Page 103 of Beautiful Deception

“I just need space now.” Viktor’s protectiveness is a little suffocating. Having a guard follow me everywhere is annoying. I get why he’s doing it but that doesn’t make me happy.

That was the one good thing about being a poor Bratva woman with no connections. Dad never had the money to hire guards. I could be as obscure as I wanted to be.

Now, with Viktor, I’m in the limelight.

I stop in front of a café. “I just need some space. Wait in the car.” I hurry inside before the guard can object.

I order a coffee and take a seat near the back so no one can see me. I love Viktor and I’m happy with him. He showed me pleasure beyond anything imaginable yesterday. But we just got married and he’s already back to war with Erik and Dante. When will it ever end?

Can he ever put his pride aside and focus just on us?

I worry that it’s not going to take long before someone figures out who I am and then… what?

What am I going to do?

“Inessa?”

The cold voice of Natasha makes me sit up in my seat. She’s standing by my table.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “Are you following me?”

“I come here all the time. It’s not my fault you’re here. I have to wonder ifyou’refollowingme.”

Pure coincidence brought me and Natasha back together again.

“Viktor and I are married now,” I blurt out. “So you can’t hurt me any longer.”

She makes a big show of looking around the room. “I don’t see Viktor here at the moment. You’re only safe when he’s around.” She tosses her coffee right onto me.

The steaming hot water makes me scream and jump to my feet. People look in my direction but no one comes to help.

“Whoops,” Natasha says, giving me a wink. “Sorry about your dress. Coffee stains are a bitch to get out. And remember, Inessa.” She lowers her voice. “Just because you’re married to Viktor, doesn’t make you invincible. I will kill you one day.” She flashes me a cheerful smile before walking away.

I dab at my dress but the coffee stain is going nowhere. At least the scalding hot water is abating though. I won’t be surprised if I get another burn because of Natasha.

Feeling shaky, I go back to my car.

The guard gives me a curious look. “What happened?”

“Nothing.” I hold back my tears. It’s not this guard I want to comfort me. It’s Viktor. I need to tell him about Natasha’s threat. I need to feel safe for once in my life.

The moment I get home, I search for Viktor but I don’t find him.

“Mrs. Green.” I interrupt her cleaning the dishes. “Is Viktor here?”

“He went out on some business. That’s all I know.”

I can’t hold back my tears any longer. They come spilling down my face.

“Oh, child. What’s the matter?”

“I just need Viktor.” I need my husband.

Mrs. Green awkwardly pats my arms with her sudsy fingers. “I’m sorry. You’re just going to have to wait for him to return home.”

I pace around the house for hours before Viktor finally returns.

The moment he does, I feel a spark of anger. From what Aiden said, I know he got into another fight with Dante and Erik.

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