Page 72 of Cruel Promise

The cut was jagged and long. It ran across my face from left temple to my right jaw. Blood kept dripping from it and falling into my eyes. It made my vision red.

I was no longer a handsome man.

And I was no longer a forgiving man.

Anton had hurt me in a way no one ever had before. His betrayal cut deep. I knew at that moment I would never trust anyone ever again.

I left the house, leaving the door wide open and a blood trail in my wake.

I became a new man.

I became a monster.

AVA

The moment I leave the train station, I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.

Maybe I should just turn around and head back inside, get a ticket and go to New Haven. Start my life again. Leave Nikolai. He’s not worth it.

It doesn’t matter if my body responds to him. It doesn’t matter that when he looks at me, all I feel are butterflies. It doesn’t matter if he’s all I have.

I can make a new life for myself.

But my feet keep moving and moving and moving until I’m standing before Dimitri’s club. If anyone knows where Maxim might have Nikolai, it would be Dimitri.

He did just help me with my father, to his credit.

But will he help me with this?

I make my way through the busy crowd of people dancing the night away. They’re all having the time of their lives. I’m jealous. I wish I had the ability to be carefree.

Maybe someday.

I see Dimitri upstairs in his private booth, but I stop when I see my father walking down the stairs. He’s still here.

And he sees me right when I see him.

“No,” I say, holding my hands up. “You’re not going to take me again.”

He’s limping without his crutches. Honestly, it’s satisfying to see. After all he did to me, I want to see him in pain. I want him to know the pain I’ve felt—that he put me through.

“What are you doing back here? That stupid?”

I flinch. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Just get out of my way.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, girl.” The moment he tries to grab my arm, I shove him to the side.

He falls to the floor, and the people around us all react differently. Some give me dirty looks. Some reach down to help my father. And some continue to dance like a man falling to the ground is no big deal.

I rush past him up the stairs to Dimitri. I ignore his bodyguards and walk right up to his private group. A blonde is on his lap, sucking on his neck. His eyes are closed. It’s such an intimate thing that I avert my gaze until I remember: Nikolai is in danger right now. Who cares about being polite?

“I need your help,” I tell him.

Dimitri slowly opens his eyes and nudges the blonde off his lap. “Back so soon? Couldn’t stay away?”

“I’m not here for you. I’m here for Nikolai.”

He sighs. “Of course, you are.”

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