Page 130 of Cruel Promise

“No,” I whisper hotly. I never thought I’d see Nikolai surrender himself for … me. He’s willing to die so that I’m all right.

I know at this very moment I’m falling in love with him.

“This is a surprise,” Dimitri says. “Or maybe it isn’t. I knew you were crazy about Ava, but this …” He whistles. “This takes the cake.” He shoves me to the side and kneels beside Nik. “You see, I just wanted you to know what it feels like. I wanted you to know the humiliation I felt when you said our partnership was over. Now, we’re even.”

Nikolai stares at Dimitri for a long moment. “You … we’re even?”

“Yes.”

“You’re a crazy bastard. Using my wife just to prove a point to me.”

“But it worked, didn’t it? And now, I know what lengths you’ll go to to keep her alive. You asked for peace before. I’m willing to give it. Seeing you on your knees in surrender is more than enough to fulfill me for a lifetime.”

“I should kill you,” Nikolai hisses.

“Don’t,” I say, drawing both men’s attention to me. “Take the win, Nik. Let’s just go home.”

Nikolai doesn’t say a word as he glares at Dimitri for a long time.

Eventually, he nods before standing and coming over to me. “Are you all right?”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“See you later, happy couple,” Dimitri says. “I look forward to working with you again, Nik.”

I can tell that’s the last thing Nikolai wants, but he doesn’t start a fight. He just takes my hand, and together, we walk out of the club.

The moment it’s just the two of us, Nikolai throws his arms around me. Instantly, I feel safe. “I was so worried.”

“I’m fine, Nik. I’m fine.” The way he’s so worried about me warms my heart.

He pulls back and cups my face. “Let’s get you home.”

“Wait. I need to tell you. Dimitri killed my father tonight.”

Nikolai scoffs. “Good riddance, if you ask me.”

“Yeah. I won’t miss him. But you know the worst thing? He tried to trick me into leaving Yale with him by telling me my mom was still alive. How sick is that?”

There it is. It’s just a flash of something on Nikolai’s face, but it tells me everything I need to know.

He’s not telling me something.

“Nik?”

“Ava, let’s just go home. I can tell you there.”

“Tell me what?”

“Let’s just go home.”

I pull away from him. Every part of my body says something isn’t right. “What, Nik? Is this about what my father said? Is this about … about my mom?”

He drops his head and sighs, then finally nods. “Yes.”

“What about my mom? Nik, was my father telling me the truth? Is my mom alive?”

Chapter

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