Page 81 of Beautiful Deception

“Ah, Inessa. Just heard the good news about you and Vik.” His eyes lazily turn to Mrs. Green. “Give us a moment alone.” It’s not a question. It’s an order.

Mrs. Green hurries away. So much for protecting me.

“Is Viktor home?” I ask.

“I just talked to him. I was on my way out when I realized I hadn’t had the chance to wish you congratulations. I wanted to do that before I left.”

“Ok. You’ve done it. Now you can go.” Finn frightens me like no one else does. He killed Elena’s father. He helped kidnap Nadia. He works as a hitman. If there’s anyone to fear, it’s him.

Finn’s dark smile encroaches on his face as he gets closer to me. I try backing up but when I bump into the wall, I realize there’s nowhere else for me to go.

“You know, I was thinking of why you looked so familiar to me.”

“We met at Viktor’s club.”

“I know we did. But even then you looked familiar.”

My heart begins to beat fast and sweat forms on my body. My limbs tense and my throat chokes up. If Finn knows who I am, then I’m screwed.

“Can’t help you there,” I say, trying to get past him but he blocks my path.

“I figured it out, you know.”

“What?”

“It was a year ago. At a hotel. I went there to… well, let’s just say have some fun.”

Kidnap Elena, he means.

“I remember seeing you there. You were leaving as I was entering. Our eyes met for just a moment. I’ll be honest. I thought you were pretty. A pretty face always sticks in my mind.”

I avert my gaze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“But see… the interesting thing is that at that hotel, there was a birthday party happening.”

Elena’s nineteenth birthday party.

“A birthday party for a woman who belongs to the Bratva. Why would a little maid like you be at a party like that?”

“You have me mistaken. Besides, it sounds like it was at a hotel. A lot of people visit hotels from all different walks of life.”

“True. But something in my gut tells me that you were at that party. Who are you, Inessa?”

I force myself to look him right in the eye. “I am just a maid who happened to fall in love with her boss and now I’m marrying him. You are wrong in your memory. My father kept me away from parties and things like that. I was never at a hotel last year.”

He leans in closer to me. “I remember seeing you. I know I’m right.”

“I will scream for Viktor to come to me if you don’t back up.”

He smirks and slowly takes a step away from me. “Have a nice day, Inessa.” With a wink, he leaves the house.

Feeling shaky, I slump to the ground. Oh no. Finn recognized me from last year. It’s sort of impressive since we never spoke. We only happened to look at each other for a second and then I left. The only reason I know him is because of what he did to Elena.

I’m desperate to go to Elena for advice but I can’t risk Viktor or one of his guards following me to her apartment and putting two and two together.

Viktor finds me like this on the floor. “Inessa?” He rushes to my side. “Are you all right? Hurt?”

He helps me stand back up. “No. Just feeling… lightheaded for some reason. I think I need food.”

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