Page 41 of Beautiful Sinner

“How so?”

“I might have told Matteo about Viktor’s plan to attack Dante’s club and Matteo made sure Dante wasn’t there to start a war.”

She drops her head into her hands. “Oh my god. You’re telling the enemy about Viktor’s plans?”

“I know. But Matteo could have hurt Viktor but he didn’t. He showed me that he doesn’t want to hurt me. He wants this war to end just as much as we do.”

“You really think that?” she asks, lifting her head back up.

“I do.”

“I don’t like any of this. But… I know you. I know how strong your convictions are. I know that you have a level head on your shoulders. If you say that Matteo is sincere, then I’ll believe you.” She bites her lip, thinking for a moment. “Have you considered telling Viktor any of this?”

“No,” I scoff. “He would just kill Matteo.”

“But maybe this is how we end the war. If you tell Viktor you like Matteo and that Matteo likes you, maybe he can make you two get married. It would create an alliance with Dante and Erik again. It could solve everything.”

“I suggested marrying Matteo once before and Viktor was not having it. He will not change his mind. For right now, I’m stuck with Connor. That’s why I’m afraid of him. He knows about me and Matteo. Sort of. And I met Connor before he came over to our house. He tried to pressure me to take coke. It wasn’t good.”

“Oh my god. You need to tell Viktor that. He would never let Connor even within an inch of you if he knew.”

“But then that would mean telling Viktor everything else and I cant have that. I can’t risk Matteo’s death. I just can’t, Inessa.”

She takes my hand and squeezes it tight. “I’m here for you. But I just know that this isn’t going to end well. I know keeping secrets is never the answer. If you want my advice, tell Viktor now before it all gets worse. Because if he finds out some other time…”

I don’t even want to think of the outcome.

When Inessa and I return home, Connor is there. Great. The last man I want to see.

He’s sitting on the couch like he belongs there. Viktor is seated across from him, chatting. They look like they’re getting along, which is not good for me. If Viktor likes Connor as a person, then he’ll be more insistent that I marry Connor.

“You’re back,” Viktor says. “Did you find the right invitation?”

When I don’t say anything, Inessa clears her throat and nods. “We did.” She gently nudges me.

I should tell Viktor. I need to tell Viktor. Now is the time.

But when I open my mouth, Connor stands up and says he’d like to talk to me in private. “About the wedding,” he explains when Viktor looks at him questioningly.

“Make it quick,” Viktor says. “I don’t want you being alone with my sister for too long before the wedding.”

“I understand.” Connor leads me into the kitchen. “So, wedding invitations.”

“Yes?”

“Was that all you were doing? Or were you with someone else?”

I blink. “What?”

The look he gives me is full of pure anger. “Don’t play me for a fool, Julia. One of my men saw you talking to Matteo at the Four Seasons hotel.”

Oh no. Matteo and I should not have gone into the lobby together. We knew it was naïve but we couldn’t help ourselves. We just wanted another moment together before I had to go.

“So, you’re not denying it,” he says, cornering me against the counter. If Viktor were to see this, would he kill Connor? He grabs my arms tight, making me wince. “You are mine, Julia. You will be my wife. You will not see that fucker ever again.”

“Ok,” I whisper.

“I’m going to kill him. Get him out of your life for good. How does that sound? This way, you can focus just on me.”