Page 73 of His to Own

“Tell us what you know or I’ll keep cutting you. This is fun for me. I take it that this isn’t so much fun for you.”

The man’s eyes flick to mine and they widen. “Help me. Please!”

That causes Nikolai and Maxim to finally notice me.

“Elena?” Maxim hisses. “What are you doing here?”

“How did you get into my house?” Nikolai demands.

Both of their intense eyes on me are too much. Darkness plays at the edges of my vision. I stumble back up the stairs and the moment I reach the hallway, I fall to the floor and dry heave.

Maxim’s shoes show up in my line of sight. “Elena? Elena.” He reaches down for me but I jerk away.

“Don’t touch me,” I gasp. “Don’t touch me.”

“I won’t hurt you. You know that.”

“You were… you were torturing that man.”

“Because he has information I needed.” The calmness in Maxim’s voice is the most frightening I have ever heard him. Because he doesn’t sound remorseful at all. He believes he’s doing the right thing.

“I need to get out of here.” I push myself to my feet and take off running.

But Maxim only chases me.

“Elena. I know you’re afraid but you don’t need to be afraid of me. Elena!”

I make it outside before he grabs me around the waist. “Let me go!” My screech causes Maxim to do as I say.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“You were torturing that man. That’s not normal.”

“That’s the mafia. This is why I never told you about this part of my life. I knew it would scare you. I didn’t want you to know. Why did you even come here? Why did you come to the club? Why do you need to know all what I do at work? It’s better for you to not know.”

“Ignorance isn’t better. That’s what Alisa said.”

He scoffs. “Alisa? I wouldn’t listen to what Alisa says. Let me take you home. You’re scared. I get it. Let me take care of you.”

“You? You forced me into this marriage. You beat up Alexei and told him to stay away from me. You fired my teacher. You’re trying to own every part of my life. How can I be all right with any of this?”

“You thanked me for getting your teacher fired.”

In this moment, I hate him. Despise him for making me feel the way I feel. Both hurt and despair all because I was starting to like him. Now I feel like an utter fool.

“I have to go,” I whisper, hurrying to my car.

“You shouldn’t drive right now. Let me take you home.”

“I’m leaving.” I get into the car and start it before Maxim can stop me. I drive as fast as I can. I can’t go back to Maxim’s house, knowing he’ll show up there. I have nowhere to go except school.

The library. I need some place where I can find peace and quiet.

But when I arrive at the library, I’m confronted by Polina. She’s studying and instantly sees me enter and comes right over.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

I sigh. “Am I not allowed to be in the library?”