Page 76 of Cruel Promise

The man grunts. “Never heard of you.”

“I’m Nikolai Petrov’s wife.”

Colin and the older man exchange a wide-eyed look.

“Shit. Colin, go get Maxim.” When Colin only stares, the man shoves him. “Go get him.” Colin scurries away.

The man leans against the doorframe, looking me up and down. “Man, that fucker is one lucky man, having you as a wife.” He whistles. “I wish I could get a woman like you. I’m Sal.” He holds out his hand like I’m actually going to take it.

When I don’t shake it, he awkwardly lowers his hand.

“So, tell me, how did Nikolai charm you? I mean, the man has got an ugly-ass scar across his face. What woman would want that?”

“It’s not ugly,” I say. Why do I keep defending Nikolai? I should be in New Haven by now.

Yet I’m here, trying to save him.

Sal grunts again. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.”

Yes, he did, and we both know it.

It’s at that moment Maxim appears, Colin standing awkwardly anxiously next to him.

“Ava,” Maxim says. “This is a surprise.”

“Is my husband here?”

Maxim shares a look with Sal before opening the door wider. “Why don’t you come inside?”

“No. I want my husband. You have him.”

“See, that’s going to be a problem since he blew up our clubhouse and killed a lot of our men. We have a right to him.”

“No. No one has a right to another person.”

“So, then why are you here, trying to save him? He bought you, if my understanding is correct.”

I flush again, but I don’t avert my gaze. Showing weakness will only hurt me. “Do you have him?”

“Come inside, and we can talk.”

I take a step back. “Why can’t we talk out here?”

“Ava, I won’t hurt you. I could have done it before, and I didn’t.”

“But that was when you wanted peace with my husband. Now, you’re angry and torturing him. You might use me against him.”

Sal whistles. “She’s smart; I’ll give her that.”

“Ava,” Maxim tries again, “I won’t hurt you. You have my word. I don’t use women in my schemes, trust me.”

“I have no reason to trust you.”

“True. But I haven’t hurt you yet.”

“You could try.” I pull out the gun from my back waistband and point it at him.

“Shit,” Sal says, ducking behind the door.

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