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Chapter Six

Julia

A ll I can think about on my date with Connor is Matteo’s lips on my own. My very first kiss. And it was with the enemy. No one can know about it but it’s killing me not to tell Inessa. Keeping secrets is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. It’s becoming isolating and lonely.

Connor smiles at me over the table. The French server pours us each more wine before taking our orders. Normally, I’d love to come to a restaurant like this but not with Connor. I picture Matteo across from me and all I feel is warmth. Instead, I’m confronted with Connor’s smug grin.

Viktor agreed to my date with Connor, pretty much telling me that I need to agree to marry Connor afterwards. A guard is with us, situated at a table across the room, ready to pounce should anything go wrong. I would much prefer the guard pounce on Connor and take him away from me.

“Smile, Julia,” Connor says. “This is our date, remember? You said you’d give me a chance.”

“It’s just kind of hard when all I can think about is how you treated me the first time we met.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “I was doped up on coke. You can’t blame me for how I was acting.”

I take a sip of my wine so I don’t have to answer.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “Is that what you want to hear? I am sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you like that. It was wrong of me.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the apology.” I never thought Connor would have the guts to do it.

“Let’s start brand new. Shall we?”

If Connor is my future, then I do have to try.

And he would make for a better husband than Grigori.

Though, Grigori is old. He can’t have many years left.

If I married him and he died, I’d get all the benefits of marriage without all the bad parts.

But just the thought of being married to an old man like that sounds miserable.

Maybe I can try to be happy with Connor.

Except, all I can think about is Matteo’s lips on mine.

“Ok,” I tell him. “Let’s start over.”

“Good. A few things you should know about me. I was born into a broken family. Mom was a druggie and Dad left when I was young. I hustled to get where I am in life. I’ll always fight for what I want.”

Is it just me or is there a bit of a threat to his voice?

“I barely remember my parents. They died when I was five.”

He blows out a breath. “Listen, Julia. I can pretend to be interested in what you have to say and you can pretend to be interested in what I have to say or… why don’t we go have some fun?”

“Fun?” Fun with Connor is not what I could consider fun.

“Yes. Let’s leave your guard behind and have a fun night. I want you to see the real me. Not who I was in that club. But the fun part of me.”

I think the man I met in the club is who Connor really is but I have to try with him. Maybe he does have a nicer, kinder side. “I can’t leave my guard. Viktor will worry.”

“Fine. He can come with. I have an idea.” We leave the restaurant with my guard scrambling after us and drive to Coney Island. It takes around forty minutes and Connor and I are silent on the drive. Neither of us really wants to talk.

“Why did you take me here?” I ask.

“Because it will be fun. Come on.” He takes my hand like it’s an easy thing to do. I don’t pull away. I need to get used to the feeling of him touching me if he’s going to be my husband.

Connor practically drags me onto the roller coaster. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid.”

“I threw up on this when I was a kid. Viktor brought me here for my twelfth birthday and I never recovered.”

“Well, now’s your chance.”

I force myself onto the ride. Connor laughs the entire time as I grip the handlebar, screaming my head off. It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced.

But when the ride finishes, all I feel is elation. Pure excitement. And for the first time since meeting Connor, I laugh.

“Fun, huh?” he asks, smiling in a sincere way. Not smug. Not menacing. Just happy.

“It was,” I admit.

“Good. Come on.”

We spend time playing the carnival games on the boardwalk. I learn that Connor is quite competitive and I’m the same way. We compete to see who can pop the most balloons or who can hit the target the best to win the biggest prizes.

Connor beats me but he picks out a large teddy bear for me to have. “Think of it as an apology bear.”

I hold it close to my chest. “Thank you.” I can’t believe I’m actually having fun with Connor but here I am. Maybe this is possible.

Until we’re interrupted by Matteo himself.

We all stop in our tracks when we see each other. He’s standing next to a little girl, who’s eating cotton candy. Behind them are Erik and Anya. This must be their daughter. Matteo must be on guard duty.

My own guard stands right behind me. “We need to leave, Julia.”

Except, I can’t move.

It’s then that Erik finally notices us. Distinguished and handsome, he looks more like an old classic Hollywood star. Anya is just as beautiful with her flaming red hair. Their daughter is a perfect mix of them.

“What is going on?” Erik asks, placing his hand on his daughter’s arm and tugging her behind him. She has to only be three years old. “What are you doing here? Is Viktor here? Come to hurt my wife and daughter?”

