Page 34

Dante
Viktor wants another war and I know I can’t have that. Neither can Erik.
“You should have controlled Elio,” Erik grumbles as we head over to Viktor’s house. “Now, because of him, Viktor will start another war. He might start working with Finn again. Maybe he already has.”
“I need to find Finn and kill him for stealing Aria.”
“I wanted him dead so many times and you always hesitated. I hate to say it, Dante, but that shit is coming back to bite you in the ass.”
“Thank you,” I say tightly. Erik and I are not friends but we’ve worked well together over the past few years. We’re married to sisters after all. We try to make our alliance for Anya’s and Nadia’s sakes.
“We just have to convince Viktor not to go to war again. It was hard enough getting him to agree to peace. That only lasted a couple of weeks,” Erik says
“I didn’t plan on Finn kidnapping Aria. I didn’t plan on Elio trying to shoot Viktor because he thought he was behind it. Finn played us like fucking fools.”
“What’s new?”
Viktor’s large mansion is a sight that I don’t want to see right now. I have to go in there and kiss his ass.
It’s just me and Erik. We figured the less people who came the better. I made sure not to bring Matteo with me since I know Viktor doesn’t like him for what he did to Sergei Belov. I need Viktor on our side right now.
His guards let us inside and he meets us in the front entranceway.
“You’re not going any further,” he says. His gun is visible in the waistband of his pants.
“Dante has come to apologize,” Erik explains.
“I have?”
Erik sighs.
Right. I have to suck up my feelings to make peace again. “I have,” I grumble. “I am sorry about Elio. He is just upset about his daughter being kidnapped. Finn told Matteo that you were behind this. We didn’t believe that, of course, but Elio doesn’t know you like we do. So, he attacked when he shouldn’t have. I know you’re not behind Aria’s kidnapping.”
“You’re right. I’m not. I had no part in Finn’s plan. But the fact that Elio, one of your men, turned on me as easily as he did, shows that there is no trust between us. I don’t agree with what Finn did but I can’t blame him for being mad at you two. I’m still not thrilled with you two.”
“Are you going to really start another war with us?” I ask. Straight to the point. Things are easier this way.
Viktor thinks on it for a moment. “I’m undecided. But I’m leaning towards war.”
“I thought you wanted to end the animosity between us for your wife and sister,” Erik says.
“I do. I don’t want them to get hurt. But it’s clear to me that neither of you will hurt my wife or sister. Inessa and Julia are safe from Finn. He could have kidnapped them and he didn’t. No. Instead, he chose to target you, Dante. He wants you to hurt.I’m inclined to agree with him. I wouldn’t mind seeing you get hurt.”
“Are you still not over what happened with Nadia?” I ask.
“I don’t take kindly to being made a fool. You kidnapped Nadia. You made me and Erik worry for weeks. Maybe it’s time Finn returns the favor and makes you worry about Aria. It’s only fitting. I don’t want an alliance with you two. I am shown constant disrespect. I’m fucking tired of it. So, I suggest you two leave before I choose to kill you right now. I know my guards took your guns before coming in here. It would be an unfair fight. But I will fight fair.”
“Great,” I mutter, giving Erik an annoyed look.
He steps forward. “Is there nothing we can do to convince you to trust us again?”
“Kill Finn, I guess. He’s the one causing all these fucking problems. And kill Elio. He clearly doesn’t trust me. I can’t work with men who don’t trust me.”
“I am not killing Elio,” I respond on instinct.
Viktor shrugs. “Then we have no deal. We’re back to where we started a year ago. You leave my wife and sister alone and I’ll do the same for your wives. For your daughter, Erik. I will not hurt them. This war is between us. That is my one promise. If we go at each other, it’s only us men who will be hurt. That I can give you.”
“What if I kill Finn?” I ask. “I kill him, get Aria back, then can we make peace? Elio is off-limits. He was just acting irrational because he was worried about his daughter. You can’t fault him for that.”