Page 117 of Beautiful Enemy

And then I hear something that chills me to the bone.

Screaming. Pure, utter raw screaming.

Dante. I know it’s his voice.

My body propels me forward and I run down the stairs past Anya.

“Nadia,” she hisses, following right behind.

I stop short when I reach the basement. Dante’s hands are in cuffs chained to the ceiling. His head is thrown back and his eyes are squeezed shut. I’ve never seen him look so vulnerable and weak before. In so much pain.

So afraid.

My father holds a small saw that he’s using to cut Dante’s skin over his chest. Viktor and Erik stand side by side, watching the proceedings with gleeful eyes. I always knew that these men had the capacity for torture but seeing it with my own eyes is the most terrifying thing in my entire life.

Erik notices me first. “Stop!”

My father turns the saw off and looks over his shoulder. “What?” Then his eyes land on me and Anya. “Girls. What the fuck are you doing here?”

“How did you find us?” Erik asks.

“The tracker on your phone,” Anya explains.

Both Viktor and Father level Erik with an annoyed look.

Erik sighs and ignores them both. “You two need to leave. This isn’t a place for women.”

Dante’s breathing is ragged but at least that means he’s still alive. I rush over to his side.

“Nadia, get out of the way,” Father growls.

“Or what? You’re going to use that saw on me?” I know neither Erik or Viktor will let that happen but my father looks like he’s considering it for just a moment.

“Dante,” I murmur, stroking his head.

His eyes blink open. “Nadia? Is this heaven?” His lips twitch into a tiny smile. How he manages to still make a joke, I have no idea.

“It’s not heaven. It’s real life. I’m here. I’m going to save you.”

“You most certainly will not,” Father says. “Erik, get them out of here.”

Anya raises her finger. “Erik, if you take one step towards me, so help me, I will scream. I love you but I love my sister too and I need to help her.”

“What is going on?” Viktor demands. “I don’t understand. This man kidnapped you, Nadia. He raped you. Why are you here? Out of everyone in this room, you should want him dead the most.”

“Because he didn’t rape me.” Here it goes. Viktor needs to know the truth.

Everyone goes silent. It’s somehow louder than the sound of the saw.

“What?” Viktor asks in a low voice.

“Dante didn’t rape me.” I force myself to meet Viktor’s eyes. “I gave myself to him. Willingly. He didn’t force me.”

“But… he kidnapped you.”

“He did. But he never forced me to be with him. I chose that on my own. I don’t hate Dante. In fact… I think I love him.”

That causes a commotion.

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