Page 117 of Beautiful Deception

I lied out of fear. I’m not proud of it. But I can’t be scared anymore. It’s only led me to make bad decisions.

Viktor gasps and drops the knife to the floor. Only a small nick is on my father’s skin. Otherwise, he’s alive.

“You and me,” he says, “are done. I won’t kill your dad. But we’re over. I don’t want to see you back at the house. I’ll send your clothes to you here. You can stay in this shitty motel with your dad where you belong.”

“Viktor,” I whisper as tears stream down my face.

He picks his knife back up and heads outside.

All the energy leaves me and I slump to the floor and ignore my dad’s muffled pleas to release him.

Viktor

“Is he dead?” Finn asks the second I walk out of the motel room.

“Finn, not now.”

“Is he? I want to see the body. Take a selfie with it.”

“You’re a sick bastard.” I stop him from going into the room. “I didn’t kill him.”

Finn stares at me for a beat too long before he runs to the room. I grab him and shove him back.

“Why the fuck didn’t you kill him?”

I shove him to the car. “Just get in.”

“It’s because of Inessa, isn’t it? After she lied to you, you still feel bad for her? What is her gift? Does she have a magical pussy? Because I’m starting to think she has a magical pussy.”

I punch him so hard he flops right to the ground. “Do not talk about Inessa like that. She and I are done. End of discussion. But I will not have you treat her like that.”

“Did you spare her father’s life in the hopes that you’ll get back together one day?” He rubs his jaw as he stands back up. “Because I hate to break it to you, Viktor. There’s no fucking way you’re getting back with her.”

“Just stop talking.” I get into the car and start to drive away but Finn quickly opens the passenger door and gets inside.

“Fine. I’ll stop mocking you for your decision. That bitch deserved to watch her father die though after she lied to you. If some girl did that to me, she’d be dead.”

“That’s because you hate women.”

“Not true. I hate everyone. Not just women. Men piss me off just as much. Case in point: you. You’re pissing me off right now. You didn’t kill Gleb when you had the chance.”

“I can always kill him later.”

He scoffs. “No. If you didn’t take it now, you’re never going to. Why? Is it because you actually care for her?”

I grip the steering wheel tighter.

“Holy shit. It’s because you actually love her.”

“Why the fuck do you think I married her?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. To fuck her?”

“I did love her. At least, the Inessa I thought I knew. But we’re done. I’ll get a divorce soon enough. And she’ll be out of my life for good.”

Finn is silent for a long time. Just when I finally start to relax, he speaks again. “Do you really mean that? Will you actually kick Inessa out of your life forever?”

“Yes.” Because there’s no other option.

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