My poor sheep

''If you don't leave right at this moment, then we are not talking ever again. I am so done with you,'' Maxim's tone was cold. 

Diana froze. Did he want her to stay out of his business that badly? 

Maxim's heart ached. But he did not reach out to her. If this was what it took to send her away then so be it. 

''As touched as we are by your interaction, girl, leave right this moment if you don't want to end up with broken bones,'' Brother John spoke up as he rolled the bat in his hand. 

Diana straightened up and walked out from hiding behind Maxim's back. 

As he watched her stepping away, the light in Maxim's eyes dimmed slightly but he let out a relieved sigh until…

''I. Am. Not. Leaving,'' Diana glanced at the men with a tilt of her chin, ''Go ahead and beat me along with him,'' her voice provocative. 

The relieved sigh lodged back into Maxim's throat like a fishbone. 

''Capture her,'' the other two men moved towards her.