Page 35 of Beautiful Sinner

“You two know each other?” Erik asks.

“We met when I went to Viktor’s to discuss peace, which he obviously was not for.”

Erik nods, taking Matteo’s explanation without question.

“We don’t want a fight,” I say. “We’ll go. Connor. Come on.”

“We don’t want a fight either,” Erik says, “but it’s your brother who refuses to stop.”

I flinch from the anger in Erik’s voice. “You really think I can control what my brother does?”

“It’s not her fault,” Matteo says. Everyone looks at him in surprise. “You know Viktor. He’s stubborn. He’s not going to listen to his sister. Don’t blame it on her. She’s just as blameless as Anya and Mila are.”

Mila. So that’s the name of his daughter.

Erik shoots Matteo a look that says ‘be quiet.’ I know why he does it: he doesn’t want me telling Viktor any incriminating information about him.

“If you don’t leave now,” Erik says, “then we’ll be forced to do what we need to.”

Connor huffs. “We have a right to be here just as much as you do.”

“I’m here with my family. You two need to go.”

“Connor, it’s ok,” I say, tugging on his arm but he’s not moving.

“No. It’s not ok. He has no right to make us leave. It’s a free country. We’re all enjoying our time here. We haven’t finished our date yet.”

My eyes flick to Matteo on instinct. He narrows his eyes at Connor and I’m worried that the more Connor speaks, the more it will upset Matteo.

“Let’s just go,” I say. “I’m fine. I’m tired anyway. I don’t want to get hurt, nor do I want to see anyone else get hurt. Let’s just go.”

“I’m telling Viktor about this,” Connor warns.

“I figured as much,” Erik spits out. Anya tries tugging her husband away just as much as I try to tug Connor away.

Finally, Connor walks away with me and we leave Coney Island behind.

Viktor is furious of course when Connor tells him what happened. “Erik is just a pompous asshole. He thinks he can claim every square inch of this city but he can’t.”

“I agree,” Connor says. “Which is why we need to show strength. We need to make him afraid. And the best way to do that is to combine forces. Julia and I should be married right away.”

I gape at him. No. No. No.

Viktor hesitates and turns to me. “What do you want to do?”

I want to say no but I know that won’t go over very well so I say, “Can we discuss this more?”

“We are discussing it and I have to say, I agree with Connor. I need all the strength I can get to bring Erik and Dante down. Erik could have shot you if he wanted to.”

“But you said he promised not to target any of the women. Last I checked, that included me.”

“Yes, but if it was between you or his wife and daughter, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you. Connor, you’re truly on board with me?”

“I am,” he says.

Viktor sighs. “Then I can’t hold back any longer. Julia, you’ll be married to Connor. This deal with bring us strength. It will allow us to take down Erik and Dante. I can’t believe that fucker Matteo was there too.”

“He sure was,” Connor says, staring right at me. I have to look away.