"Please! Let me out! I didn't do anything this time!" I yell.
My heart is racing, and I'm getting those shakes where my body thinks it's cold, but it's not.
The door unlocks and swings open.
I stumble backward, my breath catching in my throat.
Maxim stands in the doorway, his expression calm and cold.
"Elena."
His voice is smooth, and it makes my skin crawl.
"Did you really think you could leave me?"
I take another step back.
"No. You're dead. Adrian killed you."
Maxim smiles, and the sight of it sends ice through my veins.
"Did he?"
He steps into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Or did he bring you back to me?"
"What?" I ask, my voice showing my confusion.
Maxim moves closer.
"Adrian is the one who sold you, Elena. He's the reason you're here."
The words hit me like a physical blow, and I shake my head, my breath coming in short gasps.
"No. That's not true."
"Are you sure about that?" Maxim asks as he tilts his head, his smile widening.
"Why do you think it took him so long to find you? Eighteen months, Elena. Eighteen months while you rotted away here,drugged and obedient," he stops and rubs himself, "and my little whore."
"Stop."
"He didn't want you anymore, but I do."
"Stop it!"
I press my hands over my ears, but his voice comes through anyway.
"He got paid, and you became mine. That's the truth, Elena. You know it is. You've always known it."
"No!" I scream through tears. "He didn't. He wouldn't. He loves me!"
Maxim laughs, the sound low and cruel.
"Love? Like you're worthy of that. Little whores don't get loved, they get fucked. Now, come here."
He reaches for me, his hand gripping my wrist, and I try to pull away, but his grip is iron.