Page 77 of Beautiful Enemy

“No. Put aside your vengeance. End this war.”

“Never, baby. Haven’t you been paying attention? I will never give up until I’ve won. I am going to destroy Erik and everyone he cares about.”

“How can you have so much hate in your heart?” I whisper.

Before Dante can answer, Matteo hurries into the room. “The police are on their way. We need to get you out of here now.”

“He can’t even sit up,” I say.

“Unless you want to get questioned by the police, we have to go.” Matteo helps Dante get out of the bed, even though he’s grunting and groaning. I’ve never heard him sound so much in pain before. It’s sort of refreshing knowing he’s just a man underneath all the darkness.

Matteo practically carries Dante out of the room from the way Dante is leaning heavily against him.

I poke my head out and see the two officers heading our way. “Won’t this look even more suspicious?”

“Yes but it’s better if they can’t talk with us. They didn’t get our names from before,” Matteo explains as we walk down the hallway. “They don’t know where Dante lives. The less police know about what we do, the better.”

I glance back and see that the officers have turned into the room. They quickly come out, confused frowns on their faces. Then they look down the hallway and spot us.

“Um, Matteo, they’re coming our way.”

He looks back and curses. “Ok, Dante. Can you move faster?”

“I can fucking try.” Gritting his teeth, Dante manages to pick up his speed. It’s impressive for how hurt he is.

One simple stab wound almost took him down. Ivan just plunged us deeper into war in his efforts to end Dante’s life. I know Ivan just wanted to save his daughter Elena from possibly getting hurt but now I don’t know how to stop Dante.

How can I convince him to end this war?

It dawns on me as I hurry down the hallway, making me almost lose my footing. I have to give myself to Dante completely. It might not stop him but if he truly cared for me, then maybe he’ll care enough to end this war.

“Stop!” the male officer says, running after us.

Matteo shoves the officer back once he gets too close. “Keep moving.”

I grab Dante’s other arm and help him along, walking as fast as I can. Matteo punches the officer and it knocks him out cold.

The female officer yells at Matteo to surrender but Matteo only grabs her and wraps his arm around her neck, making her go unconscious too.

“I didn’t want to have to do that,” he mutters, coming back to us.

“Now we need to get out of here faster,” Dante grunts. The hallway we’re in is empty but it won’t take long for a doctor to find those officers.

By going with Dante instead of Erik, I have now put myself into a life of crime. I have sided with the enemy even though all I’m trying to do is get him to stop the vengeance in his heart.

We manage to make it out of the hospital and back to the car.

Matteo drives us to a parking garage where we steal another car and then toanotherparking garage to stealanothercar before arriving back at the ranch house.

“Get inside,” he tells me and Dante. “I’ll get rid of this car.”

I help Dante inside the house and to the couch, where he lands with a groan. “Sorry.’

He squints up at me. “You don’t sound sorry at all.”

“Maybe I’m not.”

“Are you mad at me? You could have left me, Nadia. You had your chance. You only have yourself to blame for being here.”

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