Page 20

Chapter Twenty

Nadia

“ N adia!” Anya screams, rushing to my side and catching me as I fall to the floor. I’m suddenly woozy.

“Untie me,” Dante demands. “Let me help her.”

“Be quiet,” Erik snaps. Slowly, he goes over to my father’s side. He’s on the ground, clutching his stomach and gurgling. And then as soon as it happens, my father’s breathing stops and his eyes turn blank.

He’s dead.

“You just killed him,” Erik says in a low voice.

Matteo lowers his gun and begins to back away.

“Run,” I tell Matteo. “Leave.”

Without hesitating, Matteo takes off. Viktor starts to follow but I work up the strength to walk over to him.

“Don’t. He was just trying to protect me.” I stumble and fall against Viktor. He has no choice but to catch me.

“He shot a Bratva member,” Viktor says. “That cannot stand.”

“He shot my father,” I say, my words slurring as blood loss takes over me. “He would never stop. My father. He would never let peace happen.”

Anya runs over to me. “We need to get her to the hospital.”

Erik nods once. “We can deal with Matteo later. Anya is right. ”

“No,” I mumble. “Not until you save Dante too.”

Something flashes behind Erik’s eyes. “You would let yourself die to save him?”

“If it means peace, then yes. Save him before you save me.”

“You can’t ask that of me.”

“Oh for god’s sake,” Anya mutters. “Stop arguing. Just save Dante so I can get Nadia to the hospital. Come on!”

That prompts Erik to move and he unties Dante’s hands. Immediately, Dante slumps to the ground, covered in blood. He’s barely able to stand up but he manages it. No one helps him, I notice.

“Let’s go,” Anya says.

“Sergei?” Viktor asks, nodding at my father’s body.

Erik pulls out his phone. “Get Nadia and Dante into the car. I’ll call my guy Charlie to come clean up Sergei’s body. Let’s go.”

Viktor looks like he would rather get punched in the face than help Dante but Viktor is an honorable man and he won’t let me die. He picks me up and walks me outside. When I look back, I see that Anya is the one to steady Dante and help him to the car.

Erik soon follows.

The last thing I can think before the darkness takes over me is that my father is dead.

And that thought sets me free.

D

ante

Anya eyes me over suspiciously as Viktor drives us to the hospital. Nadia lays on the backseat, unconscious. Anya doesn’t let me touch her as she tries to get Nadia to wake up and to staunch the bleeding from her arm. I’m regulated to the front seat, next to Viktor, which is fucking awkward to say the least .

I’m barely hanging on myself. All the cuts Sergei gave me are making me lightheaded and I still have that fucking gunshot wound in my shoulder.

“Drive faster,” Anya says. “I can’t stop the bleeding.”

Viktor grips the steering wheel and picks up speed. Despite the fact that Nadia effectively broke up with him, he’s still willing to make sure she gets to the hospital. He’s a good man.

Nothing like me.

I keep quiet. Talking right now probably isn’t going to help matters.

We make it to the hospital. Viktor runs out of the car and carries Nadia inside with Anya following. Slowly, I make my way after them.

I see a team of nurses get Nadia onto a gurney and wheel her away, leaving Viktor and Anya behind. After Nadia just saved my life, I know that she’s the one for me. She didn’t have to risk herself but she did. I don’t even fucking deserve it.

But I’m a selfish bastard and I want her as my own. And now, I might actually have a chance to make that happen.

If I just don’t die first.

Now that I know Nadia will be in good hands with the hospital staff, all the energy leaves me and I slump to the ground. It doesn’t take long for darkness to take me.

When I wake up, it’s Anya and Erik looking down at me. The sight of it shocks me so much, I think for a moment that I must be dead.

But looking around the hospital room and taking in the disinfectant smell and sound of the beeping heart rate machine next to me tell me that this is real life.

“Are you both here to make sure I woke up? How sweet.”

“Cut the crap,” Anya snaps. “We’re only here for Nadia’s sake.”

My heart rake spikes. “Nadia?”