“I… I’m just on a date,” I say lamely, motioning to Connor. Matteo’s eyes tighten while Connor gives Matteo a very smug grin.

Some of the tension leaves Erik’s shoulders. “Just a date?”

“Yes. Just because I’m Viktor’s sister doesn’t mean I can’t go on dates. I’m allowed to have a life just like you are.”

Anya places her hand on Erik’s arm. “She’s right. It’s clear that Viktor isn’t around. It’s just Julia and she’s not a threat.”

“No. But he is,” Matteo says, nodding to Connor. “He works for the Irish mob.”

“And I’m assuming if he’s on a date with you,” Erik says to me, “then he’s working with your brother. Viktor is turning to the Irish now for help?”

“Yep,” Connor says with his smug grin and his confident yet lazy stance like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Matteo and I stare at each other. I will myself to look away from him but I just can’t. It’s not Connor I want to be on a date with. It’s Matteo. I want to be riding rollercoasters and playing boardwalk games and laughing and kissing with him.

“Julia,” he says in his warm voice.

“Matteo.”

“You two know each other?” Erik asks.

“We met when I went to Viktor’s to discuss peace, which he obviously was not for.”

Erik nods, taking Matteo’s explanation without question.

“We don’t want a fight,” I say. “We’ll go. Connor. Come on.”

“We don’t want a fight either,” Erik says, “but it’s your brother who refuses to stop.”

I flinch from the anger in Erik’s voice. “You really think I can control what my brother does?”

“It’s not her fault,” Matteo says. Everyone looks at him in surprise. “You know Viktor. He’s stubborn. He’s not going to listen to his sister. Don’t blame it on her. She’s just as blameless as Anya and Mila are.”

Mila. So that’s the name of his daughter.

Erik shoots Matteo a look that says ‘be quiet.’ I know why he does it: he doesn’t want me telling Viktor any incriminating information about him.

“If you don’t leave now,” Erik says, “then we’ll be forced to do what we need to.”

Connor huffs. “We have a right to be here just as much as you do.”

“I’m here with my family. You two need to go.”

“Connor, it’s ok,” I say, tugging on his arm but he’s not moving.

“No. It’s not ok. He has no right to make us leave. It’s a free country. We’re all enjoying our time here. We haven’t finished our date yet.”

My eyes flick to Matteo on instinct. He narrows his eyes at Connor and I’m worried that the more Connor speaks, the more it will upset Matteo.

“Let’s just go,” I say. “I’m fine. I’m tired anyway. I don’t want to get hurt, nor do I want to see anyone else get hurt. Let’s just go.”

“I’m telling Viktor about this,” Connor warns.

“I figured as much,” Erik spits out. Anya tries tugging her husband away just as much as I try to tug Connor away.

Finally, Connor walks away with me and we leave Coney Island behind.

Viktor is furious of course when Connor tells him what happened. “Erik is just a pompous asshole. He thinks he can claim every square inch of this city but he can’t.”

“I agree,” Connor says. “Which is why we need to show strength. We need to make him afraid. And the best way to do that is to combine forces. Julia and I should be married right away.”

I gape at him. No. No. No.

Viktor hesitates and turns to me. “What do you want to do?”

I want to say no but I know that won’t go over very well so I say, “Can we discuss this more?”

“We are discussing it and I have to say, I agree with Connor. I need all the strength I can get to bring Erik and Dante down. Erik could have shot you if he wanted to.”

“But you said he promised not to target any of the women. Last I checked, that included me.”

“Yes, but if it was between you or his wife and daughter, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you. Connor, you’re truly on board with me?”

“I am,” he says.

Viktor sighs. “Then I can’t hold back any longer. Julia, you’ll be married to Connor. This deal with bring us strength. It will allow us to take down Erik and Dante. I can’t believe that fucker Matteo was there too.”

“He sure was,” Connor says, staring right at me. I have to look away.

“I don’t want to get married right away.”

“Well, we’ll have to plan for the wedding of course,” Viktor says. “So in a few months’ time and in that time, Connor, you will prove yourself to me.”

He frowns. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, I need to make sure you’re truly worthy of my sister.

We’ll start to plan the wedding but I have the right to call if off any time I see fit.

You will never hurt my sister, do you understand me?

If you ever lay a harmful hand on her, I will kill you and our deal is off. Is that understood?”