Page 116 of His to Own

He stands up and approaches me. I don’t step back. No more fear. Maxim cups my face and says, “Yes. I have tortured people before. But I did not torture your teacher. I injected her with a substance that took her life. It’s barely detectable unless you know you’re looking for it. She felt no pain. I made sure of it. I promise.”

“I’ve stood back and let you kill someone. For my education. What kind of person does this make me?”

“A mafia wife,” he answers. “You’re fighting for what you want in life. I am proud. Don’t lose just because someone else wants to take you down. I know how hard you’ve worked. I want you to get everything you’ve ever wanted, Elena.”

“There’s this internship,” I tell him. It’s something I’ve been keeping from him, whether out of embarrassment or shame that I haven’t submitted anything yet. But it’s time to tell him. “This writing internship with one of my professor’s next semester. I haven’t submitted a piece of writing yet but I want to.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“I’ve been scared,” I admit.

“Scared that you won’t get it?”

“Yes.” I grip his hands. “I don’t want you to give it to me. I want to earn it of my own accord if I’m going to get it. I just need to work up the courage to submit something first. I have until the end of this month.”

“Then you should submit something. I won’t get involved. I promise.”

“You mean that?”

He gives me his charming smile that makes me want to melt every time I see it. “If you asked me to, I would help you get it. But I can see how much you want to earn it yourself. Submit something. You’re a good writer, Elena. More people should read your poetry.”

“I still can’t even read it out loud.”

“It’s all right. I’ll help you get there in time. You asked for my help and I’ll always do it. But if you’re asking me to not get involved in this internship, I won’t. You deserve to earn something yourself.”

I let out a long exhale as the tension leaves my shoulders. “Thank you.”

The soft kiss he gives me sends a flare of arousal through me. My body is sore but I want him to take me again.

School comes first though. I need to get my spot back.

I grip my book bag tightly as I walk across campus. Maxim dropped me off, wishing me good luck. I am now officially involved in the murder of another person. All because I let Maxim in. I should be ashamed of myself and a part of me is still anxious over it all but another part of me feels relieved knowing I have a husband who can help heal me. Who can handle the problems I’ve been unable to handle myself.

I arrive at the dean’s office.

“Mrs. Morozov,” he says, motioning me inside. “It seems there’s been a new development in your case.”

“Yes?” I ask. My heart is pounding so hard, I’m convinced he can hear it.

“The accusation of plagiarism has been dropped. You are not going to be expelled. You did nothing wrong. I apologize for this happening. I do ask that you return to your classes and…”

“And?”

He sighs. “Not cause any issues with the school over this.”

He doesn’t want me to sue. “I won’t,” I promise. “I just want to go back to normal.” Though, things can never go back to normal now.

“Good. You can return to your classes. All of your professors have been informed.”

“Thank you.” I hurry out of the office and find Polina in the hallway outside the administration room.

She storms right over to me. “How dare you accuse me. I never accused you of plagiarism. I found out that you copied one of my papers. Not the other way around. I did nothing wrong.”

I stare at Polina in stunned silence. After everything that happened with Aleksander and Maxim and my mother, I completely forgot that I accused Polina of being the other student that Professor Romanov used against me.

Now I see that Professor Romanov most likely used Polina’s paper without her knowing, judging from the expression on her face. She’s always been an open book. She can’t hide when she’s trying to hurt me and right now, she’s the one who looks hurt.

“I didn’t copy your paper, Polina,” I say. “I’m not sure what you heard.”