Page 41 of His to Own

I jerk back. “My husband? Did… did he do that to your face?”

“The fact that you already know he did tells me everything. How can you be married to that guy? He’s a bad man, Elena.”

“Why are you blaming me?” I whisper. “I didn’t want to be married to him.”

His eyes soften. “Were you forced into it? Because nothing else makes sense. You never mentioned you were dating someone. You never told me you were engaged. If I had known, I would have…”

“Would have what?”

“I would have stopped having these feelings for you. I made it clear I liked you and I was an idiot because you were already taken.”

“I wasn’t taken though. Maxim and I…” I sigh. “It’s complicated.”

“Obviously. Do you need help? I can help you.”

“How can you help me? My husband hit you. Did he tell you to stay away from me?”

“Yes.”

An anger I have never felt for anyone else hits me in the gut. Maxim is trying to control my life, just like my father. He may be all right with me getting an education but if he’s trying to say who I can and cannot spend time with, then that only hurts me. The vise around me tightens.

“But fuck him,” Alexei says. “We’re friends. I want to help you, Elena. You’re in danger. I’m worried he’ll hurt you the way he hurt me.”

I hesitate. “I don’t think Maxim will hurt me the way he hurt you. Alexei, you’re the one in danger. If Maxim catches you talking to me, he could do worse to you.” The memory of him casually shooting Mikhail in the head goes through my mind. “You should stay away. You were right to avoid me. I’m sorry. I’ll go.” I hurry away from Alexei just in case Maxim is having me watched.

“Elena, wait,” he says. “We can talk. I’m not afraid.”

“But you should be. He punched you. He could do worse. We… we can no longer be friends.” My voice hitches and the urge to cry hits me but I hold it back. Now is not the time.

“Elena –,”

“No. I am sorry, Alexei. I am just… sorry.” I walk as fast as I can across campus and fortunately, Alexei doesn’t follow.

When I make it to the parking lot, I find Maxim there, waiting for me. His eyes are dark. There’s an emotion in them I don’t like.

I want to snap at him about hurting Alexei but I can’t get the words out. I can never get the words out.

“How was class?” he asks.

I don’t say anything as I get into the car. Maxim tries talking to me again on the drive. “I asked how your class was.”

I turn my head to the window and don’t say a word. I am so angry and scared that I don’t even know how to process it all.

“Are you upset?” he asks.

Once again, no word.

“You can’t give me the silent treatment forever. Why aren’t you talking to me?”

My father always scolded me for talking. I was taught to be quiet. I can find strength here. I can heal here.

Maxim sighs. “Talk to me, Elena. You look upset. Why?”

No word. Eventually, he drops it and we drive home in silence. I immediately go to Maxim’s large library he has inside the house and work on homework. He leaves me alone.

When dinner comes around, we sit at his large dining table. Me on one end and him on the other. So much distance between us. I still don’t speak even as he chatters away.

“I had a fun day,” he says. “Some asshole needed money from me and I gave it to him. I know he won’t be able to pay, which makes it fun. I’ll be able to make his life hell later.”