Page 83 of Beautiful Deception

“It’s not a theory. I think the girl is lying about something. You’re just too caught up in how much you like her to see the truth.”

I lean back in my seat with a sigh. “And what is that truth, exactly?”

“That Inessa may have connections to the Bratva and she’s been lying about it.”

I wait for him to say more and when he doesn’t, a laugh bubbles out of me. “You’re joking.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Finn, you can’t be serious. All of this just because you happened to see her at a motel a year ago? On the same day you were there? You could be mixing your days up. You could be mistaking Inessa for some other woman. It was a year ago and you didn’t even talk to her. You only saw her in passing. I’m sorry if I don’t trust your memory but I don’t trust your memory. Inessa has given me no reason to doubt her. I am going to marry her. End of discussion.”

“Fine. You marry her. But I’m going to do some digging and I’m shocked you’re not doing the same. This is the woman you will be marrying. The one who’s going to get all of your assets when you die. And you’re not going to dig into her past to make sure she is who she says she is?”

I stare at Finn for a long moment. He is someone who is not afraid to voice his opinions nor is he someone who trusts easily. I don’t trust either.

But I know Inessa is who she says she is.

“Finn, I did do some digging into Inessa. When I first hired her.”

“And?”

“And I didn’t find anything.”

“You mean you didn’t find anything suspicious or you didn’t find anything at all?”

I sigh. “I didn’t find anything at all,” I admit. “I couldn’t find any records on her. But that doesn’t mean anything. Not everyone has a record like we do. She does a good job and I’ve seen the way she behaves. I’ve known her for two months now. She’s been living in my house. I know who she is, Finn. I can tell she has a good heart. She might be using a different last name but I don’t care. She was a woman in need of a job and I gave it to her. She’s done a good job here. And now we’re getting married. She’s not going to fuck me over. I truly believe that.”

He scoffs and stands up, kicking the chair away. “You’re not a naïve fool, Viktor. So why are you acting like one right now?”

“What is one girl going to do to me? Huh? If she was part of some criminal organization, they would have hit my house already. And you didn’t see Inessa when she was lying beaten and bloody on the ground after having been kidnapped. If you had, you would have no reason to distrust her. She is an innocent woman. I can tell. And if you’re going to do this, then we can’t work together any longer.”

“Seriously? You’re going to be just like my brother and choose some girl over me?”

“We’re just business partners, Finn. We both want the same thing. To end Erik and Dante. That doesn’t make us friends. Now, I forbid you to go digging into Inessa.”

“Why? Worried I’ll find something you don’t like?”

I level a glare at him. “No. Because I care for Inessa and I’m not going to invade her privacy like that. I have honor. I always have. And I respect Inessa too much to violate her privacy like that. If she has secrets in her closet, then so be it. But if she does have any, I cannot imagine they are bad. Not enough to make me see her differently. I know in my gut I can trust her.”

“I think it’s your cock that trusts her. Not your gut.”

I rush over to him and shove him against the wall. “You will stop, Finn. I am going to marry Inessa and if it fucks me over, then so be it. I truly do not believe it will. You have one foggy memory of seeing her at the same motel on the day of Elena’s birthday party. Did you see her at the party itself?”

He scowls. “No.”

“Exactly. So you don’t know. Do not throw accusations at her without proof. And if I wanted to dig harder into her past, I could. But I don’t want to because I respect Inessa too much to do that. Now, I care for her and I’m going to marry her and that is the end of this discussion.”

I let him go.

“Now leave,” I growl.

Finn rightens his jacket as he mutters under his breath. “I think you’re going to regret this, Viktor.”

“Just go.”

He finally fucking leaves and I can get back to my work. But the second I try to focus, my mind is clouded with thoughts of Inessa.

What if Finn is right? What if, by some chance, Inessa is part of the Bratva?

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