Anya’s eyes soften as she shares a look with her husband. “She’s awake. She’s fine. Or she will be once her wound heals. It could have been a lot worse so we got lucky. She immediately asked for you and I told her that you were with the doctors. She demanded to see you but she needs to rest right now, so I decided to come here instead.”

I look at Erik. “And I take it you’re here to make sure I don’t hurt your wife. ”

“Pretty much.”

“I don’t know what I can do from a hospital bed. Besides, I don’t have any desire to hurt either of you. Not anymore.”

“What changed?” Erik asks in a clipped voice.

“Nadia. I know I don’t want to hurt her and hurting you two hurts her. I can’t believe I’m saying this but… I’m done. I’m fucking done. I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of the hate inside of me. I want to be done.”

“I don’t trust you,” Anya says. There’s so much anger in her eyes it’s impressive.

“I figured.”

“But… my sister trusts you and that has to mean something. She tends to be a good judge of character. And I want my sister to be happy and for some strange reason, you make her happy.”

“So, what do we do?” I ask, looking between them.

Erik places his hand on Anya’s shoulder. “I want peace. I want to know that Anya and Nadia are safe. If I killed you, then your man, Matteo, would probably try to kill me. Or those horrible hitmen you work with. Or any other Mafia member. But if we make a deal, it will combine the forces of the Mafia and the Bratva together. That is something I’m interested in, despite the thought of working with you makes my skin fucking crawl.”

“Same. You tried to kill me, remember? I don’t love the idea of working with my enemy.”

“And you tried to kill me before so I think that makes us even.”

My lips quirk. “I guess it does.”

Erik sighs like he’s going to regret saying what he’s going to say next but he says it anyway. “If I marry you to Nadia, then you will be making a vow not just to her but to me as well. A vow that says you’ll be loyal to our alliance. No backstabbing me.”

“How do I know you won’t backstab me?”

“Because I wouldn’t risk Anya’s safety like that, nor Nadia’s. You know that.”

That’s true. Erik loves his wife and cares deeply for Nadia. It’s why I stole Nadia in the first place.

This is the best deal I’m going to get, even though the idea of working with the Bratva makes me want to gouge a hole in my eye. But if this gets me Nadia and lets me live, then I’m willing to do it.

“Can you ensure that Viktor and Ivan and other Bratva men won’t come after me? ”

“Well, you spared Ivan’s life before so we’ll call that a win. And as for Viktor, he’s not happy about this deal. He opposes it but he’s willing to marry Ivan’s daughter, Elena, to keep the peace. He doesn’t want to fight in another war either. None of this is ideal and it will take a lot of work to figure it out. But as long as you stay in line, I won’t have to hurt you.”

“As long as you don’t try to kill me again, I’ll have no reason to hurt you.”

Erik’s smile is tight. “Then we’re in agreement.”

“And you?” I turn to Anya. “I’m sure you’re just ecstatic about this.”

The flat look she gives me almost makes me laugh. “It’s going to take a long time to win my trust but Nadia really wants you in her life. I’ve done everything in my power to protect her. But I saw her today. She was so brave. So strong. I’ve never seen her fight for someone like she fought for you today. I’m doing this for my sister. No one else.”

“Understood.”

“And you should know that if you break her heart, I will kill you myself.”

“Also understood.”

Anya sighs and her shoulders slump like all the fight has just left her. “Nadia wants to see you. Now that you’re awake, I’ll send her in.”

“No. I can go to her. I don’t want her getting up if it causes her more pain.”

For just a moment, Anya looks at me like she can see the good in me. There has to be some good inside of me for Nadia to care for me.

“Then go to her.”

Nadia

Dante shuffles into my room, looking disheveled and tired but alive and happy.

“Dante?” I try to get out of the bed but he motions me back down.

“I got it.” He sits in the chair beside the bed and takes my hand. “So, you saved my life.”

“I did, didn’t I? ”

“When I first took you, I was determined to hate you. You were a Bratva daughter. I thought you hated Italians just on principle. But you didn’t hate me for being part of the Mafia. You showed me kindness even when I didn’t deserve it. Why?”

