Page 25 of Beautiful Enemy

“No,” I whisper.

“Come on, Nadia. Stay strong for your sister. Do you really want her to see you so scared?”

A flare of anger courses through me. It’s one thing to hurt me; it’s another to hurt my sister. She has protected me all my life but it’s my duty to protect her now.

Fighting back tears, I lift my chin up high and stare the camera down. “Anya, he hasn’t hit me. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“See? I’m not a complete and utter monster. Go on.”

I don’t dare look at Dante as I talk to the camera. “I’m in a basement. It’s cold. But I was given food. They don’t want me dead. He just wants to hurt you and Erik and Father.”

“That’s right,” Dante growls, moving to stand behind me. His hands press into my shoulders, claiming me before the camera. “Though I am curious. I know you must be terrified watching this video, Anya. And as for you, Erik, I’m sure you’re getting more and more angry as you watch this. But I have a question for Sergei. How does karma feel?”

“Karma?” I ask.

“You don’t know?” I can feel his gaze boring into the side of my face. “Your father kidnapped a friend of mine. Her name is Aria. She’s like a daughter to me.”

I duck my head. I know exactly what he’s talking about. Erik and Anya told me all about that after it happened. I know the crimes of my father.

“Or did you know?” Dante asks in a low voice. “Because if you knew, Nadia, then that makes you not as innocent as I once thought. So, did you know?”

“I knew. But only after it happened. Not before.”

“Of course. Your father liked to keep you in the dark, I’m sure.” He turns back to the camera. “So, Sergei, how does it feel knowing I kidnapped your daughter? Are you angry? Sad? Going mad?” He chuckles at his own rhyme. “Or do you even care? I’ve heard rumors about you and your daughters. I know Nadia moved in with Erik and Anya soon after I went into hiding. Why was that? Why would Nadia leave her own father?”

Dante tilts my chin towards him. I try to avert my gaze for as long as I can but it’s impossible. I have to look at him. “Why did you leave your father?”

I could tell Dante about the abuse my father did to me and Anya but it feels wrong sharing that with him. Too vulnerable. Too personal. Too intimate.

“Well, Nadia? Answer the question.” He skims the backs of his fingers down my cheek. “I want to know what’s going on inside that brain of yours.”

And that’s exactly why I can’t tell Dante. I might not have much power – if any – in this situation but I’m determined to hold onto as much power as I can get. Dante wants this information out of me.

Maybe I can use this to my advantage.

“I’ll tell you. But you have to get me out of this basement.”

Hetsksand gently taps my cheek. “No. That’s not how this works. You tell me what I want to hear.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Yes. No. I don’t have to share anything with you. You can’t force me.”

He presses his forehead to mine – his lips so close to mine. “Who says I can’t force you?”

I tremble, showing my fear. Dante sees it. He smiles.

“I will tell you if you get me out of this basement and let me stay somewhere warmer.”

“No.”

“At least give me a blanket. It’s so cold in here. I shivered all night long.”

Dante’s eyes soften just the tiniest bit before they snap back to their normal anger. “You deserve to be cold. You belong to Erik and Anya’s family. That means you deserve to be punished.”

“No,” I say softly. “I don’t think you believe that.”

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