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“Let me get my robe. You put something on too?—”

“Sophia.” He grabs my shoulder, spinning me to face him as I reach down to snatch my discarded robe. I pull away, yanking on the silk garment as I take a step back.

“Maybe you’re fine with having this conversation naked, but I’m not.” I hold the robe closed in front of me, acutely aware of the feeling of Konstantin’s cum slipping down my thighs. He’s fucked me three times in less than eight hours. I’m pleasantly sore and thoroughly exhausted—and worn out from the attack besides. We need to question Elia, and?—

Konstantin is still looking at me as if he’s ready to physically stop me from taking another step. “The truth, Sophia,” he says sharply. “Now.” His eyes narrow. “You took down that woman with no trouble. Self-defense lessons, fine. But your first thought was to tie her up and interrogate her. Youknocked her outwith that in mind. That’s not self-defense. That’s—” He seems to be trying to find the right word for it, and I frantically try to think of an explanation that he’ll buy.

I can’t tell him the truth. Not only will that mean failing my mission, losing out on the chance to get the name from Kane and my revenge, from gaining my freedom—but I have no idea what Konstantin would do to me. If he knew I tricked him, married him with the intent of killing him,fuckedhim while thinking about when I would do it…

He promised he’d never hurt me… but he promised Sophia Moretti that. The woman he married in good faith.

Konstantin is the heir to the Bratva. A brutal, efficient, ruthless leader. And I have no idea what he would do to Valentina Kane if he found out she planned to kill him.

“I—” I take a deep breath, swallowing hard. “It’s complicated.”

Konstantin’s gaze narrows. “I’m listening.”

I lick my lips nervously. “My father wasn’t the typical mafia soldier. And he didn’t treat me like the typical mafia daughter. He had me more… involved. Before I left for college, before he died—when I was a teenager. He taught me self-defense, taught me to fight, to use a knife, to shoot. And he… took me along.”

Konstantin frowns. “Took you along?”

“When he had a job. When he needed to take out a mark, or threaten someone, or punish them. Question them. He taught me some of the ways to do that too. He’d have me help him.” I swallow hard, feeling the lies burning my tongue. None of that is true. Not about my real father, at least.

The man I’m describing is Kane.

Konstantin’s face hardens. “He took you along? On jobs like those? When you were… how old could you possibly have been?”

I swallow hard. “Thirteen, until I left for college. He started taking me along around fifteen or sixteen.” That’s true, if I’m referring to Kane.

Konstantin’s jaw tightens. “You were a child. I know you seem to have cared for your father, but what thefuck, Sophia? A teenager? I can’t imagine—” He rubs a hand over his face. “I would never take a child of mine on a job like that. Not that young. Not?—”

Well, that’s a relief,I think… and then I remember that this marriage isn’t real. That I’m still supposed to kill Konstantin. That not only will I not be having children with him, but he won’t be having children at all.

My heart feels like a stone sinking in my chest at that thought. Not about having children with him, specifically—but the thought of his death. Of this man no longer existing.

Of me being the one to kill him.

“That’s why,” I say softly. “I know it’s all strange, but?—”

“Why didn’t you tell me from the start?” Konstantin interrupts, and I bite my lip.

“I didn’t know if you’d believe me. And—” I take a deep breath. “I loved my father. I know it might sound strange, knowing all that, but I did. And… I knew you’d get that look on your face when I told you. I knew you wouldn’t think about him the way I do any longer. As a man you could respect.”

Konstantin drags a hand over his mouth. “Well, I’m glad you know that much about me, at least.” He glances toward the bathroom. “You really want to help with this?”

I nod. “I’m good at it, believe it or not.”

He looks at me, his brows furrowed as if he’s still trying to figure me out. “Okay,” he says finally. “Let’s see if she’s awake.”

I can tell that the conversation isn’t finished. But he’s bought my story for now, at least, and that’s all I need for the moment.

That, and to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about my own unfinished job.

Elia is starting to stir when we walk into the bathroom. Her eyes flutter open as I flick on the light, and Konstantin approaches her, still naked. He crouches down in front of her, patting her lightly on the face as she comes to.

She twists around immediately and tries to bite his hand.

“Oh no you fucking don’t.” I step forward immediately, grabbing her hair as I pull her head back. “Listen here, bitch. I’ve had enough of you trying to touch him. Inanyway. That little moment where he had you pinned on the bed? That’s the closest you’re ever going to get. Now, if you want to keep all of your fingers, and all of your teeth, you should start talking. Beginning with why you were in my bedroom, trying to kill me and my husband.”