Page 66 of Beautiful Enemy

“Just let me go with him,” I try to reason with Erik. “If you shoot, any one of us could get hurt. I can’t risk that. Let me and Dante go. You know it’s the smartest move.”

“But that would mean giving you up and I promised I’d get you back to Anya.”

“Aww,” Dante mocks. “How sweet. But Erik, it sounds like you won’t be able to deliver on your promise. You failed. Once again. Nadia is mine now. She likes me, don’t you baby?”

I wouldn’t say IlikeDante but I am drawn to him and I can’t deny it.

Anya looks more hurt the longer I go without saying anything. Shame fills me. I wish I could fight Dante like she clearly wants me to but I know what needs to be done.

I need to go with Dante and get out of here. It’s the only way to make sure everyone stays alive.

“I’m going with Dante,” I say as loud and clear as I can. “It’s to keep everyone safe. Let us go, Erik. You know it’s the best decision.”

“I promised Anya I would keep you safe.”

“Guess you’re going to have to break that promise,” Dante taunts.

“I think there’s a better way,” Ivan Romanov says, stepping up beside Dante.

“Ah, Ivan,” Dante says. “Nice to see you again.”

“I’ve seen what kind of trouble you cause, Dante. And that needs to end.”

In one smooth motion, he pulls a knife from his coat and jams it into Dante’s side and rips it right out, sending Dante’s blood spraying from his wound.

I know, within an instant, that everything is going to descend into chaos.

Chapter Twelve

Nadia

Dante grunts and falls against me. The sight of him looking weak is honestly terrifying. He’s been such a strong, intimidating presence in my life that I don’t know how to feel about him getting hurt.

On instinct, my hands steady him. Dante slings his arm around my shoulder. At first, I think he’s trying to get me to help him but then he brings out a small knife and places it to my throat.

I tense. What is he doing?

“Drop that,” Erik growls.

The majority of people in the room haven’t even noticed that Ivan just stabbed Dante in the side. They’re all too busy dancing and drinking and talking.

Dante smirks, despite the blood dripping from his side. “It’s my only play. Let me out of here.”

“You said you wouldn’t hurt her,” Anya says. “You said you needed her alive to hurt us.”

“And that was true. Until this fucker decided to stab me.” He glares at Ivan, who looks back with a sneer on his face.

“No regrets,” Ivan says. “You needed to be brought down. I needed to keep my daughter safe.”

“I don’t even know your daughter,” Dante slurs. I look at him closely. His skin is getting paler. I almost don’t even recognize the handsome, strong man I’ve spent the past couple weeks with.

“That doesn’t matter. I still have to keep her safe.”

“Ivan,” Erik says, holding his hand up. “Give me the knife before you do something stupid.”

“He already did something stupid,” my father mutters. “Now Nadia is in more danger.”

Despite how weak he looks, Dante’s grip on me is strong and the knife by my throat doesn’t waver one bit.

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