Page 44 of Beautiful Sinner

“I’m sorry. I just thought it would be better this way. I can’t risk you getting hurt because of me.”

“Did Connor do something?” When Julia doesn’t give me an answer, I know I’m right. “What did he do?”

“Matteo.”

“What did he do?”

“He just threatened me. Told me I was his and that he knows about us. Saw us at the hotel together. We can’t keep meeting up. Not when he’s watching.”

“Dante wants me to kill him. I’m going to, for you. The blood wont be on your hands. You’re not making this decision. Dante wants this to happen and so I’ll do it. And then you’ll be free of him.”

“But Viktor will just find someone else for me to marry.”

“Worry about that when it comes. For now, let me kill Connor. If he’s threatening you -,” I stop. “Julia, he didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Once again, she doesn’t answer and it tells me everything I need to know.

“Motherfucker,” I mutter.

“He only gripped my arms. It wasn’t bad. I didn’t even bruise.”

“But it could have been worse is what you’re saying. I won’t allow him to hurt you.”

“I thought you only killed people in self-defense.”

I shrug, even though she can’t see me. “And when my boss tells me to do it. So, I’m going to kill him. Just be ready for it. Don’t tell your brother, please. That could ruin everything.”

She’s silent again for a long time. “Ok. I won’t tell Viktor. But I’m not sure how much longer I can lie to him. About you and me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I want nothing more than to be with Julia in public. To even have a chance to be with her. But if she tells her brother about us, I’m more dead than I already am.

“I want to see you again,” I say gruffly. “I know we shouldn’t but I need to see you again.”

“Ok,” she says after a long moment. “Where?”

“I’ll pick another hotel. I’ll send you the time and place. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” she promises.

I hang up, knowing I’m playing with fire but I just can’t seem to stop myself.

Inessa

“Don’t marry Julia to Connor,” I tell Viktor when we’re in bed together. No point in keeping it in. I find with Viktor it’s best to just put it all out there in the open.

“Why not?”

“She didn’t want to say anything because she knows how much this deal with Connor means to you but…”

“But?”

I sigh. “But he cornered her in the kitchen.”

“What?” That gets Viktor’s full attention. “He did?”

“And he grabbed her arms. He threatened her.”

“With what?”