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“My husband,” I remind him. “And no. I never said I cared about him more. I also asked him to make sure Dante wasn’t there that night so he couldn’t attack you.

So you would be safe too. Matteo made sure Dante wasn’t there and he could have hurt you.

He told me he saw you enter the club. He watched the whole thing.

But he chose not to intervene. He chose to spare your life that night. That has to mean something.”

Viktor looks stunned. It’s an expression I’ve rarely ever seen on him before. “He did that?”

“Yes. Because he wants peace like I do. I never told Matteo anything else to hurt you. We would meet in secret. We would talk.”

“So he could have your body.”

I crinkle up my nose. “No. Matteo and I didn’t touch until after we had started seeing each other more but even then, we never had sex. I told him I was waiting for my wedding night.”

“So that’s why he married you. To fuck you.”

“Viktor,” Inessa says in a tired voice. “You’re putting words into her mouth. Be the kind brother I know you can be and listen to your sister. Hear what she’s really saying. Please.”

It’s clear he wants to object but he closes his mouth and nods. “Fine. Go on.”

“Matteo respected me enough to wait for our wedding night, which was ruined because of Connor. He shot me. You know this.”

“He told me it was an accident. That he didn’t mean to shoot you.”

“And you believe him?” I ask.

He huffs, his hands flapping onto the desk. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. You’re so different from the sister I knew.”

“No, I’m not. I’m still Julia. I’m still the girl who wants peace. I never wanted to make you angry. I never wanted to start an even uglier war. I just wanted to be happy.”

“And are you? Happy?”

“Not right in this moment. You stole me here without my consent. You just did the same thing you blame Matteo for. I know you think he kidnapped me the day of my wedding to Connor. But he didn’t. I never wanted to be with Connor. I hate Connor.”

“Sometimes we have to marry people for the greater good.”

I roll my eyes. It’s something I’ve rarely ever done in front of Viktor. “You married Inessa when alliance wise, it was smarter to marry Aria Romano. You married for love. Why don’t I get the same?”

He has no answer for that.

“I hate Connor because he’s hurt me. And fine, maybe when he shot me it was an accident.

But Matteo has never ‘accidently’ shot me.

He’s only ever touched me with care. Whereas Connor has hurt me before.

Remember when my wrist was hurt? I never slammed it against a door by accident.

Connor gripped my arm so tight, he made me bruise. ”

Viktor sits up straighter in his seat. “Why would he do that?”

“Because he knew about me and Matteo and he kept threatening to tell you about me and Matteo if I didn’t comply with what he wanted. I was so afraid you’d kill Matteo. I still am, honestly. I was willing to marry Connor if it meant saving Matteo’s life.”

“Until he showed up at your wedding.”

I nod. “It’s because I told Matteo about it.

That is true but I never told him to attack the wedding.

I never told him to tell Dante. I told him about the wedding because I was afraid.

He wanted to kill Connor before the wedding.

He wanted to free me from him and yes, weaken you in the process.

But I know he tried to reason with Dante.

He never wanted to tell Dante but Dante is his boss.

The information came out. Matteo tried to get Dante not to kill you but Dante wasn’t listening.

If you want to be mad at anyone for that, then be mad at Dante.

Be mad at Connor. But don’t be mad at Matteo.

He wants peace. He’s treated me like a queen.

But you’ve been too stubborn to see any of it and I was too afraid of what you’d do to even tell you. ”

“You’re afraid of me?”

“Afraid you’ll kill Matteo, yes. Afraid of you? No. Never. I know you want what’s best for me but you said it yourself, you never wanted me to marry a man who would hurt me. Well, I’m telling you: Matteo has never hurt me.”

“He married you without my approval.”

“I’m twenty-one now, Viktor. I don’t technically need your approval.

I know you play by Bratva rules. But I’m going to live my life for myself and you can’t stop me.

You want me to be happy. I know it. So just let me be happy.

Let me be with Matteo. Use it to make peace with Dante and Erik. Save both me and Inessa from harm.”

He sits back in his seat with a heavy sigh. “You just told me a lot. I have to think on this.”

“I understand.”

“You’re not going to leave until I’ve had time to think. I need to talk to Connor. I need to tell him that we’re done.”

“Just like that?”

“You told me he hurt you on multiple occasions. I cant ignore that. That’s too many times he’s hurt you, which means it wasn’t all an accident. He’s been fucking playing me too and I won’t stand for it. Just stay here.”

“Don’t lock her up though,” Inessa says. “Trust Julia to stay.”

“But-,” I start to say but Inessa gives me a hard look.

“Show Viktor that he can trust you by not leaving. And Viktor, show Julia you can trust her by not locking her up. It’s a start. You have to agree it’s a good one.”

Slowly, I nod. “I’ll stay but don’t take too long to think about it. Please. And please let me call Matteo. Let me tell him I’m all right so he doesn’t do something reckless. Please.”

