Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

Nadia

Y ou can’t have both.

Dante’s words rattle around in my head. It’s either him or my family. While I do feel close to Dante despite everything, I have to choose my family. That’s not really a choice at all.

But to tell Dante this won’t go over well. He might not even agree to let me go. There’s a good chance I could get locked back up again, putting me and Dante back to ground zero.

When I work up the courage to leave the bedroom and confront Dante, I find that he’s gone and in his place is Matteo.

“Where’s Dante?”

Matteo is on the couch, snacking on some chips. “He’s out. Business.”

My heart stutters at the thought. “What kind of business? Is he going after Erik?”

He sighs and sets the chip bowl down and faces me. “He’s getting desperate.”

“Desperate?”

“I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but I think Dante thinks that if he kills Erik, it will set you free. You’ll choose him then.”

“But that’s not a choice. He would be forcing me. You’re sure he’s going to try and kill Erik? ”

“He didn’t say that in so many words. He just said he set up a meeting with Erik. Knowing Dante, he’s going to try and kill him.”

“No. That can’t happen. That would break my sister’s heart.”

Matteo’s eyes turn pitying. “I’m not sure that Dante really cares about your sister’s heart.”

“What about my heart? Doesn’t he care about that? He wants it after all. We have to stop this. Matteo, you know we do. Don’t you want this war to end?”

“I mean… I do. I’m tired of it. Tired of looking over my shoulder every second of every day. But I work for Dante. What he decides is final.”

“Not if we can go stop it. You must know where Dante is having this meeting. He would have told you.”

Matteo can’t look me in the eye which tells me everything I need to know.

“Take me there. Let me talk some sense into Dante.”

“And tell him what? That you want to be with him? The only way he’ll stop this war is if you decide to be his. But you won’t decide to be his because you’ll always miss your family.” A far off look is in his eyes. “You never forget family.”

“Have you lost someone?”

His eyes snap back to me. “It’s not important. Dante told me to keep an eye on you here.”

“Matteo, take me to him. Please. If anyone can help, it’s me.”

“Or you’ll just make things worse.”

“Please.”

He drops his head back and sighs. “I’m going to regret this. Fine. Come on.”

I have to stop Dante from killing Erik, no matter what.

Dante

I have to end this war. Nadia will never be mine otherwise. But I can’t put aside my anger – not until Erik is dead. Once he is, I can stop .

Will Nadia want me then? I don’t fucking know. For the first time in my life, I’m unsettled. I’m unsure. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.

I sent a message to Erik after Nadia and I had sex. The way she looked at me, like she regretted us being together, hurt my fucking heart. I want her to be mine no matter the cost and if Erik is gone, then we could finally be together. Erik is the glue keeping Sergei and Viktor together. Once he’s gone, everyone will scatter, leaving space for me and Nadia to be together.

I’m a possessive man. Now that I’ve had a taste of Nadia, I can’t let her go for anything.

The meeting spot is in Central Park. It’s broad daylight. Risky to kill someone. But I doubt Erik would meet me late at night. In the light of the day, everyone feels safer.

I spot him standing near the Bethesda Fountain. Even though it’s early morning, tons of people are already out and about, mingling and taking pictures and looking like they don’t have a care in the fucking world.

That must be nice.

“Erik.”

He turns around to face me. “Dante. Why did you call for this meeting?”

“Ideally, to kill you.”

“You would kill me in front of all these people? Even you can’t escape the police.”

“I could very well try.”

Erik shakes his head, crossing his arms. His stance is casual but I know he has the power to strike at any moment. “What do you really want, Dante? Because if you wanted me dead, you wouldn’t have called this meeting.”

“I do want you dead. But I… I wanted to try to talk with you about something first.”

“What? You kidnapped Nadia. You refuse to give her back. What more is there to talk about?”

“I’ve taken her virginity.”

Erik’s face tightens. “I was worried about that.”

“I didn’t rape her if that’s what you’re thinking. She gave herself to me.”

“I doubt that.”

“Do you? Because you saw her save me at the charity function. You saw that she chose to get into that car and go with me. She didn’t have to. You ever wonder why?”

He scoffs. “I’m not going to entertain this. If you have nothing to do but brag, I’m leaving.”

“I didn’t come here to brag. Well… not on ly that.”

“Then what did you come here for?” he asks, flapping his hands at his sides. It’s a little amusing seeing Erik exasperated. “You want to torture me some more. Fine. Go ahead. I can handle it. Your plan is crumbling, Dante. You wanted to make me so paranoid that I couldn’t sleep but I can take a lot.”

“What about your wife? Surely she’s losing her mind.”

