Page 27 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

She shakes her head, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.It’s clear she doesn’t want to relive whatever it was that Igor tried to do.

“You don’t need to go there,” I offer.

“I’m fine now.”She swallows hard.“When Igor couldn’t perform, when he couldn’t have sex with me, he’d whip me until I bled.”

My fists clench tighter, knuckles whitening with the force.Her words settle in my chest like a boulder, heavy and suffocating.I force myself to relax, to uncurl my fists, to keep my temper from spilling over.I know if I give in to it, if I let it consume me, I’ll lose control.And I can’t afford to lose control—not now, not when she’s finally letting me in.

“You married him.”The words come out harsh, accusing.I regret them the moment they leave my lips.She flinches, her shoulders hunching even further, and I reach out, taking her hand in mine.“I’m sorry.I just—I don’t understand why.I never did.”

She takes a deep breath, her fingers tightening around mine.“I didn’t have a choice, Dave.My father owed him millions of dollars.More than he could ever pay off.And Igor...he demanded that I marry him to forgive my dad’s debt.”

Her words hit like a runaway train.My mind races, piecing together fragments of our past, our history, and the decisions that led us here.“So you...you married him because of a debt?”

Alexia flinches, but she doesn’t look away.“It wasn’t just the money.He hates you and your family.He knew about us and used it against me and you.”

My jaw tightens, and I feel the familiar burn of rage flare up again.I want to hit something, break something.The anger consumes me, but beneath it, there’s something else—pain.A deep, aching pain that I can’t seem to shake.

I close my eyes, my mind reeling.The anger inside me shifts, turning into something darker, colder.I should have known.But I didn’t, and now, all I can do is try to make sense of the mess we’re in.

“Tell me why you stayed, Alexia.Why didn’t you leave, even when things got this bad?”I flick my eyes to the scars before returning to her face.

She takes a shaky breath, her eyes meeting mine.“Because he would’ve killed you, Dave.He told me that if I tried to leave, he’d come after you.And I couldn’t let that happen.”She pauses to take a deep inhale.

Her words hang between us, heavy and suffocating.

I want to pull her into my arms, to hold her close and promise her that I’ll never let anyone hurt her again.But I don’t.

I can’t.

She’s not mine.

Yet.

With a sigh, she adds, “He threatened everyone I cared about.My father, my friends… you.He told me he’d destroy everything if I didn’t stay with him.And I believed him.I knew he had the power to do it.”

“I should’ve killed him years ago,” I say through gritted teeth, more to myself than to her.But the words feel right, solid, a promise I intend to keep.“You should’ve told me,” I say, the words feeling hollow.I should have known.I should have seen the signs of his abuse.But I didn’t, and now, I’m left with this sickening weight of regret.

She shakes her head.“You couldn’t have done anything.I thought I could handle it.I thought—” Her voice breaks, and she squeezes her eyes shut, as if blocking out the memories.

“I could’ve done something.I could’ve been there.I could’ve—” I stop, the words catching in my throat.The truth is, I don’t know what I could have done.But I would have found a way.For her, I would have found a way.

Unable to resist the pull, I take a step toward her, reaching out to cup her face in my hands.“He’ll pay for this, for everything he’s done.I swear to God, he’ll pay.”

She closes her eyes, leaning into my touch, and for a moment, we’re both silent, the weight of our shared pain hanging heavy in the air.I let my thumb trace over her cheeks, brushing away the silent tears that have escaped her.

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore,” I say softly.“I won’t let him hurt you again.”

She looks up at me with a sad smile.“It’s not that simple, Dave.He’s...he’s still out there.And he’ll come for me.For us.”

A bitter laugh escapes my lips.“Let him try.I’m ready for him.”

She shakes her head.“You don’t know him.He’s…” She pauses as if searching for words.A flash of something dark glints in her hazel eyes and she trembles.She adds, “He’s a monster.”

She’s silent, her eyes downcast.She’s slipping away from me, retreating into herself.

I won’t have it.I reach out, taking her hand, pulling her back to me.“Look at me, Alexia.Whatever it takes, I’m going to make him pay.”

Her eyes search mine, and for the first time, I see a flicker of hope there, a glimmer of something that might be trust.I squeeze her hand, a silent vow that I won’t let her down.

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