Page 99 of Beautiful Beast

“You’re right. And that’s why I’m sorry. It’s unfair. It’s sexist. But it’s the Bratva. You know this. Just let me do this, and then it can be done, and we can move on.”

I stare out at the crowd of people, hating their faces for even looking at me at this moment. “You know, for just a moment, when you brought Nadia here so I could see her, I thought things could be different between us. But now, I know I was wrong.”

I want my words to hurt, and they do. Erik’s eyes tighten.

But he doesn’t change anything.

He walks me over to the couch and gently pushes on my back until I’m leaning over it. I glance to my left and see my father and Ivan walking down the stairs, watching in satisfaction.

Nadia runs around them and toward me. “Don’t do this. Anya’s a hero. She deserves to be praised for saving me and Elena.”

“Shut up,” our father hisses, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. “Stay out of this.”

Erik turns to my father and says in a quiet, yet confident voice, “Let her go, Sergei. You will not hurt her.”

“Nadia isn’t your wife. You have no say in what happens to her.”

“Do you want to be seen as a man who beats on his daughters? Let her go.”

My father looks around the room with a sneer on his face before he slowly lets Nadia go. She rushes over to me, but Erik steps between us.

“Not right now.”

Nadia’s face crumples. “Don’t hurt her.”

“It’s ok,” I tell her. “Don’t get involved, Nadia. It’s my job to save you. Not the other way around.”

“You’re wrong, Anya. It’s my job to save you, too.”

“Isn’t this sweet?” Erik says. “But we don’t have time for this. Nadia, move away so I can do what I need to do. Your sister will be fine.”

“No, she won’t be. If you truly valued your relationship with her, you wouldn’t be putting a business partner over your wife, and you know it.”

I stare at my sister in shock. Never have I seen Nadia stand up for me like this before. So much bravery in her eyes. No matter what happens to me, that’s something I can be proud of.

For a short moment, Erik looks taken aback by Nadia’s words until Ivan speaks.

“Don’t listen to her, Erik. You need me. And I say this needs to happen if you want my forgiveness.”

“And here I thought you were the nice one,” I mutter.

Both Ivan and my father glare at me. Honestly, I’m used to it at this point.

Erik turns to me and rests his hands on my hips. I’m aware of the vulnerable position I’m in. Leaned over the couch, ass in the air, at the mercy of my husband.

All because I saved my sister and a young girl from a man who wanted to hurt us.

Erik doesn’t move for a long moment before he leans down to my ear and whispers, “Put on a show for them, Anya.”

I frown. What the hell does that mean?

And then, Erik spanks me. But it doesn’t hurt. It’s barely a spank at all.

The guests all look confused, too. What’s happening?

Erik gives me another soft tap, and it dawns on me. He’s not trying to hurt me, he just wants me to pretend I’m being hurt for Ivan’s benefit.

I let out a loud shout of pain. Erik increases his pace and keeps spanking me softly. I can feel his hand on my backside, butit doesn’t hurt at all compared to the last few times he did it. In fact, this time, it’s sort of enjoyable.

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