Page 123 of Beautiful Beast

Sergei put a target on his back by kidnapping Aria and leaving a message for Dante. Which means Dante will be coming for Sergei as payback, and there’s one person who can easily get caught in the crosshairs.

Nadia.

If I don’t get her to safety, she could get hurt, and Anya would never be ok again.

I arrive at Sergei’s home and pound on the door. After a few minutes, the housekeeper opens.

“Yes?”

“Is Sergei back?”

“No, sir.”

“Good.” I pass her and head into the house, calling out for Nadia until she appears in the hallway, looking shy and afraid.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m getting you out of here. Come on. Let’s go.” By ending things with Sergei, I know he’s going to keep a tight leash on Nadia and never let Anya see her again. I can’t do that. I need to do what I should have done much sooner.

Bring Nadia to live with Anya and me, where she’ll truly be safe.

“What? Why?”

“Because your father fucked up, and I’m done with him. So, if you want a chance of seeing Anya again, you need to come with me right now.”

“You’re … not going to hurt me, are you?” She looks at me like Anya once did, like I’m an untrustworthy monster.

It’s up to me to change her perception of me.

“I won’t hurt you, Nadia. I just want to see you safe. We need to leave before Sergei returns home. He won’t let you leave with me, and you know it. Come on.”

Finally, she walks over to me, looking more sure.

I open the front door and freeze when I come face to face with Dante.

“Didn’t expect me, huh?” He punches me in the face before I can react, sending me sprawling to the ground.

My vision goes black, and the last thing I hear is Nadia screaming.

Chapter

Nineteen

ERIK

I’m only unconscious for a few seconds before everything snaps back into place.

I blink up at the ceiling as Dante steps over me, smiling down with a smug grin.

“I found you,” he says.

When I turn my head to the side, I see Dante has two guards with him holding Nadia.

“How did you find me?”

“Does that matter, Erik?”

“It matters.”

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