Page 43 of Beautiful Sinner

I keep calling Julia and she doesn’t answer. Is she hurt? Did Viktor find out and took her phone from her?

Or is she just done with me?

It’s probably for the best if it’s the last case scenario but that’s also the reason it fucking stings.

“Matteo,” Dante snaps, making me look up from my plate. We’re at one of Dante’s restaurants, here to collect money owed to us. We also stopped to eat because why not? The owner gives us free food.

“What?” I snap back.

“Focus. I’m talking here and you look like you have better things on your mind.”

“Sorry. Go.”

He shoots me a look before he sighs. “What I was trying to say and you weren’t listening is that Viktor was spotted at my nightclub a few days ago. Why was he there? And where were you? That was the same night you picked up the money.”

“I did pick it up and then I left. I didn’t see him.” I knew word would get back to Dante about Viktor being at his club. I wasn’tgoing to offer that information but I knew I had to be prepared for when he spoke to me about it.

“How convenient.”

“It probably was seeing as we avoided a fight. I’m sure Viktor was there to attack us and fortunately, neither of us were there. Now we can be ready for him. We got lucky, Dante. Look on the bright side.”

“It’s hard to look on the bright side when I find out that Viktor tried to attack my club. Yes, no one was hurt but that could have been our chance to kill him and instead, I was at home.”

“With your wife,” I remind him.

“Yes, with my wife. And I love Nadia. I love her more than anything in this fucked up world but I need to take Viktor down. Hell, Erik even told me that he ran into Julia when you guys were at Coney Island. How come you didn’t tell me?”

“Nothing happened. And I was going to but Erik told you first. She was…”

“She was what?”

“She was on a date with Connor Barry. The Irish mobster. Viktor is trying to strike a deal with him.”

“Well, we have to end that.” He stabs his steak with a knife harder than he needs to.

“Of course. But… what do you mean by that? Not… kill Julia, correct?”

“Who do you take me for? No, we’re not going to kill Julia. I know you get uncomfortable with the topic of killing women. She’s safe. No, we need to go after Connor. We need to kill him before Viktor can make a deal with him.”

“Agreed.” If Connor is dead, then Julia is free of him and if it’s a decision made by Dante and not her, then the blood won’t be on her hands. Win-win.

“Good. See if you can find out where he lives. Surprise him. Take him down.”

“Happily too.”

When I leave the restaurant, I call Julia again but she still doesn’t answer. I have to know she’s ok. I know it’s not my place. I know she’s not mine but I have to know or I might just go crazy.

I drive to Viktor’s house and remain a little ways down the street so I can see the house without any of his guards able to see me. I hope to get a glimpse of Julia but I see nothing.

I call her again and this time, leave a message. “Just tell me you’re ok. Please, can you do that? Or I might have to sneak into your room just to see you.”

She calls back within minutes. “Matteo.”

“So, are you ok?”

“I’m ok.”

“Then why didn’t you answer my calls?” I know I shouldn’t ask it. None of this should be happening.