Page 126 of His to Own

Except, I could never strangle her to death. But in this moment, I can understand why Maxim wanted his parents dead. There were times at night when I wished my father would die of a heart attack. When I wished my mother would just go away so I didn’t have to face her little comments about my appearance one more time.

Maybe I’m no better than my husband. That’s a reality I have to come to terms with.

“Of course I was worried,” she hisses. “I didn’t want him killing me over what I had done. So yes. I had to let you take the blame. But I did it to protect myself.”

“You should have protected me though. I’m your daughter.”

She lifts her head higher. “Do you want me to die?”

I flinch. “I…”

“Answer me, Elena.”

“No, I don’t want you to die,” I mumble, though I’m not sure if it’s a lie or not.

“I had to let what happen happen. And I’m sorry for that. But I’m not sorry for protecting myself. And you got out. You married a handsome, high ranking mafia man. From what I can tell, he doesn’t hit you. You got the better end of the deal out of the two of us. So be happy. Now, let’s never discuss any of this again. It’s time to put it in the past. I already have.”

Before I can answer, the front door opens and footsteps echo through the house. I can feel his presence behind me before I even turn around.

My father has returned home.

Chapter Seventeen

Elena

The sight of my father’s hard face makes my voice choke up and my body freeze. I can barely breathe knowing he’s right there. The man who made me feel so small.

“Elena,” he says with a sneer of his lips. “What are you doing here?”

“I…”

“Can our daughter not come see us?” Mother interjects.

“Not when she’s married to that asshole.”

“I was forced into it,” I whisper. “Why are you blaming me for it?”

He scoffs. It’s such a simple thing but it hurts me so much.

I turn to my mother to avoid looking at him. “Where’s Adriana?”

“At school.”

My days have gotten so mixed up with everything that I forgot that Adriana is finishing up her senior of high school. Her seventeenth birthday is coming and then in just a year, she’ll be a legal adult. Father can marry her off to whoever he chooses. I know Adriana would rather die than be married.

“Adriana is following my orders,” Father says. “As a good daughter does. Unlike some other daughters I know.”

I feel my spine shrinking down. The duck of my chin to my chest. My posture collapsing.

“Elena,” Mother says. “Sit up straight. A lady never slouches.”

“Why are you here?” Father asks, still standing behind me. I have to look at him. I need to look him in the eye and ask him to come to my poetry reading, even though I don’t want him there. I need to learn to not be afraid to speak around him.

“I came to ask you a question,” I whisper.

“Speak up,” he snaps. “What did you say?”

“I came to ask you a question,” I say in a harder tone.