Page 42 of Darkest Desire

He did look strong and brave both times he saved me. He also looked incredibly frightening from the anger in his eyes. Anger at the men who tried to hurt me.

I’ll give Nico this: he is a man of his word. He wanted me to be his wife and so far, he has saved me. He also hasn’t been with any other woman, claiming he only wants to be with me.

It makes me hate him slightly less.

Just slightly though. There’s no way I’ll ever fall for him. I can’t fall in love with a murderer. I just can’t.

Natalya

I tell Mikhail about my phone call with Sasha. “She’s in Italy. She gave me the address. You have to go save her for me.”

Mikhail sits on the couch, nursing the wounds Nico gave him. The only other time I’ve ever seen my husband look weak was when he was shot in the back and stomach. He was down for a few months before returning to his normal strength.

“Natalya, baby. I can’t leave to find Sasha. I have so much I’m dealing with here. The Irish are still trying to come after me and I’ve got your uncle to think about. Nico is on his honeymoon. For once, I don’t have to worry about him.”

If he weren’t hurt, I would hit him myself. “My sister needs help. We know where Nico’s vacation house is. You can strike.”

He considers my words, before gently pulling me into his lap. “You make a good point. But I can’t go there. It’s too dangerous. But…”

“But?”

“I could send someone else. I could try to get a guard onto Nico’s rotation and they could get Sasha out of there.”

“We tried that with Denis and it didn’t go over well.”

“Do you want me to help or not?”

I sigh, leaning into him. “I want you to help.”

“This is how we’re going to do it. I’ll get someone in on the inside to save Sasha. We know her location and as long as Nico doesn’t find out, then we stand a real chance of saving her.”

A flicker of hope enters my heart. The chance to save one of my sisters. There isn’t anything I want more.

Nico

“How’s that wife of yours?” Adrien asks as we sit across from each other, enjoying a meal. Since I’m Italy, we figured it would be the best time to meet up and discuss more expansion plans. When I’m in New York, we have to rely on talking over the phone and that’s always a little risky.

“I heard you’ve been killing men left and right to save her,” he continues, taking a bite of his steak.

“She keeps escaping. It’s cute in a way. I like how feisty she is. But she’s causing me to lose my game. I can’t get caught killing all these people for her.”

“Then don’t.”

“I had to kill the men who attacked her. I can’t let that stand.”

“So, I should take that as a warning?” Adrien raises an eyebrow, giving me a look I don’t appreciate.

“I saw you looking at her at the party. I didn’t appreciate it. Don’t look at my wife like that ever again.”

“That’s just how I look. I can’t help my face. If you don’t want me around your wife, Nico, then don’t invite me around your wife.”

I sigh, running my hand over my face. “I’m just tired. Having a wife is a lot more work than I ever thought it would be.”

“That is why I’m single and plan on remaining that way for the rest of my life.”

“Only one night stands for you, huh?”

Adrien’s grin is dark. “Exactly. Why shackle myself to one woman and be miserable, like you?”