Page 25 of His to Own

He doesn’t give me an answer but that’s everything I need to know. Maxim will burn this planet to the ground to get what he wants.

And he wants me.

Sasha tenses when I approach his car with Maxim at my side. “What’s this?” he demands.

“I’m taking her home,” Maxim explains, looking Sasha up and down. “I take it you’re Elena’s driver. How long have you been doing that?”

“Since she was in high school but I’ve known her since she was a girl.”

“So you’re like a father figure to her?”

Sasha nods and I can sense Maxim relaxes. He doesn’t see Sasha as a threat. I know what Maxim does to people he deems a threat to him.

“That’s good to know,” Maxim says. “But we don’t need your services tonight. I will take Elena home.”

“It’s my job to make sure Miss Karetov is all right.”

“Considering she’ll be my wife soon, I think it’s my job.”

Sasha looks into my eyes. “Elena, are you all right?”

I glance at Maxim. Will he kill Sasha if he gets in the way? I can’t risk it so I nod. “Yes. I’ll let Maxim take me home. It will be fine.”

“See?” Maxim says with his smug grin. “Everything will be fine.” He leads me over to his car. I can tell Sasha wants to object but he knows his place. He needs to listen to me.

Once it’s just me and Maxim in his car, heading to my house, all I can feel is the beating of my heart in my ears. Maxim glances at my lap and I press my legs together. My skirt feels short all of a sudden, even though it goes down to my knees.

“So, Elena. Tell me about yourself. Your hobbies. Your interests.”

“Why do you want to know?” I whisper. He gives me a pointed look. Right. Because Maxim is determined to marry me. “Uh… well. I’m going to school.”

“Yes. And?”

“I like to read. That’s it.” I don’t want to tell him about my poetry. That’s too personal. Too intimate. It’s where I write down all of my most private thoughts. It’s the reason why my father hates that I want to be a writer. He can’t control what’s in my mind.

“That’s it? You never go out and party?”

I shift around in my seat. “Why would I go to parties? I need to focus on my studies.”

“A good girl then, aren’t you?” He lets out a low whistle. “So, that boy you go to school with. Is he really just a friend? Or are you together? Is that why you’re so opposed to marrying someone else?”

“Alexei?” I flush. “No. We’re just friends. I meant it. We’ve never dated. I’ve never –,” I stop myself but Maxim knows what I was going to say. I can tell from the excited look in his eyes.

“Have you never dated anyone?”

My face feels like it’s going to burn from how hot it is. “My father never let me and my sisters date. He was strict about that.”

“And yet, he let you go to school. He doesn’t watch you all the time. You’ve never kissed any boys and didn’t tell him?”

“No,” I whisper. “I didn’t want to get in trouble.” I know what trouble with my father is like. His hand across my face.

“You really are a good girl, aren’t you? It’s sort of a miracle. There’s not that many good people in the mafia.”

“I was born into this world. I never asked to join it.”

“Fair enough.” He slants his eyes at me and it makes my body tingle. Everything about Maxim makes me tingle. I don’t understand it. Fear. That must be it. He frightens me.

He also excites me but that’s a thought I don’t want to linger on.