“Leave Anya out of this,” he growls.

“But she’s the exact reason that Nadia will never truly choose me.”

That draws Erik up short. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I came here to offer a proposal.” It’s something I thought of a lot last night. I want Nadia to be mine fully. I want to consume her every day. I want her to want to be with me.

And there’s two ways to get that. One way through violence, which I will use if I have to. Or there’s the second way: through deals. I have to make a deal with Erik Koslov himself.

The man I hate with everything inside of me.

“What proposal?” Erik asks.

“I want Nadia. I’ve already taken her. She’s given herself to me. But you’re right. She wants to return to her sister. She’ll never be happy otherwise. So, I’m offering you a deal. You either take it or leave it right this moment. You give me Nadia. I marry her. And we’ll call a truce. She’ll be allowed to see her sister. She won’t be a prisoner. We can end this war.”

It tastes like poison on my tongue to make a deal with Erik but for Nadia, I’m willing to do it. That’s how much I want her. It’s not about torture for me anymore.

Erik eyes me over, nodding slowly. “You really mean this, don’t you? I’ve known you for a while now. I can read your face. You really want to end this war?”

“I’m willing to put aside my hate for you to have Nadia but you have to put aside your hate for me too and give her to me. You don’t get to take her back and force her to marry Viktor. She belongs in my arms. No one else’s.”

“And if I say no?”

I shrug. “Then I’ll kill you. One way or another, I’m ending this war.”

“But if you kill me, then Nadia will be upset. Don’t you care about that?”

“I do. Which is why I’m offering this proposal first. But I’ll do what I have to do to make Nadia mine. ”

Erik is silent as he thinks it over. He knows this is a good deal. Surely. But I’m sure he’s also thinking of how he can use it to backstab me. Make a deal with me, get Nadia back, then kill me. I would do it if I were him.

Or maybe Erik will surprise me. Maybe he has more honor than I ever gave him credit for.

His eyes slide to something over my shoulder and he tenses.

I quickly turn around to see Matteo… and Nadia coming right towards us.

“Don’t kill him,” Nadia says, running between me and Erik. “Please, Dante. Don’t do this.”

“What is she doing here?” I hiss at Matteo.

“She wanted to come. Neither of us wants a war.”

“Nadia,” Erik says softly. “Just come with me. I can get you back home. I can get you to safety.”

“I want to see Anya. I do. But if I try to leave…” She turns to me. “Will you try to kill Erik if I go with him?”

It’s a stab to my fucking cold heart. “I don’t want you to go.”

“You’re not giving me a choice. I have to see my sister again. She has to know that I’m all right.”

“But if you go with Erik, he will keep me from you. We’ll never see each other again.”

Erik looks between me and Nadia with a stoic expression that I can’t make out. What is he thinking?

“Nadia,” he says in a low voice, “you need to come with me. Dante has gotten into your head. You don’t want to be with him.”

“I… care for him,” she admits.

Erik’s face crumbles. I have to resist the urge to laugh.

“We can stop this war,” she says. “Allow me to be with Dante and see Anya at the same time.”

“Funny,” I say. “I was just offering the same deal. Marriage in exchange for ending this war.”

Nadia blinks at me with wide eyes. “Marriage?”

“Why not, baby? How else am I going to get you?”

She takes one step towards me when everything happens so fast. Erik lunges forward and grabs Nadia and whips out his gun. “I will shoot you, Dante. Don’t follow us.”

“Let me go,” Nadia says, struggling against him .

“Anya misses you,” he tells her. “She’s your family. Not him.”

“I thought you would try to get out of my offer,” I say, taking out my own gun. “Nadia is mine. Let her go.”

Nadia stomps on Erik’s foot and his hold on her loosens right as Erik fires his gun at me. I fire back.

Nadia falls to the ground. Our bullets barely miss her.

“Nadia!” I shout, running to her side. “Are you hurt?”

Erik looks around the crowded plaza before backing away. “This won’t end until you’re dead.” Then he takes off at a brisk pace, keeping his head down.

I quickly help Nadia back up. “Are you hurt?”

“I didn’t get shot.”

“Good. Let’s get you back home.”

Home. I see Nadia as my home now.

But does she see me the same way?

Nadia is quiet on the drive back to the cottage. Matteo takes the other car, which is smart because I’m fucking pissed at him for bringing Nadia to that meeting.

The moment Nadia and I get back home, I turn to her and say, “What were you thinking? You were being stupid!”

“I was being stupid?”

“You could have gotten hurt! Killed! You put yourself between Erik and I, two dangerous men with guns. What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that I didn’t want you to kill Erik!” It’s the first time she’s ever actually screamed at me.

