Page 115 of Beautiful Deception

My dad’s eyes dart back and forth between Viktor and Finn. A rag is in his mouth, preventing him from speaking, but he can still grunt and groan.

“He tried to kill you, Viktor,” Finn says. “I remember you telling me. I remember how pissed off you were. And now this fucker got his daughter to make a fool out of you. Kill him.”

“No!” I shout, running forward but Finn brings his arm out and I smack right into it. I land on the floor with a groan.

“Finn,” Viktor snaps. “I told you to stop hurting Inessa.”

“But she deserves it. She’s been lying to you this whole time.”

“No,” I cry. “Please, Viktor. Please. You have to believe me.”

“Why should I?” he asks in a sad voice. “You married me. And now when this comes out, I’ll be made a fool all over again. You played the innocent victim against Natasha but you’re not a victim at all.”

“Please. I love you. I never meant to fall in love with you but I did.”

He averts his gaze but I can tell my words mean something to him.

“I just really needed a job. I just needed to make money to keep myself alive.”

“Then why give him any?” Finn asks, pointing at my dad.

“Because he’s my father and I love him despite everything. Please, Viktor. He gambled away all of our money. I came to you to plead for my dad’s life. But I needed the job. You kept me safe. Clothed. Fed. It’s more than my dad’s given me in years. Ever since my mom died.”

“I don’t even know if you’re speaking the truth right now,” Viktor growls. He’s never spoken so viciously towards me before. I know I deserve it but it still hurts.

“My mom is dead. She died when I was a teenager. In a car crash. Everything I told you was the truth. My dad gambled away our money. We had nothing.”

“But you’re friends with Elena. She’s a rich woman. She could have helped you.”

“She offered. But I couldn’t ask my friend to give me money. It’s not right. I wanted to work for it. I was out searching for a job when you offered the maid position to me. I took it. I told you the truth about my money problems and about my mom. I told you about my complicated relationship with my dad. All of that was true.”

“You just lied about who you really are though.”

I flinch. “Yes. I lied about my name. And about knowing you were in the Bratva. But other than that, everything I’ve told you has been the truth. My feelings are true, Viktor. Trust me. I never meant to fall in love with the man who tried to kill my father.”

“After he tried to kill me!” he shouts. His voice dominates the small motel room.

“I know,” I sob. “But I fell for you anyway. You made me feel safe. You made me feel seen. No one has ever done that for me before. You know me, Viktor. The parts of me that matter. You know those parts. I never lied about that.”

He turns away from me. “Your father tried to steal from me and kill me. He needs to die.”

“That was months ago. You could have done something then and you didn’t. Why now?”

“Because you’ve hurt me!”

I stumble back from him. “You always kept me safe. I felt so safe with you.”

Viktor is breathing heavy and staring at me with hurt in his eyes. Hurt I placed there. “And now?”

“Now I’m terrified. I want to believe you wont hurt me but I don’t really know, do I?”

“And who’s fault is that? You lied to me, Inessa. I never got to know the real you. Because of that, you never got to know the real me. This is the real me. A man born of violence and pain.”

“I’m sorry I lied. I know I’m hurting you right now. But Viktor, please don’t kill my dad. If you do, I’ll…”

“What?” Finn mocks. “Never forgive him? I don’t think he cares about that. You and Viktor are done.”

“This doesn’t concern you,” I snap at him.

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