Page 108 of Beautiful Enemy

Both Viktor and my father look at me carefully like I’m a wild tiger trapped in a cage. They don’t know what to think of my words.

It’s my father who speaks first. “He’s brainwashed you. That much is obvious. You’re coming back home with me now.”

“No. I want to see Anya.” If I’m forced to return home, then it needs to be my sister and Erik. It can’t be my father. He’ll lock me up forever and throw away the key. He’ll only let me out until I am to marry someone, Viktor probably. If he’ll have me now that I’m no longer a virgin that is.

“You’ll get to see Anya. But first, you’re coming home with me.” He reaches out to me but I scramble back and swat at his hands.

“No.” I turn to Viktor. “Take me to my sister. Please.”

Viktor nods. “I don’t see why not. She’s been missing you.”

“No,” my father snarls, making Viktor raise an eyebrow. “Nadia will go home with me.”

“Do you not want her to see her sister?” Viktor asks.

The laugh that Dante lets out is long and harsh and cold. It even makes me flinch. “Of course he doesn’t want Nadia to see her sister. He wants her for himself. He wants to control her. He can’t do that if Nadia is living with Anya.”

Viktor tightens his hands on his gun. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” my father cuts in. “He’s talking about nothing.”

“He beats her,” Dante continues, only looking at Viktor. “He used to beat Anya and then when she moved out, he set his sights on Nadia. If you care at all for Nadia, you’ll bring her to Anya and Erik. You won’t let her go with her father.”

“Shut up,” Father hisses but it doesn’t matter. Viktor is actually listening to Dante’s words.

His eyes flick to me. “Is that true? Has your father treated you like that?”

All I can do is nod.

“She’s lying,” Father exclaims. “I am a good father to Nadia. I came all this way to rescue her. Don’t listen to the words of a madman.”

Viktor is wavering, I can tell. He’s not sure what to believe.

“We were going to be married,” I say. “You were going to be my husband. That has to count for something. I want you to take me to my sister, please. You always said you would never hurt me. So do this for me.”

That clinches it. “I’ll take you back to your sister..”

“No,” Father snaps. “She is coming home with me first. She can see her sister afterward.”

“If she goes with him,” Dante says, “he won’t let her go. Nadia doesn’t want to go with him.”

“And you care what happens to Nadia?” Viktor asks in an incredulous tone. “You’ve tortured her. You’ve… touched her with your filthy hands. You raped her. Why should I believe anything you say?”

“Don’t believe me. Believe Nadia.”

“Bullshit,” Father says. “Viktor, let’s round Dante up. Nadia, get dressed. You look vulgar.” His eyes rake over my naked body with pure disgust.

I’m filled with shame. Only my father has the power to make me feel this way.

He picks up my clothes and chucks them at me.

“Careful,” Viktor warns. “Nadia is a victim of rape. Don’t blame her for this.”

I’m appreciative that Viktor is on my side but he doesn’t know the full truth. He doesn’t know that Ididgive myself willing to Dante. And that I would do it again and again.

That truth would break Viktor.

He probably wouldn’t be on my side after that and I need him to get me to Anya. He’s the only one who can right now.

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