Page 105 of His to Own

With a growl, Aleksander pushes me behind a large outcropping of rocks. He pulls his gun out and gets ready. He motions for me to be quiet.

If I scream, it will alert Maxim and save his life but it will mean Aleksander will shoot me. If I remain quiet, Maxim will most likely be shot and possibly be killed. I’ll be alive, at the hands of a monster, and knowing I have my husband’s blood on my hands.

“Aleksander,” Maxim calls out. He’s so close. A twig snaps. Breathing. Maxim is right on the other side of the rocks. “You are not going to win, Aleksander. Give me my wife back.”

Aleksander surges forward. He’s going to kil Maxim.

I have to speak.

No. I have to scream.

“Maxim! He has a gun,” I shout.

Aleksander turns to me and points his gun at my head but before he can shoot, Maxim appears behind him and lands a hit to Aleksander’s shoulder. Aleksander whirls around and fires at Maxim but thankfully, my husband ducks behind a tree and avoids getting hit.

Aleksander runs into the woods, leaving me behind. Maxim comes out from behind the tree and pauses, looking between me and Aleksander. He has a choice. Get his revenge or help me.

He chooses to help me.

“Elena,” he says, rushing to my side. His eyes sweep over my entire face and body. “Are you ok? Are you hurt?”

“Aleksander,” I gasp. “He’s getting away.”

“I have to get you to safety first. Come on.” He scoops me into his arms and carries me out of the woods and back towards Aleksander’s house. Never has Maxim’s arms felt more safe than this moment.

“We can’t go back here,” I say. “This is Aleksander’s home.”

“My men took over it. So did Nikolai. But I’ll take you home. I promise. I need to get you warm first. You’re shivering.”

It’s then that I realize I am in fact shivering. My adrenaline is coursing through me so much I didn’t even notice.

Maxim takes me to one of the bathrooms and sets me on my feet before turning the faucet in the bathtub on. I watch as the bath gets filled with water.

He turns to me and cups my face. “Are you hurt? Don’t keep this from me. Just tell me.”

I can see the pain in Maxim’s eyes. How much he’s worried for me. Any of the iciness I felt for him washes away. He came for me. He saved me. How could I ever view him as the bad guy before?

“I’m not hurt,” I answer honestly. “I promise.”

“Get in the bath. You need to get warm.”

I’m shivering too much to take my dress off so Maxim does it for me. He doesn’t comment on my naked body. It’s the first time he’s seeing all of me. He only helps me into the bath and I sink into the warm water with a sigh.

I wrap my arms around my legs, holding them close to my chest. “You really came for me,” I say as Maxim kneels down next to the tub.

He keeps his hand on my upper back. It feels warm. Strong. Safe. “Of course I came for you. You thought I wouldn’t? You are my wife, Elena. I fought hard to make you mine.”

“I wasn’t sure,” I admit as my tears hit me. “After everything.”

His eyes become soft. “Oh, Elena. Baby, none of that matters. All that matters is that you’re safe.”

“You lied to me. About Alisa. Why?”

“I…” He sighs and runs his hand over my back. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I don’t really have an excuse. I had put that relationship behind me in the past. It wasn’t something I needed to worry about now. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want things to be awkward. But then Alisa started getting in your head. I knew she was up to no good. I should have told you the first moment you met her. I am sorry, Elena.”

“You don’t say sorry often, do you?”

He gives me his charming smile and it makes me relax into the water more. “Am I that obvious?”