Page 73 of Darkest Desire

Denis huffs, looking between me and Nico. “What is she doing?”

“She’s trying to get you away from her sister so… let me guess… Mikhail can save them?” Nico sets his dark eyes onto me. “Is that right, sweetheart?”

I don’t say a word. The reality is, Mikhail might not even know Denis is out of town to try and save my sisters. I never got the chance to call Natalya.

“Damn it,” Denis growls, running a hand over his face. “I need to get back to New York.” He points his fat finger in my face.“You did this. You brought me here as a trick? You’re going to regret this, Sasha. I’ll make your sisters suffer even more for this.”

“They had no part in this,” I say in a rush. “They don’t know. I just wanted…”

“What did you want?” Denis sneers.

Nico crosses his arms, gazing down at me with curiosity. “Yeah, whatdidyou expect was going to happen?”

“I just wanted to give my sisters a chance for a moment’s peace away fromyou,” I snap at Denis. “You’re horrible to them. Were horrible to me. That was all. And…”

“And?” Nico prompts.

“Maybe I was hoping to turn you two against one another.”

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Denis asks.

It takes Nico a moment to realize before he starts laughing. “She was hoping I’d kill you, Denis. Then her sisters would be free of you. It’s not a bad plan, I’ll give her that. But I don’t want you dead. We’re still working together. I promise you that, Denis.”

My uncle shoots me a glare before he turns back to Nico and extends his hand. Nico returns the handshake. “And I promise that you still have me as an ally. But no more deals behind my back.”

“Understood.”

“When are you going to return to New York? I could use your power and influence there.”

“In time. Sasha and I are still enjoying our honeymoon.”

Denis turns back to me. “You don’t get to play me or your husband for a fool. Nico, you better punish her.” With those final words, Denis storms out of the house in just as much anger as he did when he entered.

Nico shuts the door behind him and leans against the door, crossing his arms. His stance is casual but I can feel the anger radiating within him. “You are being reckless, Sasha.”

“I’m just trying to save my sisters still and if you actually cared for me, you’d help get them out. Natalya wasn’t able to save me from you but I can try to save Irina and Ana from having to marry bad men.”

“Is that what I am? A bad man?”

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

Nico smirks. “You’re not wrong. I am a bad man. Which is why I’ll always put the deal I have with Denis above saving your sisters. You can’t reach the soft parts within me, Sasha. I wanted you and now you’re mine. I have no desire to save your sisters.”

“If you want me to ever care for you – if you want me to ever give my body to you – then you’ll consider killing my uncle and saving my sisters. You’ve killed men before without even blinking. This shouldn’t be any different.”

“You’re right. I could easily kill Denis. But I’m not going to, mostly to keep you in your place. I can’t be giving you too much power, now can I? Now, you’re lucky I’m late for a meeting with Adrien or I’d spank you right here, right now in the middle of this foyer for anyone to see.”

“Looking forward to it,” I snap.

Nico gives me an extravagant bow before he leaves the house.

So much for my plan. All I can hope for is that Irina and Ana with our mom might have found a way to escape with Denis gone.

Otherwise, we’re all just as trapped as we’ve always been.

One of Nico’s guards – Aldo – lets me know that someone is at the door and they want to talk to me.

“Who is it?” I ask.