“You scared me at first,” I admit, gripping his hand tighter. The strength of it helps steady me. “But then you saved me from the basement. You didn’t let me die. And then you could have punished me for running from Elio Romano’s house but you didn’t. It was like you didn’t actually want to hurt me and I knew that meant you had some goodness in you. And when you touched me…”

“When I touched you?” His tone is a little dangerous and a little gleeful.

My voice lowers to a whisper. “When you touched me, I felt alive. I felt addicted. I wanted to experience more. And I also knew that if anyone had the power to end this war, it would be you. I know it was probably na?ve of me but Dante, I gave my heart to you. I still give you my heart.”

His eyes say it all: pain and desire and… love?

“If you want my heart, you have it,” he says. “I’m not going to be perfect. I’ll probably fuck up again at some point. But I want to put my anger aside and be happy for once. I want…”

“What?”

“I want a home. I don’t have any parents or siblings. My dad got drunk and died because of his actions and my mom killed herself because of it. I don’t want to destroy the one good thing I have in my life.”

“You won’t destroy me.”

“I’m going to try not to.”

I cup his face. “Dante, you have that power. You have the ability to be happy. All you have to do is put aside your anger and let love in. My father scared me all my life but with him gone, I’ve never felt more free.”

“You won’t miss him?”

“Truthfully, no. I won’t have to keep looking over my shoulder constantly, waiting for him to hurt me again. I’m free of him and if I can be free of him, you can be free of your anger. Of your need for vengeance. If Aria, who was kidnapped, was able to put aside her anger for me, despite what my father did to her, then you can put aside your anger for Erik. He was just trying to protect me and Anya. He’s always done that. And you can’t be angry with someone just trying to protect the people they love. ”

“I guess you have a point.” He kisses my hand. “You’re so smart, baby. I’m not good enough for you.”

“It’s not about that. It’s about what will make me happy and you can make me happy.”

“Yeah? How can I do that?”

“By making an honest woman out of me. By marrying me and doing right by me. By ending this war. By choosing love over hate.”

Dante looks at me for a long moment before he leans over and gives me a gentle kiss. “I can do that.”

My heart feels truly free for the first time in my life.

I go to live with Anya and Erik while Dante is kept in a safehouse, guarded by Erik’s men, just to make sure he doesn’t renege on his deal.

Anya keeps hovering over me as my arm heals. It gets to be too much.

“I love you but you need to give me some space,” I tell her as I watch TV on the couch.

“I just want to make sure you’ll be ok.”

I pause the TV. “My arm is hurt. Not my entire body. I can move and get around. I don’t need you hovering over me all day long.”

“You know I worry.”

“Come here.” I pat the spot beside me and she sits down. “I learned to take care of myself when I was with Dante. I learned how to be brave and strong. You’ll always be my sister but I can do some things on my own. Ok?”

Her eyes get watery. “I know. I’m just going to miss you when you marry Dante. I’m worried he’ll never let me see you.”

“He won’t keep us apart. He’s not like Father was. Trust me on that.”

“Ok. I’ll trust you.”

The front doorbell rings and Edith, Erik and Anya’s housekeeper answers the door. After a moment Viktor enters the living room. “Nadia. I wanted to speak to you for a moment.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Anya says, giving my hand a squeeze. She knows I can handle this on my own .

Viktor remains standing even after Anya leaves the room. “I just wanted to make sure you were sure.”

“About?”

“About Dante.”

He looks so strong and weak at the same time. The infamous Viktor Smirnov. He can be nervous just like any other man.

“I’m sure,” I tell him. “I never wanted to hurt you. That wasn’t my intent. I hope that you can find happiness and peace in your life.”

“I don’t agree with you marrying Dante. In fact, I don’t agree with working with the Italians at all. But Erik wants to and so I have to get on board if I want any say in how things are run. I will marry Elena Romanov and do my duty. I just wanted you to know that I don’t think less of you for wanting to be with Dante.”

“Thank you.” I’m surprised Viktor is being so calm about it. He has a lot of things kept hidden away under the surface. I’m not sure exactly what he’s feeling right now.

