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Chapter Twenty

Julia

C onnor returns, breathing heavy, and limping even more. Blood trickles down his leg. He was shot, that much is obvious.

“What happened?” I ask. I tried and failed to get out of the ropes tying me to the chair and now that Connor is back, I’m out of options.

“Your fucking husband shot me.”

My heart rate spikes. “Did you kill him?”

He smirks. “You’d hate that, wouldn’t you?

Maybe I did kill him. Maybe not. You’ll never know because you’re mine now.

” He limps over to me and grabs my face and before I can even react, slams his lips down against mine.

I rip away from him. “I am going to make you mine the moment my leg feels better.”

“You mean… rape me?”

“It’s not rape when we’re married.”

I shiver. This cannot be happening. I want to save myself but I can’t. Not when I’m tied to this chair.

And I’m not even sure if Matteo is coming.

Matteo

I wake up in the hospital. I jerk upright when I realize, wondering how I got here. My stomach is bandaged up. I feel a little woozy but I’m alive.

A doctor comes into my room and explains how I was shot in the abdomen but that I got lucky. It missed all my vital organs. I should be back to my old self within a few weeks.

Lucky. Right.

Connor has Julia and I have to stop it.

“How long was I out for?”

“A few hours.”

“How did I get here?”

“You were in a crash and someone called the police. Paramedics brought you here.”

So if it’s only been a few hours, then maybe I have a chance to save Julia. I just have to get to Dante. I’ll need his help since I’m wounded now.

But Dante is meeting up with Erik and Viktor.

Viktor. I’m going to have to face him. There’s no one more who will fight to save Julia than me. I have to make things right with him.

“I want to be let go,” I tell the doctor.

“But you need to stay here for at least the night. We want to make sure they’re no other complications.”

“Give me the fucking discharge papers. I’ll sign them. I’m leaving.”

I limp out of the hospital. It’s hard to move when my abdomen feels like it’s on fire but I can’t hold still.

I text Dante for the address he is meeting with Viktor and Erik at and he responds. I flag down a cab and get over there immediately.

It’s one of Erik’s restaurants. I shove the door open and stumble inside. My eyes land on Erik, Dante, and Viktor in a back booth.

I’m expecting Viktor to shoot me on sight when I reach the table but he doesn’t.

“I explained everything,” Dante says. “I told Viktor about how we…”

“Invaded my house?” Viktor spits out. “I can’t fucking believe this. I come here for peace and you go and fuck it up.”

“It was my idea,” I blurt out, resting my hands on the table to keep myself upright. “Not Dante’s. I was so angry with you for this.” I point to my bruised face. “I thought you would keep me from Julia forever.”

“So you were ready to kill me.” It’s not a question.

“I was. But I never wanted to, at first. I wanted to respect what Julia wanted. She wants you alive. I didn’t know you wanted to make peace. I didn’t know you had changed your mind. And for that, I’m sorry.”

Viktor is silent for a long moment before he nods.

“I’ve given you every reason to distrust me.

Of course you’d think I’d keep Julia away from you.

I planned to. Until… she put a gun to my head and told me to stop controlling her life.

I saw a side of my sister I had never seen before.

I realized I couldn’t keep going on with how I’ve been acting.

Dante told me that you’re in love with my sister.

That you’d do anything to protect her. And I see that now.

I see that you’re not a bad man for Julia.

Let me see my sister. I want to tell her this. Tell her I’m sorry.”

“I believe him,” Erik says. “I’ve known Viktor for years and I can tell when he’s being sincere.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this too…” Dante sighs. “But I believe him.”

I look right into Viktor’s eyes. “You’ll let me be with Julia? Truly?”

“This war is tearing my family apart. I’m losing both my sister and wife to it. I’m done. I’ll give you peace. Just don’t ever fucking disrespect me again. And you’re paying to replace all my guards you killed.”

Dante nods. “Understood.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I force out. It’s getting hard to remain upright.

Viktor stands up and holds out his hand.

“I will not get in the way of you and Julia. I want her in my life and if this is the way to do it then… I’m agreeing to it.

She loves you. She was willing to lose me to save you.

I see now that everything that happened was because of love.

I’m done being angry. I’m tired. That’s the truth.

So promise me, Matteo, that you’ll always look after her.

Give me that and I won’t get in the way. ”

I can’t shake Viktor’s hand because he doesn’t know…

“I don’t have Julia.”

Viktor’s eyes tighten as he lowers his hand. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I went to look for her. Inessa told us that she had left and you were out looking for her until you’re meeting with Erik and Dante. I went to the places I thought she would be but… she wasn’t there.”

“So where is she? And why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“Because it was Connor who took her. He found me, shot me in the fucking abdomen, and I just woke up in the hospital a little while ago and came straight here. You, out of everyone, knows where he lives. I need you to save Julia for me because I can’t right now.”

“I know where Connor lives. We’ll go together. If anyone deserves to kill Connor, it’s you.”

“We’ll come with,” Dante says.

“No. Matteo and I need to handle this on our own. But I have a few different addresses Connor owns. Check them out for us just in case he’s there.”

