Page 3 of Sinful Betrayal

I smirk. “You love it, really. Besides, you know all the best places to eat and drink in the city.”

“True, though I will say I’m surprised I’ve never been here before. I’m almost disappointed in myself for not finding it sooner.”

I raise my glass. “Well, I think we should toast. To New York.”

Allie raises hers. “And to ballet.”

Beatrice’s hand follows as she grins at each of us in turn. “And to new friends!”

Emma grins, tilting her glass my way. “And to good fucking vodka.”

As we clink each other’s glasses, I glance over Allie’s shoulder, and my breath leaves my lungs as my eyes land on my target.

He’s walking over to a table on the other side of the bar, wearing a crisp black shirt which hugs his powerful body perfectly. Even from here, I can see the dimple in his cheek as he smiles at the waitress, adding some softness to his otherwise chiseled face.

It seems pictures don’t do this man justice.

I hate to admit it, but he’s breathtakingly handsome and sexy as hell. Perhaps under other circumstances, I would approach himwith the sole purpose of wanting to spend the night in his bed, exploring every inch of his muscled physique with my tongue.

Unfortunately for me, I come from a world where beautiful men are often cold-blooded killers, and I know this one is just that.

“I need to use the ladies’ room.” I slide off my stool.

As much as I would love to just enjoy a girls’ night out, the longer I put this off, the angrier my father will get.

Focus, Nina. You have a job to do.

While he might be all dimpled smiles and smoldering looks, it doesn’t change the fact that he murdered my brother Maxim in cold blood.

My pulse quickens as I make my way through the sea of tables, my eyes locked onhim.

He has his back to me as he lounges in his chair. Perfect.

He’ll never know what hit him.

2

ANTON

I’m not usuallyone to drown my sorrows with booze, but after today, I wanted nothing more than to kick back and have a few drinks.

Having a live-in mother with early onset Alzheimer’s is difficult, not only because half the time she has no idea who I am, but because she requires round-the-clock care. It doesn’t leave me with much free time to just switch off and enjoy a drink by myself, let alone with a beautiful woman.

I can’t help but resent the loss of my freedom.

But today has been particularly tough. It’s the tenth-year anniversary of my father’s death.

In some ways, it feels like barely a month has passed since I last spoke to my father. Even after all this time, I still can’t quite believe that he’s actually gone.

It makes it even harder when my mother demands to know where he is. She screamed and yelled at me all day, demanding to talk with him on the phone. Nothing could calm her down, so I ended up having to give her a sedative.

As soon as she was down for the night, I made a beeline forEspionage, the bar I own in the city.

And not two minutes after I settle, an angel falls on my lap.

Thank you, universe.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” The stunning brunette clings to my shoulders.

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