Page 120 of Beautiful Sinner

“Give me the fucking discharge papers. I’ll sign them. I’m leaving.”

I limp out of the hospital. It’s hard to move when my abdomen feels like it’s on fire but I can’t hold still.

I text Dante for the address he is meeting with Viktor and Erik at and he responds. I flag down a cab and get over there immediately.

It’s one of Erik’s restaurants. I shove the door open and stumble inside. My eyes land on Erik, Dante, and Viktor in a back booth.

I’m expecting Viktor to shoot me on sight when I reach the table but he doesn’t.

“I explained everything,” Dante says. “I told Viktor about how we…”

“Invaded my house?” Viktor spits out. “I can’t fucking believe this. I come here for peace and you go and fuck it up.”

“It was my idea,” I blurt out, resting my hands on the table to keep myself upright. “Not Dante’s. I was so angry with you for this.” I point to my bruised face. “I thought you would keep me from Julia forever.”

“So you were ready to kill me.” It’s not a question.

“I was. But I never wanted to, at first. I wanted to respect what Julia wanted. She wants you alive. I didn’t know you wanted to make peace. I didn’t know you had changed your mind. And for that, I’m sorry.”

Viktor is silent for a long moment before he nods. “I’ve given you every reason to distrust me. Of course you’d think I’d keep Julia away from you. I planned to. Until… she put a gun to my head and told me to stop controlling her life. I saw a side of my sister I had never seen before. I realized I couldn’t keep going on with how I’ve been acting. Dante told me that you’re in love with my sister. That you’d do anything to protect her. And I see that now. I see that you’re not a bad man for Julia. Let me see my sister. I want to tell her this. Tell her I’m sorry.”

“I believe him,” Erik says. “I’ve known Viktor for years and I can tell when he’s being sincere.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this too…” Dante sighs. “But I believe him.”

I look right into Viktor’s eyes. “You’ll let me be with Julia? Truly?”

“This war is tearing my family apart. I’m losing both my sister and wife to it. I’m done. I’ll give you peace. Just don’t ever fucking disrespect me again. And you’re paying to replace all my guards you killed.”

Dante nods. “Understood.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I force out. It’s getting hard to remain upright.

Viktor stands up and holds out his hand. “I will not get in the way of you and Julia. I want her in my life and if this is the way to do it then… I’m agreeing to it. She loves you. She was willing to lose me to save you. I see now that everything that happened was because of love. I’m done being angry. I’m tired. That’s the truth. So promise me, Matteo, that you’ll always look after her. Give me that and I won’t get in the way.”

I can’t shake Viktor’s hand because he doesn’t know…

“I don’t have Julia.”

Viktor’s eyes tighten as he lowers his hand. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I went to look for her. Inessa told us that she had left and you were out looking for her until you’re meeting with Erik and Dante. I went to the places I thought she would be but… she wasn’t there.”

“So where is she? And why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“Because it was Connor who took her. He found me, shot me in the fucking abdomen, and I just woke up in the hospital a little while ago and came straight here. You, out of everyone, knows where he lives. I need you to save Julia for me because I can’t right now.”

“I know where Connor lives. We’ll go together. If anyone deserves to kill Connor, it’s you.”

“We’ll come with,” Dante says.

“No. Matteo and I need to handle this on our own. But I have a few different addresses Connor owns. Check them out for us just in case he’s there.”

Erik nods. “Will do.”

“So, does this mean we’re really working together?” I ask.

“It means we’re working together,” Viktor agrees.