Page 5 of Beautiful Sinner

“It was just a suggestion,” I say.

“Not a very good one.” He stands up and stands toe-to-toe with me. “You have nothing to offer me and I have nothing to offer Dante and Erik. Coming here was a waste of both of our time.”

“Then why even talk to me?”

“I was curious what you had to say.”

“I know you hate me, Viktor, for what I did to Sergei. And I can’t change that. But I hope you see that I am not a bad man.”

“All of us Mafia men are bad men. Don’t pretend otherwise. Now there’s the door. My guards will show you out.”

I knew this wouldn’t lead anywhere but I had to try. With my head hanging low, I leave his office.

And run right into a woman.

“Oh,” she gasps, stepping back.

She is… beautiful. Long dark hair. Large doe eyes. She looks a lot like Audrey Hepburn. Classic beauty.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to run into you.”

“It’s ok.” There’s a blush on her cheeks that makes her more endearing. She nods to Viktor’s office. “Talking to Viktor?”

“About business.”

“That’s common with my brother.”

Ah. So this is Julia Smirnov, Viktor’s sister. I knew her name but I had never seen her before.

Not until now.

And she is so beautiful it’s almost hard to even think. I never get tongued tied around women. I’ve had my fair share of girlfriends in the past but my job always came first.

So why do I feel so… flustered around this girl?

“I’m Julia,” she says, offering me her delicate hand.

“Matteo.” The moment I touch her hand, I know I’m fucking done for. Her hand in mine just feels… right.

“Matteo…”

“Conti,” I explain.

“Oh.” She quickly rips her hand away and I know exactly why. “You work for Dante.”

“I do.”

I can tell she wants to run away but I step in front of her before she can. I need her to see that I’m not evil.

“I won’t hurt you,” I tell her. “I was just here to discuss peace terms with your brother.”

“And?” She’s breathless, I notice. Do I make her feel flustered too? “Is he agreeing to peace?”

“Is that something you want?” I have no idea why I even ask.

“Yes. I’m tired of all of this fighting. So what did my brother say?”

“He refuses to make peace. I have nothing to offer him and he has nothing to offer us.”