Page 57 of Captive Union
“Erik is a monster,” Maxim continues. “He’s clearly brainwashed you. You’re hurt and not thinking straight.”
“I’m not hurt.”
“Then what were those sounds I heard when I broke into Erik’s house? You were screaming.”
I blush deeply. How can I tell my overprotective brother that I was having sex with Erik and enjoying it? Alexei glances back again when I don’t respond. I just duck my head and stay quiet. There’s no point in arguing right now with my brother. It won’t change the fact that he has Erik in his trunk.
I need to get out of the car and think of a plan. Maybe Maxim will calm down once I’m back home. Then I can convince him that Erik isn’t a problem, that the hate he feels for Maxim is gone and replaced with love for me.
Love. Erik loves me.
Now that he’s been ripped from me, I’m starting to think I might love him in return.
The drive seems to take forever, but it’s really only a half hour before we come up to the building I grew up in, with my family’s penthouse up top.
I’m home. It’s not exactly the ecstatic feeling I expected.
Maxim orders Nik and Alexei to stay in the car to make sure Erik doesn’t get out as he leads me upstairs. I’m expecting Alexei to object, but it seems, in this case, he’s willing to listen to our brother.
As we walk up to the penthouse, my heart beats harder against my chest with every step until it feels like it will burst out the second Maxim opens the door.
Once we step inside, I see my mom and Elena in the living room. They approach as I walk in, and Elena pulls me in for a deep hug. I just let my arms dangle at my side. She tricked me. She’s the reason Erik got caught and I was brought back here.
Elena steps back, frowning. “Kira, you’re home now. Be happy.”
I turn to Mom, who just looks me over before tilting her chin up high. “Good to see you’re in one piece.” Her eyes look over my simple shirt and pants. “You could have dressed up more for the occasion.” I know my mom can be a cold-hearted bitch, but this just takes the cake.
“I’m going to my room,” I mumble, feeling a numbness overtake me.
“Do you need anything?” Elena asks, following me.
“Just space.”
She stops while Maxim insists on making sure I make it to my room safely. Apparently, I don’t even know how to dothatanymore. Maxim will treat me like a child for the rest of my life after this. I just know it.
“I’m fine,” I say to him, stopping him from entering my room as I open the door. “I just need to be alone for a while.”
“Ok.” His voice is filled with gruffness. “If there’s anything you need from me, just let me know.”
An idea pops into my mind. “There is one thing. You can tell me where you’re going to torture Erik.”
He steps back. “Kira, why on earth would I tell you that? You don’t need to be bothered by that monster any longer.” Every time he calls Erik a monster, it’s another punch to my gut.
“Just tell me, Maxim, please. Don’t I have the right to know what happens to him after everything that happened? Just tell me.”
He sighs deeply before shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I’ve decided that’s information you don’t need to know.”
“Maxim,” I say, frustration seeping into my words.
“I’m sorry.” He gives me a quick smile before walking away.
I stand there for a moment before shutting my door. Looking around my room, the comfort I used to feel is no longer there. I hid from the world in this room because I was afraid to be bold. Now that I’ve grown, my room feels like a cage, trapping me into the world of a shy little girl again.
Instantly, I slump down on my bed and begin to cry, the hot tears gushing down my face. I cry for Erik and how he’s going to be tortured and probably killed. I cry for the end of our relationship. And I cry for myself. Still a prisoner, and yet, everyone expects me to be happy.
* * *
A few days pass,during which I hardly leave my room. Elena comes in to check on me, but I’m not ready to speak yet. No one has given me the news that Erik is dead yet, so I’m assuming Maxim is still in the process of torturing him, wherever he is. At least he’s still alive. There’s a chance I might be able to find him again
