Page 66 of Beautiful Sinner

“Wait.” Viktor holds up his hand. “My sister is right behind me. She’s innocent and so is my wife. We agreed when we started this war to leave the women out of it. Let them go and you can kill me.”

Dante meets Matteo’s eyes and a silent conversation passes through them. “Sure,” Dante says.

“No,” I gasp, gripping Viktor’s arm. “Please don’t kill him. Please.” My eyes find Matteo and I plead with him not to kill my brother. Guilt flashes behind Matteo’s eyes. How can I ever forgive him for killing my brother?

“You should leave,” Dante tells me. “You and your sister-in-law.”

I see Inessa still hiding under the pew and I know that we have a chance to live. But there’s no way Viktor is going to make it out of here and that’s not something I can stand for.

I step in front of Viktor.

“Julia,” he hisses.

“If you’re going to kill my brother, then kill me too.”

“No. Julia, go.”

I ignore Viktor and stare Matteo down. “Either kill me or let me and Viktor and Inessa go. Let everyone in this room go.”

“And Connor too?” Dante asks. “You want Connor to live?”

I frown. Why would Dante ask me that? I look between him and Matteo. Wait… Did Matteo tell Dante about us? Is Matteo the exact reason Dante is here right now, with a machine gun, ready to kill my brother?

Matteo was the only one who knew the exact location and time.

“Of course she wants me to live,” Connor says. “She’s my wife.”

“I never said my vows,” I snap. “I am not your wife.” But can I condemn a man to die just because I don’t want to marry him? It was one thing if Matteo killed Connor in the heat of a fight. It’s another thing to make a bargain for Viktor’s life in exchange for Connor’s.

“You are my wife.”

“I am not.”

“Enough,” Dante says. “I don’t give a fuck about who’s a wife and who isn’t. Viktor makes a good point. We agreed to leave the women out of it. Erik and I promised we wouldn’t hurt you and Inessa. But you need to get out of my way, Julia, before I gun you down.”

“No.” It’s Matteo who speaks. “You promised, Dante. Don’t hurt her.”

I frown. So Matteo made a deal of sorts with Dante to come here and kill Connor. But that deal included I survive. Maybe he is still looking out for me.

“Viktor is right there,” Dante says. “This is our chance to kill him.”

“You promised me. Not Julia.”

They each stare each other down until Dante finally sighs. The boss bowing to his second. It’s a strange sight.

“Fine. I did promise. Get Julia out of here. And then I’m killing both Viktor and Connor.”

Viktor grabs my arms when Matteo takes a step closer to us. “You are not taking my sister anywhere.”

“You want her to die with you?” Dante scoffs. “You’re even more stubborn than I thought.”

“I am not giving my sister up just to be tortured and abused by the likes of you.”

“Doesn’t she get a choice?” Matteo asks. “Does she want to die here today?”

“I don’t want to die,” I say. “But the moment I move, you’re going to shoot my brother and I can’t stand that.”

“I won’t shoot him,” Matteo says to me in his soft voice. “I promise.”