Page 62 of Captive Union
CHAPTER18
Erik
It’s been a long couple of days. Or at least, I think it has.
Ever since Maxim brought me down here, wherever the hell we are, I’ve lost count. My days have just been filled with pain, pain, and more pain.
Maxim has kept true to his promise that he would get back at me for taking Kira. Tit for tat and all that. I can’t blame him. If I’d known I would fall in love with Kira, I would never have taken her in the first place. Falling in love with her has made me realize there’s more to life than revenge. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to let go of my anger for the Petrovs. I wouldn’t be in this position if I had. I’m not only getting tortured physically but my heart is being ripped apart, knowing I’ll never have Kira in my life again.
Maxim hasn’t learned what I’ve learned. He’s still so full of hatred I don’t even bother putting up a fight. It doesn’t matter what I say. He’ll never believe that I didn’t hurt Kira. He’ll never believe that I’m in love with her, and she … that she might be in love with me.
In a way, I hope Kira doesn’t actually love me. She never told me, and if she doesn’t, it’ll be easier for her to move on. Once Maxim kills me, she’ll be a widow and ready to marry again, though Maxim might have a hard time finding a man to marry a woman who was fucked by me. He’ll probably just keep Kira locked in her room forever for her protection.
The thought of Kira being locked away again fills me with crippling sadness. I’m all out of rage. After days of being beaten and cut by Maxim and Alexei, I don’t have anything left.
All I can wish is that Kira eventually ends up happy. I can die in peace knowing that. Though, I’ll probably die before I ever learn if she’s happy or not.
I’ve braced myself for that reality.
No more running and scraping by and fighting.
I lost, and Maxim won.
So it’s a massive surprise when Kira comes running into the dank, dingy room where I’m chained to the wall, with my blood dripping onto the floor from a gnarly cut Maxim gave to my chest. The blood loss is pretty extreme, and I know I won't last much longer.
I still have enough energy, though, to stare at Kira in shock as she stands before her brothers and me, her chest rising and falling fast. The words that come out of her send a pulse of life through me.
“I’m here for him,” she says, pointing at me. “To save him.”
Everything in the room goes silent, from Maxim and Alexei to the air itself. Until Maxim marches toward Kira and says, “You’re what now?”
She steps away from him, keeping her eyes glued to me. The small smile she offers me lets me know she still cares for me. It’s all I need to keep fighting, even as more blood leaves my body. “I’m here to stop this, Maxim.” Her voice is clear and concise. It makes me proud. “What you’re doing is wrong.”
Maxim scoffs. “Kira, what are you talking about?” He points at me. “Thisis what this bastard deserves. He deserves to feel every ounce of pain I can give him.”
“No,” Kira says fiercely. “You’re not listening to me, Maxim.” She looks me in the eyes. “I love him.”
Maxim stumbles back like he’s been hit. Even Alexei, who’s always been the picture of cool in the Petrov clan, opens his eyes wide, looking rattled. All I can do is stare deeply into her eyes, trying to convey through my pain that I love her, too.
“What?” Maxim runs a hand over his face. “Kira, you must be joking. This man kidnapped you. He raped you.”
She’s shaking her head before he’s even done speaking. “He never raped me. You just assumed.”
“I know what I saw when I came into his room. He was forcing himself on you. You were screaming.”
Footsteps thud down the stairs as Elena and Nik come into view. “She wasn’t raped,” Elena announces, standing next to her sister. Nik stands off to the side, looking confused but not saying anything. “Tell him.” She nudges Kira forward.
“This is ridiculous,” Maxim growls.
“Maxim, please listen to me.” Kira places a hand on his arm. “Can you do that for me?”
As he looks down at her, his eyes soften.
She clears her throat. “What you saw when you came to save me wasn’t what you think. Erik and I …” Her eyes flit to mine before returning to her brother. “We were having sex. He was not raping me. It was … consensual.”
Maxim’s nostrils flare before he says, “What? That’s impossible. There’s no way you’d ever give yourself over to this monster. I know you.”
“You only know me as the quiet little girl I used to be. But I’m a woman now, Maxim. One you can’t boss around or control any longer. Erik and I are married. I wanted to explore things with him … physically.” The pain on Maxim’s face is visible. If I weren’t in so much pain, I’d probably laugh. “It was consensual. I asked him to make love to me.”
