Page 112 of Beautiful Deception

I find Inessa in the living room, reading a book. She looks so innocent. She looks so content.

She’s given me all of herself. She’s trusted me to care for her.

Was that all a lie?

“Inessa,” I say more sharply than I mean.

She flinches a little and sets the book down. “Viktor?”

“There’s something I need to ask you and I need you to be honest with me.” I’m going to give her this one chance to tell me the truth and if she can’t…

“What is it?”

“Is your real name Inessa Petrov?”

She goes perfectly still. “I…”

“And is your father Gleb Petrov?”

She bows her head for a long moment before she says… “No.”

“So your father didn’t try to kil me? And you didn’t know anything about that?”

She meets my eyes head on. “Viktor… I...”

“Don’t lie to me,” I growl. She gasps. Seeing the fear in her eyes – fear forme– stings.

But she’s the one who lied.

“Ok,” she whispers. “Yes. My real name is Inessa Petrov and Gleb Petrov is my father.”

“So why did you lie right now when I asked?”

“Because… because I don’t want you to kill my father. And… I don’t want you to kill me.”

I take a step back. My chest feels like it’s going to cave in. “So… you knew your father tried to kill me.” It’s not a question.

“Yes,” she says, her shoulders slumping.

“Is that why you married me? To somehow get all my money? Are you working with your dad to try and kill me again?”

“What? Viktor, no!”

“I don’t believe you!” I shout, making her flinch again. “You lied to me. You lied to me about who you really are. Do you belong to the Bratva? Do you know Aiden Murphy and his wife, Elena?”

“Elena is my best friend,” she whispers, dipping her chin to her chest.

I suck in a breath. “So… you’ve known about the Bratva? Before you met me?”

“Yes. My father used to do business for… the Bratva. I met Elena in high school. I was there at her birthday party. The day Finn and Aiden kidnapped her.”

“So, Finn was right in that he saw you that day.”

“Yes.”

“But you lied about it.”

“Yes.” It comes out as a sob. I will not let myself feel bad for her even though everything inside of me wants to comfort her. She is not innocent. Natasha and Finn were right.

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