“I wasn’t going to kill him!” I shout back. “I was offering him a deal!”

Nadia’s mouth snaps shut. A cute confused frown crosses her face before she speaks again. “What kind of deal?”

“That we end this war if he gives me you. In marriage.”

“You want to marry me?”

“I never really thought about marriage before but I know I want you, Nadia, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you. I thought this way you could see your sister again and still be with me.”

“What did Erik say?”

“He didn’t say anything because you showed up and then he tried to take you from me. I don’t think he wants a deal. He won’t be happy until I’m dead. ”

“And you?” she asks. “Will you not be happy until he’s dead?”

“I’ll admit, I want to kill him for trying to kill me. And taking down the great Erik Koslov would be a great confidence boost. But you could have died today. You were almost shot. I don’t want you to die. I just want you.”

She sucks in a breath. “And you’re willing to end this war to be with me?”

I look into her beautiful doe eyes and I know my answer. I think I’ve known my answer deep down for a while.

“I am. But only if Erik agrees to it and I don’t think he’ll agree to it. So, I might still have to kill him, Nadia. You need to be prepared for that.”

“No. There has to be another way.”

“There might not me.”

“There has to be!” she shouts.

“Baby.” I cup her face. “No one will want us to be together. We’re on opposite sides of this war. They will never forgive me for kidnapping you.”

“There has to be a way,” she whispers as a tear falls from her eye. I swipe it away.

“You’re mine. No matter what happens.” And with that, I kiss her with all the passion and desire and frustration and fear that I’m feeling.

I used to think that all I wanted was vengeance. I lived for it. Thrived for it. It was the only thing that kept me going for years.

But ever since meeting Nadia, I’ve discovered that I could have more. I could have someone actually care about me. A Bratva woman could fall for a Mafia man. Who knew?

Nadia kisses me back as she grips my shirt so tightly, I think for a moment that she might rip it.

“I need you again,” I say against her lips.

“We can’t,” she gasps as I kiss down her throat. She arches into me.

“You’re right. We can’t.”

But neither of us stop.

We don’t stop as I carry Nadia into the bedroom. We don’t stop as we take our clothes off.

And we don’t stop when I lay Nadia down on the bed in her naked glory and know that I’m going to make her mine once more.

I lean over her. Our lips meet in a deep kiss that is all consuming. Her lips are perfection, like cherries and roses. I could kiss her forever. I’ll be damned if she’s taken from me .

Nadia arches her back, pressing her chest against my chest. Knowing that I’m the reason she has lowered her inhibitions makes my cock hard.

I reach between her legs and cup her pussy. Nadia gasps. The sound sends heat through my body. She is perfect.

“You’re wet for me,” I growl. A faint flush tinges her cheeks. She’s so fucking cute.

I could love her. I know in this very moment that if I just let my heart open up, I could fall madly in love.

“You’re ready for me.”

She nods, gripping my arms tightly. Her hands look so small on my arms. It’s a nice ego boost, I’ll admit, but knowing that I can give Nadia strength is what makes me happy. She is all mine.

I line my cock up to her entrance. This time, when I thrust into her, there’s no resistance. Nadia opens her legs wider and lets me sink deeper into her. It’s so fucking good.

I groan. My hands wrap around her small back, holding her close to me. With a gasp, Nadia wraps her legs around my waist, taking more initiative this time.

She’s becoming more bold and less shy. I’m the reason for it.

“You’re mine,” I whisper against her lips as I thrust into her. A small choked gasp escapes her lips. God, she’s perfect.

“Dante,” she whispers back.

The sound of her saying my name makes me feel fucking crazy. I’ve never been this consumed by a woman before. Nadia has me wrapped around her pinky finger. In the past, I would have mocked men like this.

Now, I’m one of them.

With a grunt, I slip out of her and roll her onto her side. “I want to take you this way.” I lift her leg over my hip and bring my cock back to her entrance. Nadia whimpers. “Are you desperate for this, baby?”

“Please,” she begs.

“Tell me how much you want it.” I reach around to her front and play with her clit. It makes her hips buck forward. I love seeing her lose control like this. I love knowing I’m the reason for it .

“I need you.”

“Yes you do.” I thrust back into her. In this new position, I’m able to sink even deeper. Nadia gasps as she brings my hand to her chest. I cup one of her breasts. “You are so… good,” I groan.

Thrust, thrust, thrust.

It’s dirty and raw and perfect. She is mine no matter what happens. No one can take that from us.

Nadia brings her hips back to match my pace. Her little pants and flushed cheeks are so fucking cute. It only turns me on more.

