Page 122 of Beautiful Enemy

Erik sighs like he’s going to regret saying what he’s going to say next but he says it anyway. “If I marry you to Nadia, then you will be making a vow not just to her but to me as well. A vow that says you’ll be loyal to our alliance. No backstabbing me.”

“How do I know you won’t backstab me?”

“Because I wouldn’t risk Anya’s safety like that, nor Nadia’s. You know that.”

That’s true. Erik loves his wife and cares deeply for Nadia. It’s why I stole Nadia in the first place.

This is the best deal I’m going to get, even though the idea of working with the Bratva makes me want to gouge a hole in my eye. But if this gets me Nadia and lets me live, then I’m willing to do it.

“Can you ensure that Viktor and Ivan and other Bratva men won’t come after me?”

“Well, you spared Ivan’s life before so we’ll call that a win. And as for Viktor, he’s not happy about this deal. He opposes it but he’s willing to marry Ivan’s daughter, Elena, to keep the peace. He doesn’t want to fight in another war either. None of this is ideal and it will take a lot of work to figure it out. But as long as you stay in line, I won’t have to hurt you.”

“As long as you don’t try to kill me again, I’ll have no reason to hurt you.”

Erik’s smile is tight. “Then we’re in agreement.”

“And you?” I turn to Anya. “I’m sure you’re just ecstatic about this.”

The flat look she gives me almost makes me laugh. “It’s going to take a long time to win my trust but Nadia really wants you in her life. I’ve done everything in my power to protect her. But I saw her today. She was so brave. So strong. I’ve never seen her fight for someone like she fought for you today. I’m doing this for my sister. No one else.”

“Understood.”

“And you should know that if you break her heart, I will kill you myself.”

“Also understood.”

Anya sighs and her shoulders slump like all the fight has just left her. “Nadia wants to see you. Now that you’re awake, I’ll send her in.”

“No. I can go to her. I don’t want her getting up if it causes her more pain.”

For just a moment, Anya looks at me like she can see the good in me. There has to be some good inside of me for Nadia to care for me.

“Then go to her.”

Nadia

Dante shuffles into my room, looking disheveled and tired but alive and happy.

“Dante?” I try to get out of the bed but he motions me back down.

“I got it.” He sits in the chair beside the bed and takes my hand. “So, you saved my life.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“When I first took you, I was determined to hate you. You were a Bratva daughter. I thought you hated Italians just on principle. But you didn’t hate me for being part of the Mafia. You showed me kindness even when I didn’t deserve it. Why?”

“You scared me at first,” I admit, gripping his hand tighter. The strength of it helps steady me. “But then you saved me from the basement. You didn’t let me die. And then you could have punished me for running from Elio Romano’s house but you didn’t. It was like you didn’t actually want to hurt me and I knew that meant you had some goodness in you. And when you touched me…”

“When I touched you?” His tone is a little dangerous and a little gleeful.

My voice lowers to a whisper. “When you touched me, I felt alive. I felt addicted. I wanted to experience more. And I also knew that if anyone had the power to end this war, it would be you. I know it was probably naïve of me but Dante, I gave my heart to you. I still give you my heart.”

His eyes say it all: pain and desire and… love?

“If you want my heart, you have it,” he says. “I’m not going to be perfect. I’ll probably fuck up again at some point. But I want to put my anger aside and be happy for once. I want…”

“What?”

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