Page 116 of Beautiful Sinner

I go to speak to Julia but I’m told by my guards that she left. “And you didn’t stop her?”

“She’s your sister,” the guard on gate duty says. “I didn’t know she wasn’t allowed to leave.”

Fuck. Julia is gone. Probably off to see Matteo.

I hurry back inside to Inessa. “Wait here. I’m going to find Julia.”

“And you’re going to talk to her? You’re going to tell her it’s ok that she loves Matteo?”

Slowly, I nod. “I can’t lose my sister. I just can’t. And if this is the way…” I grit my teeth. Fuck, this is harder than I thought it would be. “Then I’m willing to do it.”

Inessa gives me a long, tender kiss. “I’m proud of you.”

Staring into Inessa’s beautiful, smiling face tells me that all of this is worth it. Even if it means letting Julia go.

“I’m going to make this right,” I promise.

Julia

Connor takes me to an upscale apartment building. “If you scream or alert anyone, I will put a bullet to your spine and paralyze you.”

I nod. I cant risk Connor’s wrath. I have to hope that I can figure out a way out of this or more than just me will be hurt.

He presses his gun into my back as we walk through the lobby. I give no indication that I’m in trouble.

It’s not until we’re inside his apartment that he finally removes the gun from my back.

“Get comfortable here,” he says. “Since this is where you’ll be living from now on.”

The apartment is luxurious and updated. It’s the pinnacle of wealth in New York. Even though it’s a beautiful space, it feels cold and empty, devoid of any personality.

“You really think you’re going to marry me?” I ask.

“I’m going to kill your husband. Then we can finally have our wedding that was rudely interrupted before. And I’m going to kill Viktor on top of it, just for pissing me off. Now, I’m going toneed to tie you up so you can’t escape. Grab that rope.” He points with his gun towards a spool of rope on the ground.

Slowly, I pick it up.

“Now, turn around.”

I would rather keep my eyes on him but I do as he says. Once my back is turned, he grabs my wrists and ties them behind me, then he ties the rest of the rope to a chair.

“Sit down.”

I have no choice because he shoves me onto it and finishes tying me up the rest of the way. I tug on the ropes but I’m stuck.

“There.” Connor smiles like he’s proud of himself. “Once I take care of Matteo and Viktor, you’re all mine.” He whistles to himself as he leaves the apartment.

Viktor

I know that Matteo will know where Julia is. There’s no way she didn’t go to him but I have no idea where he could be. I start going to restaurants that I know Dante owns but Matteo is not at any of them. I’m starting to draw attention to myself and that’s risky.

When I check the fifth restaurant, I’m confronted by Erik Koslov himself after I step onto the sidewalk.

“What are you doing, Viktor?” he asks. “My men told me you were sniffing around Dante’s restaurants. You’re looking to kill him?”

“No. I’m looking for my sister. Matteo is with her. I’m sure you’ve heard all about their wedding and the chaos they’ve caused.”

He shrugs. “Dante told me.”