Page 111 of Beautiful Enemy

I can’t look at Viktor in the eye. He deserves better than me, a girl who chose to care for the enemy. Who might even be in love with the enemy.

But Viktor is my future. Dante is going to die and then I’ll have no choice but to marry Viktor. It will be expected of me. Any semblance of choice will be gone.

“We barely know each other and yet, you were willing to go to such lengths to save me. Why?”

“Because you’re my fiancée,” he says it like it’s obvious. “Why else would I do this? I made a promise to marry you. I made a deal with Erik. I made an alliance with him through a marriage to you. I keep my word.”

I stare down at my hands. They’ve touched Dante. Stroked his back. Cupped his face. It’s Dante I want. Not Viktor.

“If I didn’t want to get married, would you be ok with that?” I whisper.

Viktor sighs deeply. “I don’t love what happened to you but I don’t blame you for that. It doesn’t bother me that you’re no longer a virgin. You didn’t have a choice in the matter. And I can understand that you need time to heal. I’m willing to postpone the wedding until you feel better. But part of the alliance was marrying you. So it will happen one day.”

“But what if I don’t want to? Am I not allowed to make that choice?”

“I think you’re just confused right now. You went through a lot. Spend time with your family. Feel safe again. And then we can discuss this more.”

He’s not wrong. I have been through a lot and I shouldn’t make any huge decisions right now but all I can think about is saving Dante.

I have to try, even though Viktor won’t like it. Which is why Viktor can’t know.

“Ok,” I whisper. Already, I’m turning back into my shy self. Any of the bravery I felt with Dante is long gone. “I just want to see my sister.”

“I’ll leave you to it. I have to go join your father. We’re going to kill that bastard for hurting you. Don’t you worry.”

I flinch. Viktor either doesn’t notice or he thinks I’m just scared of Dante. “I have to go.” I quickly get out of the car and run up to the house. I don’t have my key with me so I have to knock. Viktor drives away, ready to kill Dante.

I have to stop that from happening no matter the cost.

The door swings open and it’s Erik standing there in all of his glory.

“Nadia?”

I gasp and throw my arms around him. We’re not exactly touchy-feely but right now, all I want is to know that I’m back home.

Erik slowly hugs me back before letting me go. “How did you escape?”

“Where’s Anya?”

“Right. Anya!”

“What is it?” she asks, appearing at the top of the stairs. She stops short when she sees me before letting out a cry and running down the stairs. We’re in each other’s arms before I even know it.

“Oh my god. Nadia. Oh my god.” She’s always given the best hugs. When our mom died, I was only seven, so Anya took over as a motherly figure to me. And like a real mother, she’s great at making me feel at home.

I feel something in my heart relax. I’m with my sister again. All is right in the world.

Now I can feel whole. Except, I can’t feel whole when I know Dante is going to die.

“What happened? How are you here?” she asks, pulling back.

I turn to Erik. “Viktor and my father have Dante. Did you know about this?”

“What? No. They didn’t tell me a thing. What happened?”

“My father followed you to your meeting with Dante. He then found where Dante and I were. He and Viktor are going to kill him.”

“As they should. He kidnapped you. He needs to die for this war to end. Do you know where they are?”

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