Page 139 of Cruel Promise

“Mom,” Ava says gently but Camille brushes her off.

“How did you know?” she repeats.

Anton looks at her for a long moment and then smiles. “Hi, Camille.”

“Just tell me.”

“Nikolai’s wedding was the talk throughout the city. It wasn’t hard to figure out who his new bride’s mother was. You made yourself known when you went to the police, looking for your daughter. I found you, asked you some questions, and you didn’t have the answers I was looking for. But that’s why I let you go. I’m not evil.”

“Yes, you are,” I growl.

Anton sighs. “That’s where we have a difference of opinion, Nik.”

“No. I have this fucking scar on my face because of you. I still have nightmares because of you. So, I’m going to kill you.”

Anton points his gun at Ava. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Everyone in the room freezes. Except Anton. He just looks like he’s having a blast.

“Lower your gun, Nik,” Anton says. “Or I’ll shoot your wife in the fucking head.”

Ava gasps. I wish I could comfort her. She came to me to keep her safe, and now, she might end up dead because of me.

I’ve never deserved her, and this moment just proves it.

I lower my gun.

“Good,” Anton says. “But I think I want to have some fun anyway.” He spins to fully face Ava. I know he’s going to pull the trigger. I know he’s going to kill her just because he can.

Because that’s Anton. He’s an impossible man to control.

“No,” Claude shouts, surprising me. He pushes Ava out of the way, and she falls to the ground.

And then Anton’s gun goes off.

Claude jerks and grunts and stumbles back, clutching his stomach. His body slumps to the ground.

“Claude,” Mrs. Brown gasps, kneeling beside him.

I hurry to Ava’s side and help her up, but she’s only looking at Claude, who’s lying on the floor, blood seeping from the wound in his stomach. He’s still alive, but I’m not sure how much longer.

Ava rushes to Claude. “You saved me. Oh my god, Claude. We need to help him. Somebody help him!” She rips off a piece of her skirt and presses it to his wound, but that doesn’t help. Her hands are now covered in blood.

“Whoops,” Anton says.

“You fucking bastard,” I growl, raising my own gun. He points his right back at me.

“If you shoot me, I’ll shoot you, and then you’ll be dead, and I’ll kill everyone else in this room. So, what’s it going to be, Nik?”

“You can’t kill Ava. Promise me that, and I’ll lower my gun.”

He sighs dramatically and rolls his eyes. “Fine. I won’t kill her. Now, lower your gun and slide it over to me.”

“Don’t.” It’s Edmund. “Don’t do it, Nikolai.” It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say my first name. “We’ll all die if you do.”

“You’ll all die if he doesn’t,” Anton snaps.

I glance at Ava, who’s trying to comfort Claude. His breathing is becoming ragged and slow, but he’s still alive. There’s still a chance for him.

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