Page 34 of Beautiful Sinner

“Fine. He can come with. I have an idea.” We leave the restaurant with my guard scrambling after us and drive to Coney Island. It takes around forty minutes and Connor and I are silent on the drive. Neither of us really wants to talk.

“Why did you take me here?” I ask.

“Because it will be fun. Come on.” He takes my hand like it’s an easy thing to do. I don’t pull away. I need to get used to the feeling of him touching me if he’s going to be my husband.

Connor practically drags me onto the roller coaster. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid.”

“I threw up on this when I was a kid. Viktor brought me here for my twelfth birthday and I never recovered.”

“Well, now’s your chance.”

I force myself onto the ride. Connor laughs the entire time as I grip the handlebar, screaming my head off. It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced.

But when the ride finishes, all I feel is elation. Pure excitement. And for the first time since meeting Connor, I laugh.

“Fun, huh?” he asks, smiling in a sincere way. Not smug. Not menacing. Just happy.

“It was,” I admit.

“Good. Come on.”

We spend time playing the carnival games on the boardwalk. I learn that Connor is quite competitive and I’m the same way. We compete to see who can pop the most balloons or who can hit the target the best to win the biggest prizes.

Connor beats me but he picks out a large teddy bear for me to have. “Think of it as an apology bear.”

I hold it close to my chest. “Thank you.” I can’t believe I’m actually having fun with Connor but here I am. Maybe this is possible.

Until we’re interrupted by Matteo himself.

We all stop in our tracks when we see each other. He’s standing next to a little girl, who’s eating cotton candy. Behind them are Erik and Anya. This must be their daughter. Matteo must be on guard duty.

My own guard stands right behind me. “We need to leave, Julia.”

Except, I can’t move.

It’s then that Erik finally notices us. Distinguished and handsome, he looks more like an old classic Hollywood star. Anya is just as beautiful with her flaming red hair. Their daughter is a perfect mix of them.

“What is going on?” Erik asks, placing his hand on his daughter’s arm and tugging her behind him. She has to only be three years old. “What are you doing here? Is Viktor here? Come to hurt my wife and daughter?”

“I… I’m just on a date,” I say lamely, motioning to Connor. Matteo’s eyes tighten while Connor gives Matteo a very smug grin.

Some of the tension leaves Erik’s shoulders. “Just a date?”

“Yes. Just because I’m Viktor’s sister doesn’t mean I can’t go on dates. I’m allowed to have a life just like you are.”

Anya places her hand on Erik’s arm. “She’s right. It’s clear that Viktor isn’t around. It’s just Julia and she’s not a threat.”

“No. But he is,” Matteo says, nodding to Connor. “He works for the Irish mob.”

“And I’m assuming if he’s on a date with you,” Erik says to me, “then he’s working with your brother. Viktor is turning to the Irish now for help?”

“Yep,” Connor says with his smug grin and his confident yet lazy stance like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Matteo and I stare at each other. I will myself to look away from him but I just can’t. It’s not Connor I want to be on a date with. It’s Matteo. I want to be riding rollercoasters and playing boardwalk games and laughing and kissing with him.

“Julia,” he says in his warm voice.

“Matteo.”