“I just need to think. You will not be calling Matteo. Not right now. But I wont lock you up. I promise you that.”

It’s the best that’s going to happen for right now.

Viktor

I decide to meet up with Connor at one of my restaurants. It will be crowded enough that hopefully he won’t make a scene when I break off our alliance.

He saunters over to my table, his face covered in bruises. I noticed that he favors his right side more than his left.

“Are you ok?” I ask.

“Had a little run in with Matteo yesterday. He stabbed me but I got away. I can’t wait to kill that fucker. Please tell me you have some good news.”

“I have bad news. For you. Our alliance is over.” No point in sugarcoating it.

Connor blinks before shock crosses his features. “Why?”

“I have Julia back. She told me everything. How you hurt her on multiple occasions. I cannot work with a man who wants to hurt my sister. We’re done.”

“So what are you going to do now? Work with Mateo? The fucker who kidnapped her in the first place?”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I just know it won’t be with you any longer. Leave my sister alone. You won’t get her. I won’t give her to you.”

The shock on his face is replaced with anger. Slow, simmering anger. “Just like that? You get to decide that I don’t have a shot at her? I don’t get to be partners with you any longer?”

“Pretty much. I was always the one in charge. Take is as mercy that I’m not killing you right here and now. If you show your face to me again however, I won’t hesitate to shoot you. You came into my home and pretended to be allies when you kept hurting my sister.”

“Fuck you, Viktor.”

“So eloquent. Have a nice fucking life.” I toss a few bills onto the table. “I’ll even pay for lunch.”

His scowl only deepens.

I leave him behind sitting at the table all by himself. I may not know what to do with Matteo but I am confident about Connor. He will never get his hands on Julia.

Julia

While Viktor is gone, Inessa and I sit on the back patio, soaking in the sun on the warm day. The slight breeze makes it all better. It almost makes me miss Matteo a little less. Only a little though.

“It’s good to have you back home,” she says. “You have to know that I never wanted to bring Viktor to you in person. But he insisted. He wasn’t going to back down and you know how he can be when he sets his mind to something.”

“Trust me. I know.” I take a large sip of the lemonade Mrs. Green made for us.

“I will make sure you see Matteo again. I promise you that.”

“Let me talk to him. Please. Just to let him know that I’m ok and that he doesn’t need to warn Dante. I don’t want Dante and Erik to become too trigger happy if they see Viktor. Please.”

She sighs and slides over her phone. “I can’t resist you either. You and your brother are the same in that regard.”

“Thank you so much,” I call Matteo’s number and listen to it ring and ring and ring. Why isn’t he answering? I try again and again and he still doesn’t answer.

“Julia?”

“Matteo isn’t picking up his phone.”

“He could just be busy with something. Talking to someone right now. He might have his phone on silent.”

“Or he’s planning something stupid to get me back.”

As if on cue, there’s a quiet thud against the back gate and the door swings open to reveal Matteo.

I gasp and run over to him. “What are you doing here?”

“Saving you. Come on.”

But I don’t go with him. “You have to leave. Right now. If Viktor sees you, you’re dead. If any of his guards see you, you’re dead. I’m fine. I think Viktor is coming around. Please, Mateo. Just trust me to handle this.”

“But it’s my job to protect you.”

“That’s my job.” Viktor’s dark voice crosses the backyard.

With a gasp, I turn around to see him standing in the doorway of the back door.

Inessa is halfway in and halfway out of her seat.

“I’m impressed, Matteo. You managed to find a weak point in my security.

Not many people can do that. But I’m sure it’s because you had help. ” His eyes flick to me.

“I didn’t know he was coming here. Please. Don’t hurt him.”

Matteo steps in front of me, even though it’s the most stupid thing he could do. “I’m taking Julia back. She’s my wife. You don’t get to dictate who she can and cannot see.”

Viktor’s eyes twitches. “Pretty ballsy of you to show up at my own house and tell me what I can and cannot do when it concerns my sister. I have more right to her than you do.”

“I’m right here,” I snap. “Stop talking for me. Both of you.” I step between them before they can start shooting at each other. “This has to end. Viktor, you need to see that Matteo will not hurt me. And Matteo, you have to start to trust my brother.”

“Doubtful,” Matteo mutters.

“Same,” Viktor sneers. “I still haven’t made my mind up about you yet. But with you coming here, breaking into my own home to steal my sister, I say that tells me everything I need to know. If you want to fight, Matteo, then let’s fight. No guns. We’ll make it fair.”

“Sounds good to me.”

They both drop their guns and run at each other at the same time. I dive out of the way right as they collide and start throwing punches and kicks. They’re going to kill one another. This isn’t some petty fight.

This is a fight to the death.

And I have no way to stop it.