“But I wanted to let you know that if I get screwed over again, and if it’s done by Dante, I will not hesitate to kill him. Is that understood?”

A shiver goes down my spine. There he is: the real Bratva man. Viktor, like many others, does not take kindly to his pride being wounded.

“I’ll make sure Dante doesn’t hurt you again.”

“I expect you to keep that promise. Have a good life, Nadia. I hope you don’t regret it.” With those final words, he leaves.

All I can think about is how I hope he’s right.

Dante

After being held under observation for a couple of weeks, Erik finally lets me go. I wasn’t allowed to see Nadia during that time and I’m missing her terribly. She’s my girl. Without her, I feel unmoored.

The deal will go through. Nadia and I will get married in less than a week. It will be a simple ceremony. Nothing flashy. I think Erik just wants to get it done and over with to avoid any more bloodshed from happening.

It won’t be done by my hands.

But there are a few people I’m worried about.

I find Matteo at his apartment. Already there are Finn and Aiden.

“Hey, boss,” Matteo says, giving me a quick hug. “Good to see you’re alive and well.”

“Good to see you alive too. But since you killed Sergei, it’s best to lay low for a while. Erik hated him but honor will dictate he gets revenge on Sergei’s killer. Let’s just let things blow over.”

“We hear you’re getting married,” Finn says. I notice he’s holding his gun.

“I am. Have a problem with that?”

“I just think it’s a little pathetic to not kill them all. I mean, you hate them.”

“Hated them. Well, I still hate Erik a little but I don’t hate Nadia or Anya.”

“And Ivan?” There’s a dangerous glint to Finn’s eyes I don’t like. “You never killed him for trying to kill you.”

“That’s because I’ve put that behind me and so will you. There will be no killing anyone, is that understood? There’s a lot at stake here. We have the chance for peace and I’m tired of fighting, so I’m going to take it. Don’t start another war, Finn. Is that clear?”

“You pay me so I’ll listen.”

That’s not exactly the answer I was hoping for.

“Don’t fuck this deal up for me,” I warn him. “Aiden, talk some sense into your brother.”

He nods. “I’ll try.”

Finn continues to stare me down. “I just don’t think you should make this deal.”

“Well, you don’t have a say.”

Aiden puts his hand on Finn’s arm. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t try anything at your wedding.”

“Or anytime,” I say. “Finn, I am warning you. Don’t fuck this up for me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Even though he says it, I think otherwise. Finn is going to be a problem. I can feel it in my gut.

The right thing to do would be to kill him but I like him too much for that. We’re friends.

I just have to trust that Aiden will keep Finn in line .

“Make sure he doesn’t try anything,” I tell Matteo.

“You got it.”

If there’s anyone I trust completely, it’s Matteo.

“Now that that’s all settled, I have a wedding to go plan. It’s better if none of you come. We’ll talk more in the future. It’s time to build our empire, boys.”

“With the Bratva,” Finn sneers.

I never thought that would happen one day and yet, here we are. I’m making history. I’m changing the past.

All because Nadia opened my eyes and heart to so much more. Fuck. I am whipped.

And I don’t even fucking care.

Nadia

My second wedding day is today.

Instead of marrying Viktor Smirnov, a man I barely know, I’ll be marrying Dante Moretti, the man I now love.

Anya helped me pick out the dress – a simple satin gown that’s elegant but not flashy. It’s perfectly me.

The only people in attendance are me, Anya and Erik, and Dante. We all thought it would be best to not include any other people in case any fights broke out. This day is about creating peace. Erik and Dante will have their hands full getting the Bratva and Mafia to work together but I believe they can manage it. They’ll just have to do it together, which I know won’t be easy for them. Putting aside anger and pride within our world is not an easy task.

But they’re doing it for me and Anya. For the woman they care about.

Anya walks me down the aisle of the church since we wanted to do it together. We’re way past tradition. Our father has long been buried. We didn’t bother having a funeral. I know both of us are ready to put him behind us and live our new lives with our husbands.

