Page 44 of Captive Union
“Are you ok?”
“Better than he is,” he says smugly.
“Well, other than a few bruises, Erik looks fine.”
“Kira, why are you calling? Do you know where you are? Tell me, so I can get you.”
“That’s not why I’m calling, Maxim. I have a question. If I wanted to stay with Erik, would you be able to be happy for me?”
“What are you talking about? Kira, Erik is a monster. When I find you, I’ll make sure no one else can ever hurt you again. You have my word.”
“So, you’ll just keep me locked up forever, protected?”
“If that’s what it takes to keep you safe, yes.” Maxim doesn’t even hear the irony in his words, which just makes me sad.
“When you tried to control Elena, that didn’t work out so well for you.” There was a time he tried limiting what Elena could do in her life after she married Nik, and it ended up with Maxim accidentally hitting Elena when he was in a fight with Nik. They eventually settled their differences, and Maxim told Elena he’d back off and give her space.
“Yes, but you’re not Elena.” Never more have those words been so true. Elena would never have fallen for her captor, for one thing. And two, if she had, she would have told our brother off so hard he’d have no choice but to listen to her. “Kira, you don’t need to live a wild life. I know you. You’ve always been content to stay in your room. I want to make sure you get back to your room safely.”
“So, I’d be a prisoner to you, too?”
“What? No, Kira. I just want you home safe and sound.”
“So, if I wanted to stay with my husband, you wouldn’t care and just take me back and kill him anyway?”
“Kira, you’re not making any sense. Erik has brainwashed you.”
I stand up straighter, gripping the phone tighter. “No, I’m starting to see things more clearly for the first time in my entire life.”
“What has gotten into you? This is Erik’s doing. He’s hurt you.”
“No, Erik is the only one who’s shown me that I can be brave and bold and not afraid to stand up for myself. I love you, Maxim. Hopefully, we can talk another time, but I need to go.” If I don’t hang up right now, I’ll cry again, but this time because of Maxim’s words and not Erik’s.
“No, wait, Kira—”
I hang up.
It hurts that Maxim wants to continue to control me and keep me in my tiny bubble. It’s ironic that, while having been taken captive, I feel free for the first time in my life.
I just hate that Erik was right. Maxim did disappoint me.
And now I feel more lost and confused than ever.
CHAPTER14
Kira
Afew days pass after my phone call with Maxim, during which the startingly reality that Erik was right weighs down on me.
Erik and I will never get the chance to be happy with Maxim trying to find me. And yet, how can I truly be happy with Erik if I’m never allowed to see my family again?
It’s a complete mess.
I’m sitting in our bedroom, sketching an image of Erik and me in an embrace. Despite how we met, my feelings for Erik have become strong, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Looking down at my drawing, it just feels right, us together. It’s unexplainable, but it’s there.
Erik comes into the room, looking over my shoulder at the drawing. “You’re good.”
“Thanks.”
