Page 62 of Beautiful Sinner

“She can deal. Finn killed her father and she forgave him.”

I sigh. This isn’t going well. “I just think we need to be more careful. We could die if we go in there without a plan.”

“We do have a plan. We go into that church and we blast everyone away. Problem solved. War won. Elena can deal with the death of her friend. She’ll mourn and move on. Besides, she hasn’t even spoken to Inessa in years.”

I hesitate and Dante narrows his eyes.

“Matteo?”

“I know from Aiden that Elena and Inessa sometimes talk on the phone.”

“What?! And no one ever told me this?” He stands up and begins pacing around the room. “Un-fucking-believable. Is that how Viktor knew to come to my club that night? Because Inessa and Elena still talk?”

“I don’t think they discuss any plans about their husbands. Aiden was sure about that.”

“I’m going to have a talk with him, don’t fucking worry. And you. Don’t keep things from me. Now, tell me which church and when this wedding is happening.”

“Ok.” Dante is still my boss at the end of the day. “It’s the catholic church on fifth avenue. It’s at two.”

He nods. “Good. Which day?”

“Saturday.”

“We can make this work.” He eyes me over. “Tell me who your contact is.”

“What?” My spine stiffens and my chest constricts.

“Yourcontact, Matteo. Who is this mystery person that told you all of this? And how has Viktor never found you talking to this contact that knows so much? I know Viktor. He’s a secretive man. He doesn’t share information from just anyone which means your contact has to be someone close to the source. So who is it?”

“I’m not sure I can tell you.”

He slams his hand onto the table. “Who the fuck is it?”

“Julia.” It comes out before I can stop it. “It’s… Julia.”

Dante breathes slowly and moves even slower as he stands up straight. “Viktor’s own sister is your contact?”

I can only nod.

“How? How did this happen?”

“Julia and I have been… seeing each other.”

“This is rich. This is fucking rich. Are you serious?”

“Completely, sir.”

“Don’t ‘sir’ me right now. You’re not going to win brownie points by being polite. You and Julia? How the fuck did this happen?Whendid this happen?”

“When I met with Viktor to discuss peace. Julia was there and we… talked. We ran into each other a few more times by accident and I just knew I liked her. We’ve been seeing each other in private. She doesn’t want to marry Connor. She’s afraid of him. She wants me to kill him, but I cannot go into that wedding and kill everyone. Not when it includes Julia. I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

Dante stares at me with his mouth agape until a stark laugh escapes him. “Matteo. Do you realize the world of shit you’ve put me in? If Viktor finds out you’re fucking his sister -,”

“I’m not. Fucking her. We haven’t…”

He holds up a hand. “I don’t fucking care. If he finds out, you’re dead.”

“He already hates me. But it’s because of Julia that you’re alive right now.”