Erik nods. “Will do.”

“So, does this mean we’re really working together?” I ask.

“It means we’re working together,” Viktor agrees.

Viktor drives us to Connor’s apartment. “How’s your abdomen?”

“On fire. But I’m pushing through. For Julia.”

“I like to hear that. You’re willing to fight for her.”

“I’m willing to die for her.”

“I like that too. A good husband is selfless and I… I haven’t been the best husband of late. Or the best brother. I’ve been clouded with revenge and my pride and I’m done with it. I’m seeing things more clearly now.”

“I’m sorry, Viktor. Sorry for sneaking around behind your back. Sorry for stealing Julia away. Sorry for trying to kill you. I want to start fresh.”

“Once we save Julia, we can.”

We arrive at Connor’s apartment building and Viktor strides inside while I follow behind more slowly.

He doesn’t bother knocking at Connor’s door. He kicks it down.

And a gunshot goes off.

Viktor slams his body against the wall to avoid being hit and in the process, holds me back too.

Saving my life.

“If you try to come in here,” Connor says, “I will kill you.”

“Help!” Julia screams. That tells us everything we need to know.

Viktor darts forward and fires off his gun but Connor just responds. Viktor has to dive back to avoid getting hit.

“How can we stop him?” I ask.

“We make him run out of bullets.” Viktor keeps darting forward and back, making Connor shoot at him, and every time, he misses.

There’s a moment of silence when Connor finally runs out of bullets.

“Now.” Viktor runs inside and tries shooting at Connor, but he dives into a room down the hallway. “Untie Julia.”

I rush, as fast as I can, to Julia’s side and start untying the rope around her.

“You’re here,” she says.

“I always told you I’ve got you.”

Her eyes flick to Viktor. “And with my brother.”

“We’re working to save your life.”

“And after that?”

“We’ll talk about it then. Let’s just get you out of here.”

I see Viktor move down the hallway to wherever Connor is hiding. I get Julia untied and gently push her towards the door. “You need to leave. For your own safety.”

“But you’re here. You look like you can barely move. I can help.”

“You can help by getting to safety. Please.”

Slowly, she nods and runs out the door. I turn towards the hallway and see that Viktor is looking inside one of the rooms.

And it’s then that I see Connor peeking out of a different room. Viktor hasn’t seemed to notice him.

Instinct takes over and I run down the hallway, pushing Viktor out of the way as Connor fires. The bullet hits my arm and knocks me to the ground. Both Viktor and Connor look stunned.

And that’s when I act. I lift my gun and fire at Connor. The bullet hits him in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. I said I would protect Julia and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

With a grunt, I stand up and walk over to him.

Connor is gasping for air. I must have hit a lung.

Viktor joins me at my side. “I’ll give you the honors.”

I place my gun to Connor’s head and his eyes widen right before I shoot him. He’s finally fucking dead.

Julia throws her arms around me the second me and Viktor leave the apartment. “You’re alive.” She lets me go and turns to her brother. “Both of you.”

Viktor holds out his arms and Julia sinks into them. “I’m sorry, Julia. I won’t get in the way of you and Matteo any longer. I see that now.” After they break apart, Viktor turns to me. “You just saved my life.”

“I guess I did.”

He gives me his hand. “Truce?”

I don’t hesitate to shake it. “Truce.”

“Does this mean we all finally get to be happy?” Julia asks.

Viktor nods. “We’ll have peace. For you, Julia. I will do this for you.”

Julia

Matteo sits back in his seat with a groan, patting his stomach. “That was the most delicious meal I’ve ever had.”

Inessa smiles. “You can thank our housekeeper for making it. Mrs. Green is an excellent cook.”

I look around the table at my husband, my sister-in-law and my brother. It’s Christmas Eve. Matteo and I have been together for months now and things have been running smoothly.

Viktor has been working with Erik and Dante. Things were tense at first but I know they’re easier now. They’re finally giving my brother the respect he deserves.

Matteo healed from all of his injuries. We’ve been having sex a lot and I know it wont take long before I’m pregnant. We saw no point in waiting. We knew we were in love when we first saw each other. It’s only natural we’d want a family as soon as possible.

Viktor and I spent a lot of time talking through everything that had happened. He knows I never meant to betray him. He knows I just fell in love and doesn’t blame me for it anymore.

And he hasn’t been as controlling. Viktor has stepped back and let me just be happy with Matteo.

Things might change after I have a baby but for now, Viktor is giving me space.

We do meet up for dinner once a week, though.

Just the two of us to talk. It’s been nice getting to know my brother more as an equal.

I lean my head on Matteo’s arm. “It was a wonderful meal. I think this is the happiest Christmas I’ve ever had. Here with the people I love most in the world.”

We had to go through a lot of hard times to get here but we’re finally here.

My eyes meet Viktor’s across the table and he nods, silently telling me that everything will be ok. That he has my back forever. And that includes Matteo now too.

We’re at peace.

Matteo takes my hand under the table and I hold on tight. I’m not letting go for anything in this world.

The End