Page 123 of Beautiful Enemy

“I want a home. I don’t have any parents or siblings. My dad got drunk and died because of his actions and my mom killed herself because of it. I don’t want to destroy the one good thing I have in my life.”

“You won’t destroy me.”

“I’m going to try not to.”

I cup his face. “Dante, you have that power. You have the ability to be happy. All you have to do is put aside your anger and let love in. My father scared me all my life but with him gone, I’ve never felt more free.”

“You won’t miss him?”

“Truthfully, no. I won’t have to keep looking over my shoulder constantly, waiting for him to hurt me again. I’m free of him and if I can be free of him, you can be free of your anger. Of your need for vengeance. If Aria, who was kidnapped, was able to put aside her anger for me, despite what my father did to her, then you can put aside your anger for Erik. He was just trying to protect me and Anya. He’s always done that. And you can’t be angry with someone just trying to protect the people they love.”

“I guess you have a point.” He kisses my hand. “You’re so smart, baby. I’m not good enough for you.”

“It’s not about that. It’s about what will make me happy and you can make me happy.”

“Yeah? How can I do that?”

“By making an honest woman out of me. By marrying me and doing right by me. By ending this war. By choosing love over hate.”

Dante looks at me for a long moment before he leans over and gives me a gentle kiss. “I can do that.”

My heart feels truly free for the first time in my life.

I go to live with Anya and Erik while Dante is kept in a safehouse, guarded by Erik’s men, just to make sure he doesn’t renege on his deal.

Anya keeps hovering over me as my arm heals. It gets to be too much.

“I love you but you need to give me some space,” I tell her as I watch TV on the couch.

“I just want to make sure you’ll be ok.”

I pause the TV. “My arm is hurt. Not my entire body. I can move and get around. I don’t need you hovering over me all day long.”

“You know I worry.”

“Come here.” I pat the spot beside me and she sits down. “I learned to take care of myself when I was with Dante. I learned how to be brave and strong. You’ll always be my sister but I can do some things on my own. Ok?”

Her eyes get watery. “I know. I’m just going to miss you when you marry Dante. I’m worried he’ll never let me see you.”

“He won’t keep us apart. He’s not like Father was. Trust me on that.”

“Ok. I’ll trust you.”

The front doorbell rings and Edith, Erik and Anya’s housekeeper answers the door. After a moment Viktor enters the living room. “Nadia. I wanted to speak to you for a moment.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Anya says, giving my hand a squeeze. She knows I can handle this on my own.

Viktor remains standing even after Anya leaves the room. “I just wanted to make sure you were sure.”

“About?”

“About Dante.”

He looks so strong and weak at the same time. The infamous Viktor Smirnov. He can be nervous just like any other man.

“I’m sure,” I tell him. “I never wanted to hurt you. That wasn’t my intent. I hope that you can find happiness and peace in your life.”

“I don’t agree with you marrying Dante. In fact, I don’t agree with working with the Italians at all. But Erik wants to and so I have to get on board if I want any say in how things are run. I will marry Elena Romanov and do my duty. I just wanted you to know that I don’t think less of you for wanting to be with Dante.”

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