Page 6 of Beautiful Sinner

“Of course,” she murmurs, her tone sounding sad. I feel the urge to wrap my arms around her and comfort her which is crazy since I barely know her.

“I’m sorry. I can’t make him.”

“No one can. My brother is stubborn as one can get.”

I offer her a small smile. “I never knew you’d be in agreement with me. That you’d want this war to end.”

“You just assumed I shared the same thoughts as my brother?”

“Yes. But I never really gave you much thought before.”

She ducks her head and I realize how much of an ass I just sounded like.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“It’s ok. We had never met before. How can you give someone any thought if you’ve never met them?”

“Well, I can promise you that I’ll be giving you more thought now.” Shit. Why the fuck did I just say that?

Julia looks up at me with her large, princess-like eyes. “You shouldn’t say those things to me. Not you. Not someone who works for the enemy.”

“Of course. I should be leaving. If I don’t go soon, I’m sure I’ll be hauled out of here.”

A small laugh escapes her. It sounds like bells. “You’re right. You should go.”

Except, I can’t seem to make my feet move.

“You’re not at all what I expected,” I admit.

“Neither are you. I’ve heard of you, Matteo. Dante Moretti’s right hand man. I guess I expected you to be…”

“To be?”

“Scary.”

“Why scary?” I ask.

“I’ve heard stories about you. About how you kill without mercy. Maybe I should be afraid of you.”

“I don’t kill without mercy. I kill if I have to but I never kill for the fun of it and anyone who says otherwise is wrong.” My tone comes out much more fierce than I mean for it to.

“I can see that. I am sorry for judging you when I had never even met you.”

“Why should you be sorry? We’re on opposite sides of a war. Of course you’d hate me. Fear me.”

“Of course,” she murmurs. “Do you hate me? Fear me?”

“I never really thought about it but I don’t hate you and I definitely don’t fear you. I might fear your brother though. If he catches us talking…”

“He’ll kill you on sight. You’re right. You should go. My brother’s guards will be looking for you. And I would hate for you to get shot.”

“I would hate for that too.”

Once again, she laughs. It’s not loud or boisterous but it’s still there. Still beautiful.

“It was nice to meet you, Matteo.”

“You too… Julia.” Shit. Talking to Viktor’s sister is the last thing I should be doing right now. And I definitely shouldn’t be thinking she’s beautiful.