Page 96 of Beautiful Beast

“So is mine,” my father says.

“Elena and Nadia are safe,” I explain. “Just let me explain.”

“What happened?” The Ivan I met before was so jovial and kind. Now, it’s like a beast has overtaken him.

“Elena had disappeared.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ivan,” Erik says. “Let my wife talk.”

With a huff, Ivan goes silent. My father just continues to look like a smug, evil asshole as he looks at me.

“Nadia and I went looking for her and found her in … the guest room.”

“The one with a dead body in it?” my father asks in a deadpan voice.

I flush but don’t lower my gaze. I won’t give my father the satisfaction of seeing me cower in fear.

“Yes, the same room. Nadia and I went in there to talk with Elena when Alek showed up. He shut the door behind him. He was drunk. I think he … wanted to hurt us.” I glance at Erik and see him tense.

“Bullshit,” my father says. “The Alek I knew has been nothing but kind.”

“That’s how I would describe Alek, too,” Ivan adds. “I’ve never had any issues with him. He’s been a good employee.”

“A good employee and a good man are two very different things.”

I can tell right away that it was the wrong thing to say by how angry Ivan and my father get.

“Let her finish,” Erik advises.

I swallow hard, but my mouth is too dry. “He wanted me to drink some champagne. I tried getting him out of the room. I didn’t want him around Nadia or Elena. It didn’t feel safe. I was trying to protect them.”

“And then what happened?” Erik asks.

“He grabbed me,” I whisper. “He threw me up against the wall. And then Nadia tried to help and he … he hit her. Just … backhanded her across the face. She fell right to the floor. And I, and I, and …” I inhale deeply. “And I just reacted. By then, I had the champagne glass in my hand, and I broke it. And all I could think about was saving my sister and Elena.”

“Where was Elena during this?” Ivan asks.

“On the bed, under the covers, hiding. I just needed to protect them. And then I …”

“You what, Anya?” Erik asks in a softer voice.

I spin around to face him. “If I confess to anything, am I going to get in trouble? Or will you protect me?”

“She can’t ask you that!” my father exclaims. “Anya, if you murdered that man, then you need to face the consequences.”

Erik’s eyes never leave mine. “It sounds like it was self-defense to me. I will protect you. You’re my wife.”

“I stabbed him in the neck,” I say, keeping my eyes glued to Erik.

“Did he die right away?” Ivan asks. “Or did you let him die?”

“I froze. And I wanted to get Nadia and Elena out of there. And then he died. He was bleeding out so fast. Even if I’d gotten help a couple seconds sooner, he’d still be dead.”

Erik nods once like that settles it. “Ok then. I’ll call Charlie to come get rid of the body.”

“Charlie?”

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