Page 60 of Captive Union
“Alexei, please tell me. Don’t you think, after everything, that I have the most right to know where my husband is?”
“I mean, you do,” he mumbles. “But still …”
An idea forms in my mind. “Alexei, Erik tortured me.” Elena looks at me in confusion. I shake my head, letting her know I’m lying. “And I know Maxim is torturing him now. I want to be there to see it happen. I know Maxim wants to protect me. But don’t you, as my other brother, think I have the right to be there?”
“Yes,” he admits. “If it were up to me, I’d place a knife in your hand and say go to town on that bastard. But it’s not up to me. It’s Maxim. Like always.”
“And think of how frustrating that is.” I’m on a roll now. “Alexei, if Maxim told you that you couldn’t be there to help torture the person who tortured you for weeks, wouldn’t you just show up anyway and prove to Maxim that you have the right to be there?”
He’s silent for a moment. “Ugh, fine. You make a good point. But, Kira, do you really want to see him get tortured? It’s not a pretty sight. And Erik’s pretty far gone now.”
My heart skips a beat. Elena places a hand on my knee for comfort. “What do you mean he’s far gone now?” I ask.
“Well, we’ve been torturing him for the past three days. I just want to make sure you’re prepared to see that.”
I take a huge breath before letting it out and saying, “I’m ready.” Elena looks at me, and I nod. I am. I have to be. For Erik, if not for myself. “Just tell me where he is.”
“Ok.” Alexei rattles off an address. “He won't last much longer. Maybe one or two more days left. I can’t wait to see the bastard die. You have the right to see it, too.”
“Thanks,” I say, holding back my tears. I’m going to find Erik and convince Maxim and Alexei that I love him and they need to let him go.
“No problem. And Kira? Glad to know that you’re all right.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Thanks, Alexei. You’re a good brother.”
“I’m really not, but I try to be. I’ve got to go. Guess I’ll, uh … see you later.”
“Yeah.” I hang up.
Elena just looks at me. “You ok? That must have been tough to hear?”
“You’ll come with me, right? I need your support.”
“Of course. That’s what big sisters are for.”
“Now I just need to get past Mom.”
“Let me handle that.” Elena stands up, motioning for me to follow. We find Mom in the living room, painting her nails a shade of skin pink. Why she bothers painting her nails the same as her skin is beyond me.
“Mom,” Elena announces, “I’m taking Kira out shopping. She needs to get out and have a break from her thoughts.”
Mom looks at me with her cold eyes. “Is that so? Kira, you’ve been keeping yourself to your room this past week. I’m disappointed in you. You look like a slob.” She bends her head back down over her nails.
I step forward before Elena can speak for me. “Mom, you know, you’re not a nice person.”
Elena’s mouth drops open as Mom whips her head up. “What did you say to me, young lady?”
“You are, in fact, a very cruel person. And I’m done putting up with it. The only thing you’ve ever liked about me is my shyness. Well, no longer. I’m standing up for myself. You don’t get to be critical of me anymore on any subject matter, whether it be my clothes or posture. I’ve had enough.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Elena says, standing next to me, a united front.
“Enjoy painting your nails,” I say before storming out of the house. My mom doesn’t even get the chance to have a word in. Now, how does that feel, Mother?
When the guard in the hallway tries following me, Elena stops him.
“We’re just going on a girl’s trip. My sister needs some space from … men.” She looks him over. “Can you do that for us?”
“But Maxim wants me to keep an eye on her.”
