Page 137 of Cruel Promise

“Talk all you want,” Nik says, composing himself. “But you’re not getting in here.”

“I’d think again.” Anton goes quiet. There’s a sound of shuffling and other minor things I can’t make out.

And then I hear a beeping.

“Shit,” Nik breathes out. “It’s a bomb. Everybody, get down!” He throws himself on top of me as the door explodes.

Chapter

Nineteen

NIKOLAI

The minute Ava walked out of my life, I knew I would be a fucking mess for the rest of my life.

She didn’t even want me to take her to her mother, for which I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t trust me either. I lied. I betrayed her. I’m just as bad as her father.

When I returned home without Ava, Edmund asked me where she was.

“She’s gone back to her mother,” I snarled. “Now, don’t ask me any more questions.”

Edmund is good at his job, so he backed down. Mrs. Brown was standing in the hall, a question in her eyes, but she also knew not to ask.

Claude didn’t even notice there was a problem. He was too busy cooking.

I sat down for dinner, but when Claude served me a steak, I knew I couldn’t eat it. So, I pushed it away.

“You’re just as bad as your wife,” Claude muttered.

“And you won’t have a job if you keep making those comments.”

Claude was smart enough to stay quiet after that.

I prepared myself for a life without Ava. For a life without the woman I love.

But I didn’t have to wait long for her to return.

Later that night, she was back, but it wasn’t for me. It was for my protection to save her against Anton.

Fucking Anton. I thought I’d killed him, but I never checked. I think a part of me hoped he’d survived. We were best friends at one point. It’s not easy to kill a friend.

But now, here we are, stuck in my basement, with the door blown in. And there’s Anton, stepping inside with a wicked grin on his lips. He did always delight in people’s misery.

Ava is under me. “Are you all right?” I ask, pushing her hair out of her face.

“I’m fine.” She gasps. “Mom!” She turns to her mother and relaxes when she sees Camille is fine. I wonder if Ava will ever care about me that way. I doubt it. I’ve lost her trust, and there’s no going back.

Easing off Ava, I stand up. The bomb exploded the door and part of the wall, but the rest of the basement still stands. I paid good money for this thing to make sure it could withstand a lot.

Edmund, Claude, and Mrs. Brown all sit up, looking dazed.

Anton doesn’t have anyone else with him. He was always cocky like that. Honestly, I used to be that way, too. Charging in by myself because I believed I was unkillable.

But the more I’ve fallen in love with Ava, the more human I realize I’ve become.

“Good to see you again, Nik,” Anton says, his voice causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. No one’s voice could do that to me except Anton’s. He’s the reason I have my scar. He’s the reason I don’t let anyone in.

He scares me.

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