Page 122 of Beautiful Beast

“How do I know you won’t just kill me?” she asks. For the first time, I hear a waver in her voice, reminding me she’s just a kid.

“You don’t. But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll bring you back to your school as a sign of good faith, and once you’re there, you can tell me where Dante is. Fair?”

She slumps in her seat and blows a piece of her hair out of her eye. “I’m not getting out of this, am I?”

“You’re not.”

“Who’s the girl?”

“What?”

She huffs like I’m her biggest annoyance right now. “The girl I remind you of?”

“That would be my wife.”

And just like that, all the fight leaves her tiny body. “Ok. I’ll tell you where Dante lives. But don’t kill my father.”

“As long as he stays out of my way, he’ll be fine.” I turn to Sergei. “You heard all of that. I’m taking her back to her school, and she’ll tell me where Dante’s home is. I’m going to surprise him.”

“So, are we still working together?”

“No. I don’t trust you, and I need to be able to trust the men I work with.” I untie Aria as Sergei’s face scrunches into something vile.

“I can take my daughter back,” he threatens.

“You and I both know you can’t.” I finish untying Aria and take her arm. “Now, Sergei, get out of the way.”

He glares at me for a long beat before stepping out of the way.

Aria is silent on the drive to her school. The only words she speak to me are directions to her school. We make it there within thirty minutes.

“See? There’s your school. I’ll let you out, but first, give me Dante’s address.”

“How do you know I won’t lie?”

“Because then I will go kill your father.” It’s mean, but I need to make sure Aria tells me the truth. She may be a brave girl, but she’s still only twelve. She won’t be able to call my bluff.

Her eyes widen, and she nods. Suddenly, she looks so young and fragile with her pale skin and blonde hair. “Do you have a phone?”

“Why?”

“So I can type down his address. Duh.”

“I don’t trust you with my phone. So, here.” I grab a napkin and pen out of the glove compartment and hand it to her. “Write it down.”

She glares at me before she does as I say, then hands it back. “There. That’s his address.”

“Good. Go into your school and call your dad to get you. But if you warn him about me coming for Dante, bad things will happen to him.”

“Ok. I get it. You’ll kill him. You’re just as bad as the guy who kidnapped me.”

“I’m not. Trust me. But I used to be. I used to be worse, and I can be a lot worse again. So, do as I say, Aria, if you want your father to survive.”

She scrambles out of the car and runs to the school. I drive away as fast as I can without drawing any suspicion.

Aria is safe. That’s something Anya can be proud of.

But there’s something else I have to handle.

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