Page 101 of Beautiful Enemy

Matteo can’t look me in the eye which tells me everything I need to know.

“Take me there. Let me talk some sense into Dante.”

“And tell him what? That you want to be with him? The only way he’ll stop this war is if you decide to be his. But you won’t decide to be his because you’ll always miss your family.” A far off look is in his eyes. “You never forget family.”

“Have you lost someone?”

His eyes snap back to me. “It’s not important. Dante told me to keep an eye on you here.”

“Matteo, take me to him. Please. If anyone can help, it’s me.”

“Or you’ll just make things worse.”

“Please.”

He drops his head back and sighs. “I’m going to regret this. Fine. Come on.”

I have to stop Dante from killing Erik, no matter what.

Dante

I have to end this war. Nadia will never be mine otherwise. But I can’t put aside my anger – not until Erik is dead. Once he is, I can stop.

Will Nadia want me then? I don’t fucking know. For the first time in my life, I’m unsettled. I’m unsure. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.

I sent a message to Erik after Nadia and I had sex. The way she looked at me, like she regretted us being together, hurt my fucking heart. I want her to be mine no matter the cost and if Erik is gone, then we could finally be together. Erik is the glue keeping Sergei and Viktor together. Once he’s gone, everyone will scatter, leaving space for me and Nadia to be together.

I’m a possessive man. Now that I’ve had a taste of Nadia, I can’t let her go for anything.

The meeting spot is in Central Park. It’s broad daylight. Risky to kill someone. But I doubt Erik would meet me late at night. In the light of the day, everyone feels safer.

I spot him standing near the Bethesda Fountain. Even though it’s early morning, tons of people are already out and about, mingling and taking pictures and looking like they don’t have a care in the fucking world.

That must be nice.

“Erik.”

He turns around to face me. “Dante. Why did you call for this meeting?”

“Ideally, to kill you.”

“You would kill me in front of all these people? Even you can’t escape the police.”

“I could very well try.”

Erik shakes his head, crossing his arms. His stance is casual but I know he has the power to strike at any moment. “What do you really want, Dante? Because if you wanted me dead, you wouldn’t have called this meeting.”

“I do want you dead. But I… I wanted to try to talk with you about something first.”

“What? You kidnapped Nadia. You refuse to give her back. What more is there to talk about?”

“I’ve taken her virginity.”

Erik’s face tightens. “I was worried about that.”

“I didn’t rape her if that’s what you’re thinking. She gave herself to me.”

“I doubt that.”

---