it's time for her to return to me. It's me she loves. I married that pig! She doesn't enjoy you, Max! She confessed it to me yesterday! She's just our bitch, I won't clash with you again because of this trash! I'll kill her, Max. If you... I'll kill her, because I wouldn't lose you. You're my brother and I love you!"
"You should have been aborted! I bet our parents still regret not doing it. Accept it, Adam! Now she's found a real man! She'll never love you again! You're nothing but scum!"