Page 10 of Beautiful Enemy

“Why?” I whisper.

“So youcanspeak. Because there was no one better. I could have taken your sister to hurt Erik but what would that have accomplished? Erik would give himself up for her and I’d have to kill him and that would be the end of that. But I don’t want to kill Erik. At least, not yet. I want him to suffer. And you’re the best one to do that.”

“I don’t understand.” My words come out muffled, like I’m speaking under water.

“Because I don’t just want to hurt Erik. I also want to hurt your sister. And your father. And anyone else who works with Erik. I’ve been watching you for the pastfour years. I know how hard your father has fought to get you back and how much he’s failed at it. You’re the key, Nadia.”

“Key?”

“To hurting your entire family. Erik will fight to find you but he won’t become a madman like he would if it were Anya. Instead, he’ll slowly lose out on hope once he doesn’t save you. He will become a disappointment in Anya’s eyes when he fails to save you. And that will be sweeter than death. Destroying his marriage. Making him weak. Hurting your sister for trying to kill me. And even your father. This will pain him even if he doesn’t show it. That’s why I needed to kidnap you, Nadia. You’re the perfect hostage. So many people care about you. Why is that, I wonder?”

I can only shake my head. I have no idea why I’m loved.

Sometimes, I don’t always feel like I deserve to be loved. Not after how my father made me feel all my life. Sometimes, I think I deserve to be alone.

Dante reaches towards my face, making me flinch back. He pauses until I look at him and then he resumes reaching out towards me. His fingers skim along my cheek.

“You are beautiful, you know that?”

I frown.

“You do know that, don’t you, Nadia?” He drops his hand to his lap. “You’ve only grown more beautiful over the years.”

“Are you… going to hurt me?” My voice is barely above a whisper. It’s like a mouse squeaking to a lion.

“We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

“You do that a lot.”

He tilts his head to the side. “What?”

“Answer my questions with a question.”

“Mmm. Do I? I guess I do. I like hearing you talk. You have a very… sweet voice. It matches your face.”

My lips part and no sound comes out. What am I supposed to say to that? Dante’s eyes find my lips and darken before flicking back to my face.

“You’re shy. Why?”

“I don’t understand. I just am.”

“So, it’s not because of any trauma? Someone didn’t force you to be quiet your whole life? You’re just… shy?”

I shrug. What does he want from me?

“This is disappointing,” he mutters. “I was sort of hoping you’d fight back more. Instead you just seem so… sad.”

“You kidnaped me.”

“I know. And yet you seem so docile. Why?”

Nowthatreason is because of trauma. My father made me so scared, it was just easier to be docile than to fight. I guess nothing has changed since I got out from under his thumb.

“I can’t answer your questions.”

An eager glint enters his eyes. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t understand them. I’m just the way I am. If you’re going to hurt me, then please get it over with. I won’t fight you if you just let me go. I don’t want this.”

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