Erik stands beside Dante, showing strength. This alliance has to work for all of us to be safe .

“Who gives this woman away?” the priest asks.

“Her sister,” Anya says with pride in her voice. I can tell she’s holding back tears. She’s deciding to be strong for me today, like she always has been. I give her hand a squeeze, silently telling her that she doesn’t always have to be strong. That I will be ok with Dante.

Dante takes my hand in his. Instead of looking into the cold eyes of Viktor, I’m looking into the passionate eyes of the man I love. My heart flutters at the thought. We might not have started out as a conventional couple but we got there in the end. Because Dante chose to change.

Because I changed too.

We say our vows. This time, I’m completely focused and tuned in with it. I wouldn’t want to miss this moment for anything.

“Do you, Dante Moretti, take this woman, Nadia Belov, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.” He doesn’t even hesitate.

“And do you, Nadia Belov, take this man, Dante Moretti, to be your lawfully wedded husband.”

I don’t hesitate either. “I do.”

“I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Dante grabs my face and kisses me before the priest even finishes. Never have I felt happier than in this moment.

“Our wedding night,” Dante says, carrying me over the threshold into the hotel room. It’s a large suite fit for a king.

“I’m glad it was a small wedding. I don’t like large crowds. And we don’t need to make a spectacle of our love. I just want to be with you.”

“And I just want to be with you.” His eyes rake over my dress. “Preferably naked.”

I laugh as Dante scoops me up and gently tosses me onto the bed.

There’s a lot that still needs to happen. Viktor marrying Elena Romanov. Matteo finding a way to make amends for killing my father, even though I don’t blame him. But others will expect him to atone for his actions. The question of Finn and Aiden. Dante told me that Finn seems like he still wants to start something .

There’s a lot of uncertainties but what I do know is that Dante and I will be good. We’re married. We found a way to be together despite the odds.

I tremble as Dante takes off my wedding dress and lingerie until I’m naked before him. I then take off his clothes. He eyes me over the entire time, sending flutters through my stomach.

Both of us have healed from our injuries. There’s nothing getting in our way.

Dante lays me on the bed and kisses me so tenderly that I could cry. His hand slips between my legs and he begins to pleasure my body until I’m arching and gasping for more.

“You need to be patient, baby.”

“I just want you.” No longer am I afraid to say what I want in life. I only have one life and I want to make the most out of it.

Dante finally puts me out of my misery and removes his hand and replaces it with his length. We lock eyes and hands. Our chests are pressed together. Skin to skin.

Then he enters me.

We both moan at the same time. It’s the sound of lovemaking.

Dante grips my hands tighter as he rocks his hips against mine. I wrap my legs around his waist, drawing him in closer. I never want this to end. If I could bottle up a moment in time, it would be this.

“Baby,” he grunts, increasing his pace. My back arches. I need more, more, more. I want to be utterly consumed by him.

I’m finally giving him what he’s always wanted: my complete and utter surrender to him,

“Oh!” I cry out as a spike of pleasure runs through me.

Our pace matches perfectly. Every thrust sends him deeper into me. It sends us closer together. He has my heart fully.

“I love you,” he says into my ear, his breath tickling my neck. I could cry from happiness.

“I love you,” I gasp out.

He thrusts harder into me. This little bit of roughness is just what I needed. I love sweet Dante but I also love the bad boy I fell in love with. I’ll aways need a bit of both to make me happy.

“I… ”

Dante nods. “I know.”

The pleasure building inside of me grows and grows and grows…

Until I finally let myself go. Dante quickly follows. We cling to each other as we tremble and shake from our lovemaking. Nothing could be better than this.

Dante doesn’t roll off me immediately. Instead, he stays in my arms and I in his.

“So, what now?” I ask which makes him laugh.

“Now, we just be together. And also go for round two.” He grabs my waist and rolls me onto my side.

I smile the entire time.

There’s no more weight on my shoulders. No more fear.

I’m finally free.

The End

Read the third book in the series, Beautiful Sacrifice, starring Elena and Aiden, HERE!