Page 134 of Beautiful Deception

Her nod is barely there but it’s there. Inessa is here. She’s still alive.

But she’s hurt because I didn’t protect her and I will hold onto that shame for the rest of my life.

The paramedics finally arrive. Erik helps them into the basement where they tend to Inessa. They look at the dead bodies but don’t comment on them.

They quickly get her on a gurney and carry her out to an ambulance. A cop car is there.

Erik nods at the officer and talks with him quietly.

Dante steps up beside me as Inessa is put into the ambulance. “This doesn’t change anything, Viktor. You will not insult Aria by backing out. If you do, we’ll still be at war.”

“Don’t threaten me, Dante.” I know I’m choosing Inessa. There’s no other option.

Bring on another war.

Chapter Twenty

Inessa

Whenmyeyesopen,the first thing I see is Viktor.

He’s seated in a chair, his chin to his chest, breathing heavy like he’s asleep. I blink my eyes more to take in my surroundings. It’s a hospital room from the bed I’m in to the monitor next to me to the IV bag dangling above me.

I turn my head in the other direction and see Julia there, reading a book. She glances up at me and gasps. “You’re awake.” She rushes over to Viktor’s side and shakes him.

He instantly jerks up. “What”?”

“Inessa’s awake.”

He turns to me. I’m expecting anger and disgust in his expression, but instead… it’s warm and soft.

“Sweetheart?” He takes my hand. For a moment, I’m tempted to pull away but his hand feels too good on mine. “How do you feel?”

I groan as I try to speak. “Not good. Tired.”

“You were hurt really badly. I’m so sorry. I should have been there for you. I should have protected you. I failed you.”

It hits me: what Natasha did, what her men did, how Viktor killed her. The pain I experienced.

“A mirror,” I croak out.

“Are you sure you want to see yourself?” Julia asks.

“I want to see.”

With a nod, she heads into the bathroom and comes out with a small mirror and holds it up to my face. What I see startles me so much, I almost can’t move. My face is swollen and bruised. My left eye is swollen shut. My cheeks are red and puffy. I have a nasty black eye over my right one.

“Oh my god,” I whisper.

Julia quickly lowers the mirror. “But you’re ok now. Those men are gone. Natasha is… gone.”

I try to keep my composure but I can’t hold back my tears from streaming down my face. “I deserve this. For lying.”

“No,” Viktor says roughly. “You don’t deserve this. I was an asshole to you, Inessa. I kicked you out when I knew Natasha was still a threat. I let my pride get the best of me.”

“But I hurt you.”

“You did,” he admits. “But I should have let you stay at the house until we could figure things out. I still should have protected you. This is on me.”

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