Page 109 of Beautiful Sinner

“But I have failed at protecting you.”

Her eyes soften. “You haven’t failed at all. Matteo, we won’t survive if we don’t work together. Let me talk to Viktor. You can come with me. We can set up another meeting with Inessa andwe can facetime Viktor. It will be safe. I can explain to Viktor that I love you and that I never meant to hurt him. And hopefully he’ll understand.”

“Hope. You don’t know for a fact.”

“You’re right. But we have to try.”

I sigh deeply and pull her in closer so I can give her a kiss. “I think it’s too risky but you’re not going to stop until you get to talk to Viktor so… let’s talk to Viktor. And I’ll be there to make sure you’re not hurt.”

“My brother will never hurt me.”

I wish I had the same faith in Viktor as Julia does but I don’t. Viktor may not physically hurt Julia but he could hurt her if he locked her away again. He could hurt her by killing me. Viktor may love his sister but he loves his pride more.

Julia

I set up another meeting with Inessa in the park. Matteo decides to remain in the car, nearby, but that he’ll come out if anything goes wrong.

Once I see Inessa, I break out into a run and hug her. “I’m ready to talk to Viktor. Matteo understands. He won’t stop us this time.”

She pulls back and won’t look me in the eye.

“Inessa?”

“I’m sorry, Julia. I didn’t want to do it this way but…”

My heart rate spikes. Something isn’t right here. “But what? What did you do?”

She sighs and points behind her. It’s then I see Viktor coming my way. Oh no. I hope Matteo doesn’t leave the car. I hope he doesn’t make this worse.

Viktor reaches us. “Julia. I’ve come to talk.”

“I want to talk too.”

“Good. And I hate to do this because I want to trust you but I can’t.”

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

Viktor picks me up and throws me over his shoulder before I can even react. And that’s when I hear Matteo’s car door open and his footsteps running after us.

“I will shoot you,” Viktor says. I cant see what’s happening from this angle. My entire world is upside down.

“Let her go,” Matteo growls.

“I need to get my sister somewhere safe so we can talk. And she’s not safe with you.”

“Don’t kill him,” I cry. “Please. I will hate you forever if you kill him.”

I can tell that makes Viktor hesitate. Inessa grabs his arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“Matteo, don’t shoot,” I call out. “Just let me go. I’ll see you again. I promise. Don’t kill my brother.”

Both men stand off until Matteo lowers his gun. Viktor nods and turns around, giving me the chance to see Matteo when I lift my head. I told him to trust Inessa and she betrayed me. I told Matteo that everything would be ok but the farther Viktor carries me away from Matteo, I know things won’t be ok.

I don’t say a word until I’m back in Viktor’s house. My house still, technically. Viktor made sure my name was on the lease too, as well as Inessa’s in case anything happened to any of us.

Viktor takes me into his office and makes me sit in the chair like I’m a little girl in need of a scolding. It’s moments like this that I’m reminded that Viktor isn’t just my brother – he’s also my dad in a way.

“Explain everything to me,” he demands. Inessa stands in the corner, not looking at me. Guilt, I’m assuming.