Page 57 of Beautiful Enemy

And yet, he prevented Finn from killing Anya. He could have let Finn kill her just to hurt me.

But he stopped it.

I know Dante is right. Anya will now think there’s a chance to save me. I never should have gone back to her.

I never should have escaped at all.

My father had it instilled in me to keep my head down and do as I’m told. I always listened because it was just easier. But I was a kicked horse when it came to him.

I thought for a moment today I could have my freedom back but I’m just another kicked horse when it comes to Dante. I should have just kept my head down and been the good girl I always was.

Because now both me and Anya will be punished for this.

That breaks my heart most of all.

Dante storms inside the ranch house, keeping his hand on my arm so I can’t go anywhere.

Matteo jumps up from the couch. “What’s goingon?”

“Nadia escaped and went back to her sister’s. I just managed to get her back thanks to Finn. But he tried to kill Anya.”

“Fuck.” Matteo runs his hand down his face. “That’s not good.”

“No it’s not fucking good. It’s only going to piss Erik off more, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it’s going to put him on a fucking war path. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for him. I don’t want him finding this place.”

“Understood. But, uh, Dante, can I speak to your privately?”

“Later. I need to deal with Nadia.”

I look to Matteo for help but he only nods and backs away, leaving me to Dante. Matteo works for Dante after all. He’ll never choose me over his boss.

Dante brings me back into the bedroom and kicks the door shut. The large bang makes me jump. Memories of my father throwing and kicking and punching things runs through my mind, causing me to whimper and wrap my arms around myself. If I just get small enough, then maybe my father can’t hurt me.

But it’s not my father who speaks to me. It’s Dante. “Nadia.” His voice is a lot softer. “Look at me.”

“You’re going to hurt me. You said so yourself.”

“I’m not going to hit you. Not like your father.”

“But how else are you going to punish me? It’s what my father did.”

“I know. But almost killing your sister seems like punishment enough. Keeping you from her hurts you both.”

I force myself to look up at him. “You don’t have to do this, Dante. You can let go of your anger. You can end this war.”

“But to do that I’d have to let you go.” He slowly approaches me and sets his hands on my waist. I instantly feel warmer and have to resist the urge to lean into his touch. “And I don’t want to let you go.”

“Just to hurt me? To hurt my family?”

“Yes,” he growls, placing his head against mine. “But also… Fuck.”

“What?”

“You are mine, Nadia. I meant that. I want you to be mine so fucking badly.”

“But you hate me. Why would you want me to be yours?”

He cups my face and runs his thumb over my lips. “You’re so innocent sometimes. I do hate you. You’re the Bratva. Your father and sister and brother-in-law have all tried to kill me. And yet, I want toravageyou. I want to throw you on that bed and make me yours.”

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