My thrusts are slow but impactful. I don’t want to rush this moment but I want Nadia to know that she’s mine.

“Dante,” she gasps, clutching my forearm. My hand squeezes her breast while my other hand plays with her clit.

“I need you to come for me, baby.”

Her soft moan spurns me on more.

I’ve never made love before in my life but in this moment, I believe it’s what it is. It’s not gentle and loving. It’s rough and raw. But that’s what makes it love because it’s real. There’s no more barriers between us.

It’s just me and Nadia.

“Dante,” she says again. Her hips become frantic.

“Come for me. I need to see it, baby. Let go.”

With a gasp, she shudders in my arms. I hold her close as I continue to plunge my cock into her. She takes it like the good girl I know she is.

“You are mine,” I say once more into her ear right before I come. My release fills her up. I haven’t been using protection. If she ends up pregnant, then so be it. Our child could bring everyone together.

If everyone is able to put aside their anger.

As I lay against Nadia, my head pressed into her neck as I calm my breathing, I know what I have to do.

She’ll never forgive me if I kill Erik and if I keep her with me, she’ll never be able to see Anya again. I honestly don’t care about torturing Anya anymore. The more I’ve seen of Sergei, the more I realize just how bad Anya and Nadia had it growing up.

Neither of them are my enemy.

But to let Nadia see Anya again would mean I would have to let Nadia go. She would be free to return to me .

That is, if Erik and Sergei and Viktor didn’t prevent her from seeing me again and there’s a good chance they would do that. There’s a good chance they would find me and kill me.

Yet, if I want Nadia to truly be mine, I have to let her go.

I never thought I’d be a compass for morality. It fucking sucks. I would much prefer to kill Erik and Sergei and Viktor and keep Nadia for myself and call it a day. But Nadia will never be truly happy until she can see Anya again and the only way for her to see Anya is to return Nadia to Erik.

I kiss her neck. She snuggles deeper against me, letting out a contented sigh.

“I have to let you go,” I say into her ear.

Nadia tenses before pulling away from me. “What?”

“If you want to see Anya again, I have to let you go. You could have died today, Nadia, and it would have been partially my fault. Hell, it’s all my fault. I put you in this position. I want to be a possessive ass and keep you all to myself but… I don’t want you to be my prisoner any more. I want you to choose to be with me and the only way I can do that is if I let you go.”

“I can go back home?”

It breaks my fucking heart to say it but… “You can go back home. I won’t stop you.”

“Oh, Dante.” Tears spill down her eyes as she kisses me. “But what about us?”

“You know there is no us.”

She gasps. “There has to be. I can convince Erik to stop. To let you live.”

“Can you really do that?”

“Erik listens to me and if he doesn’t, he’ll listen to Anya. I can convince them.”

“Ok. Say that you do. But can you convince your father or Viktor to stop?”

She huffs and pulls the blanket around her body, shielding herself away. “Why can’t I have both? You and my family?”

“Because that’s impossible.”

“So then why let me go? If I leave, there’s a good chance I won’t be able to come back, even if I want to.”

I run my hand over her back, tracing her shoulder blades and spine. I want to memorize all of it in case I never see her again.

“I know,” I say simply. “And trust me, I don’t want to let you go. But the more I’ve spent time with you, the more I see that vengeance isn’t the answer. That I can have more in life than just hate. That I want more in life than just hate. ”

“What do you want?” she whispers.

“I think I just want to be happy.”

“Oh, Dante.” She cups my face. “Doesn’t everyone?”

“If you don’t leave right now, baby, I’ll never let you leave this bed. So if you want to see your sister again, you should go.”

“I feel bad.”

“Don’t. I’m the bad guy here. Don’t stay because of how I feel. Make a choice because you need to do what you need to do.”

“I have to see my sister,” she says.

Her words sting but they don’t surprise me. “I know. I never even thought I would feel this way for you. You’ve opened my eyes to more in life.”

“You’ve done the same for me.” She ducks her chin to her chest. “Why does this feel like a goodbye?”

I sit up and kiss her gently. “Because it is. If you somehow manage to make your way back to me, I’ll know I won because you’ve decided to become mine fully. And that’s better than any vengeance.”

“Dante.” She kisses me back. It’s a soft, lingering kiss. None of the passion from earlier. Now, it’s just filled with heartache.

A loud bang from the front of the house makes us break apart.

“What the fuck?” I reach for my gun on the nightstand table but find that it’s not there. It must be on the floor with the rest of our clothes.

Before I can reach it, footsteps run through the house. Multiple pairs.

And then, they enter the bedroom.

It’s Sergei and Viktor.