Page 78 of Beautiful Sinner

“Everyone knows how intimidating you can be. Dante and Erik are scared of you. That’s why they want you dead. Taking me with you won’t change that. Please, Viktor. Please. If I’m there, then Dante will not shoot you.”

I give her a tender kiss. “I cannot risk your safety and you know it. Stay here.” I let her go. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my entire life.

Because Inessa is right. There’s a good chance Dante will try to kil me but I have to do what I have to to save Julia. Nothing will stop me from that.

I arrive at Dante’s house but don’t approach it. Instead, I wait for him to leave. He will eventually. Maybe he’ll lead me right to Julia.

After a while, he walks out of his house, a frown on his face, and a franticness to his step. He doesn’t look confident like I expected him to. Did he not plan this with Matteo to steal my sister?

Or did Matteo go off book?

Is what Inessa told me the truth? That Julia and Matteo care for each other?

I push that from my mind. I can’t even entertain it.

I follow Dante all day as he goes to his many restaurants and collects money. It becomes apparent to me that he’s not going to take me to where Julia could be so I can’t do this the stealth way. I just have to do it the aggressive way.

When he’s inside one of his restaurants – a fine dining, five star place – I barge in and spot him near a table in the back. He doesn’t have any guards with him for once. There are manypeople dining, enjoying a nice meal. These people give him safety.

They give me safety too.

I approach his table and Dante doesn’t even look up at me.

“I was wondering when you’d come in,” he murmurs. “I figured you would follow me. So sit down.” He motions to the seat across from him. “Let’s talk.”

I take my place across from him. “You won’t shoot me?”

“Not as long as you don’t shoot me.” He finally meets my eyes. “You want to know where Julia is.”

“Of course. You know, don’t you.” It’s not a question.

Dante sighs and leans back in his seat. “We could have had peace. We made a deal and you broke it over a year ago. Why couldn’t you just have peace with us, Viktor?”

“Because you made a fool out of me. And I don’t take kindly to being made a fool of. First, you kidnapped Nadia right out from under me. Then your man Aiden did the same with Elena. And lastly, your man Elio thought I stole his daughter when it was just Finn causing chaos. And now Finn works with you again. How lucky for you. I keep getting fucked over time and time again. I can’t stand for that.”

“I get that. I really do,” he adds when I scoff. “But this war will never end. Not unless you put aside your pride.”

“Don’t lecture me. Your man kidnapped my sister. Do not fucking lecture me.”

He holds his hands up. “Sorry, sorry. But Viktor, do you realize that this could be a chance for peace?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“We marry Julia and Matteo together. Simple as that. A marriage alliance has always been something we’ve done to forge peace between warring families. Let’s do it here.”

“I am not giving my sister to Matteo. He kidnapped her. He’ll fucking hurt her.” It’s what I have to keep telling myself because the alternative is not something I want to consider.

“I happen to know for a fact that Matteo cares for Julia. He didn’t want to attack her wedding. He only wanted to save her from Connor.”

I scoff. “From Connor? He was jealous.”

“He told me he was worried Connor would hurt her.”

“I’m not going to believe the word of the man who kidnapped my sister over the man who’s an ally. I’m just not.” But I can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason Julia never wanted to marry him. Was she afraid of Connor? And if so, why did she never tell me?

No, it can’t be true because I need him right now. He’s out there looking for Matteo as we speak. He’ll kill Matteo on sight if he gets the chance.

“Fair enough,” Dante says. “But just know that while I think Matteo was stupid for kidnapping your sister, I can’t deny that he cares for her.”