Page 40 of His to Own

I calmly shut the door behind me. “Let’s have a chat.”

“Let’s not. Leave. Or I’m calling the police.” He lifts up his phone but I grab it from him. It’s so easy. Pathetic fucker.

“Let’s not call the police. I’m going to talk and you’re going to listen. Is that understood?”

“Leave.”

I open my coat and reveal my gun hidden there. His eyes widen and he goes still and quiet. “That’s better,” I say, closing my coat. “You are going to leave my wife alone. I can tell you like her. It’s written all over your face. But Elena is mine now. Not yours. So I would suggest you leave her alone. Or…” I smirk. “Well, I think you can fill in the gaps. Do you understand?”

“Are you going to hurt her? Do you already hurt her?”

“I have never laid a hand on my wife. Literally. I have blue balls to prove it. Elena does not need to fear me. But everyone else does. That includes you, friend.”

“We are not friends.”

“Oh, I know. I was just trying to be nice. So leave Elena alone. If I find out you haven’t left her alone, I will hurt you. Is that clear?”

He swallows hard. “Clear.”

“Good.” I turn to the door and then stop. “You know what? I think my message would be better sent if I did this.” I face Alexei and punch him right in the cheek. He flops to the ground.

“What the fuck?” he snarls.

“Just a message. Don’t ever forget it. I could have done much worse to you.” I leave Alexei on the floor, crying like a little girl.

All I can do is smile.

Chapter Six

Elena

The first thing I notice when I arrive at school is the bruise on Alexei’s face.

And the fact that he refuses to even look in my direction when we’re in Professor Burgov’s class. I try to catch his eye the entire time but he never looks over once.

Something in my gut tells me I know how he got that bruise. But it could have been an accident. He could have gotten it a million different ways other than…

Maxim. My husband.

Once class is done, Alexei rushes off before I can speak to him. Professor Burgov calls me over.

“If you want to be in the running for my internship,” he says, “then you need to submit a piece of writing by the end of the deadline. You still have a few more weeks yet.”

“I thought I wasn’t eligible given that I didn’t do well on the last test.”

He offers me a kind smile. “I’ve read your writing before, Elena. I know you’re good. I won’t let one bad test ruin your chances. So I am offering you another chance at this. Fight, like I said. I am looking forward to seeing what you submit.” He turns to another student, ending our conversation.

I hug my books close to my chest as I leave the class. Another chance. Fight. I need to fight for what I want.

I find Alexei in the main quad, talking to some of his other friends. I wait behind him until he’s done and the moment he turns around and sees me, he takes off walking in the other direction.

“Alexei, wait,” I call out, running after him. “Why are you avoiding me?”

“Like you don’t know,” he mutters.

Fight, I remind myself. I grab his arm, forcing him to stop. “I don’t know. Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?”

“Your husband did,” he spits out.