Page 73 of Beautiful Beast

“Stop me how?” I demand.

“By any means necessary,” Aiden responds, lifting a gun.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sergei and Ivan slowly back up toward the crate of machine guns.

“So, Dante wants you to kill me? Without him present? I’m shocked. I would’ve thought he’d want to see me dead himself.”

“Oh, he does. That’s why we’re not going to kill you. We’re going to take you to him.”

“So, is this war, then?”

Finn’s face contorts into something dangerous and dark. “It was already war when you decided to buy machine guns to use against Dante.”

“Maybe I just wanted machine guns for myself. Who says I’m going to use them against Dante?” I look at James. “I never said that.”

James shrugs, keeping his eyes on the brothers. “I know. He never said that.”

“Just lower your weapon,” Aiden says, “and we won’t shoot you. Dante wants you in one piece so he can break you down himself. But if we have to shoot you, we will.”

“I think I’m good.” Acting quickly, I throw the knife in my hand right at Finn’s face, and he jerks back. Using that to my advantage, I fire a bullet at his leg. He dives out of the way. James begins firing at Aiden, who fires back. Both men hunker down behind rotten debris in the room. I dive behind a broken desk and fire at Finn, who returns the favor.

“Tell Dante I’m not going down without a fight!”

“Everybody stop!” Sergei shouts and, right before my very eyes, fires a machine gun into the ceiling. The crate is open. Ivanis seated next to the crate, holding onto his hurt leg. He nods at me.

Aiden and Finn take one look at the machine gun and run out of the warehouse.

“Fucking cowards,” Seregi mutters.

“They’re not cowards,” I say, standing up. “They’re just not stupid. You could easily kill them with that. They’re only the hired help. No loyalty to Dante. They won’t want to die for him.” I nod toward the crate. “Good thinking with that.”

“It was Ivan’s idea.”

“See?” I hold my hand out to help Ivan stand up. “I knew it was a good idea getting you on board.”

He rips his hand out of my grip. “Listen, Erik, I agreed to partner with you and Sergei because I want my daughter, Elena, to be ok. I would hate if Dante or anyone else hurt her. But I’m hurt. And it’s because something went wrong with Carlos. You were responsible for getting us these guns.”

“And I got us these guns.”

“But we all almost died!”

“You have a point,” I say calmly. “But, Ivan, you agreed to be on our team, and sometimes that means putting yourself in danger. You agreed to come here. But from now on, maybe it’s best you stay out of the field. Support us. Give us backing any way you can. But I think it’s best you go home to your wife and daughter after Sergei takes you to my doctor. No need to get upset with me.”

“Those two maniacs showed up tonight. We could have died again. You need to end Dante, Erik, before things go too far.” He limps toward Sergei, who helps him stand up. “I’m a good-natured man, generally speaking. And yet you’ve managed to upset me in a way no one ever has. No more mess ups, Erik. Deal with Dante.”

“I will.”

Sergei helps Ivan walk toward the door.

“But, Ivan,” I call out, “if you upset me, I won’t hesitate to marry your daughter off to someone of my choosing. If you want to protect Elena that much, you’d best be on my good side.”

Ivan’s eyes tighten before he nods.

Once Sergei and Ivan are gone, James turns to me. The room is suddenly eerily quiet. “You would really do that? His daughter is only fourteen.”

“Of course not. It’s just to keep him in line. But, James, when backed into a corner, I’ll do whatever it takes to survive, no matter who gets hurt.”

James nods once without questioning me. He knows better than to do that.

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