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“But they won’t recognize me. At least, not enough. I can get close, stab Erik, and end this war once and for all. No one else has to get hurt.”
“So… you’re not going to kill Dante or my dad?”
Even through his mask, I can see his dark eyes that say so much and yet nothing at all. “I know I can’t. You’re mine now, princess. I’m not going to lose you and if I kill Dante or Elio, I’ll lose you.”
He’s not wrong. I don’t really care about Erik. I was taught to hate him as a Russian and he was a part of my kidnapping when I was a child.
Granted, it was his father-in-law, Sergei Belov, who kidnapped me and Erik let me go. He’s not an evil man despite what some people say. And he has a daughter now with his wife, Anya.
Erik has done bad things but he’s a partner with Dante. Over the years since Dante has worked with him, I’ve met Erik on many occasions. I’ve spent time with Anya and Nadia, Dante’s wife.
I’m not sure I want him dead.
But what I do know is that if he dies, Dante will be weakened and I know Finn says he won’t kill Dante but if Dante loses his power, then someone else could swoop in and kill him. Maybe not Finn. But some power hungry Mafia man will try to end him if he doesn’t have the backing of the powerful Erik Koslov.
I can’t let this happen.
Finn is already heading across the room like a hunter stalks its prey. I follow his gaze and find Erik laughing with his wife. Even with the mask on, I know it’s him. Anya is holding their baby in her arms. Their daughter is close to two now. She doesn’t deserve to lose her dad just because of Finn’s vendetta.
Next to them is Dante and Nadia. He’s back on his feet, which makes me happy to see. He and Nadia don’t have kids but I know they’ve been trying and struggling. None of this is right.
But all I can do is follow after Finn as he heads closer and closer to them.
Chapter Seventeen
Finn
Erik is in my sights.
He’s laughing with his wife like nothing could go wrong for him. My eyes land on the baby in Anya’s arms. Their daughter is walking and talking now but she’s still a baby. For a moment, a flash of uncertainty hits me. Should I be doing this?
Yes. I can’t let Erik and Dante win. This is the only way.
I grip the knife in my sleeve that those idiot security guards didn’t even notice and lunge for Erik right as Aria jumps in front of me.
“Don’t!” she shouts.
But my knife is already moving towards Erik.
Aria gets right in front of my knife and it cuts her arm, making her gasp. The sound of her pain makes me stumble back in shock.
People start to look in our direction.
It’s then that Erik notices us. “Finn? Security!”
Shit, shit, shit.
I never expected Aria to try and stop me. She stares at me while she grips her bleeding arm. Blood is pooling onto the floor. I cut her deep.
I cut her.
Anya screams and shields her daughter with her body while Erik shields them. Dante comes running over. My eyes find Aiden in attendance too. Of course he’s joining Dante and Erik’s side.
The security guards are getting closer and closer. If I don’t leave now, they’ll grab me and throw me to Erik who will torture me until I’m dead.
“Aria, come on,” I say, holding out my hand. She hesitates. “I didn’t mean it. It was an accident. You weren’t supposed to get in the way.”
“Finn,” she whispers.