Page 32 of Maxim

I shift my legs and feel something heavy attached to my ankle. Frowning, I flip the covers back. I can’t help but gasp when I see a cuff placed around my ankle, attached to a chain.

“How? When?” I gasp.

How in the hell did I not notice that I was chained up until now?

“You were out for a long time.” He shrugs.

“Take it off. I’ll be good. I promise,” I plead as my eyes fill with tears.

Maxim shakes his head as he stands. “I can’t do that, Olena. Too much is at stake. Don’t worry, though, as soon as this is all over, I’ll take it off of you.”

“Please!”

He pauses by the door and looks over his shoulder. “Tell me one thing, Olena. Was it worth it? Was seeing the kids worth having the shit beat out of you?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation.

While it wasn’t the reunion I wanted, it was better than nothing. They might not be safe, but at least I know they are alive, and that’s all that matters.

Maxim nods. Tears roll down my face as he walks out of the room. When the front door clicks shut, I fall back and sob.

Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve all of this?

I don’t know how long I cry, spiraling down the drain of despair, but when my tears dry up, I realize I have to go to the bathroom. I get up and drag myself out of bed. I look down at the chain and frown.

Surely he would give me enough to go to the bathroom, right? He wouldn’t leave me confined to the bed.

I guess there’s only one way to find out.

The sound of the chain dragging across the wooden floor makes me cringe, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Relief fillsme when I reach the toilet easily. After doing my business and washing my hands, I head toward the kitchen.

When I reach the fridge, I sigh. Okay, this is good. I can at least feed myself. I take a couple of steps toward the door and feel the chain pull tight.

Dammit. I knew the chain wouldn’t reach the door, but I had to try. I sink to the floor, and the tears start to flow once again. I’m trapped. Well and truly trapped, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I put the car in park and shut it off. My frustration finally takes hold, and I slam my palm against the steering wheel, making the horn blare.

“Goddammit!” I yell.

What a fucking clusterfuck.

The last thing I wanted to do to Olena was chain her up like a fucking dog, but she left me no choice. I feel like I’m starting to make progress, and I refuse to start all over because some woman with sad eyes ruined everything.

This is bigger than she knows. Could I tell her what her father’s into? Yes. I could hound her for information, but I know she knows nothing. Sure, I could have explained things and prayed that she would do as she was told, but I don’t trust her.

I can’t risk her fucking everything up. If the other families found out that the mission was compromised because of a woman, it would change things. It wouldn’t just be my ass on theline but my family’s reputation. Nikolai has been too good to me to risk it all for her.

I just need to stick to the plan. Take down her father and end the sex trafficking ring. By doing that, not only will I be saving innocent lives, but I’ll also save the lives of her siblings.

Those fucking kids.

Her sister was fucking adorable. So full of life because she hasn’t seen the ugly yet. Her brother, though. That poor kid is much too young to have shadows in his eyes. His father is making him grow up much too soon, and it’s going to blow up in his face.

I don’t know Olena well, trying to get to know the woman is like pulling teeth, but it’s clear that she loves them and would do anything for them. They would be better off with her and struggling than forced to witness the shit their father is involved in. If he’s willing to sell one daughter, then he will probably sell the other. It’s only a matter of time.

Sick fuck.

Sighing, I get out of the car and shut the door. I move to the front and lean against the hood of the car. There’s a slight breeze in the air that makes the heat feel less stifling, and the birds are chirping. If I were a different man, I would take a walk down the trail, but I’m not the outdoorsy type. I just needed someplace to go away from prying eyes.