Page 22 of Merciless Sinner

“No.”

“Did he hurt you?” He glances at my face and seems to take in the bruise that formed after Petr hit me.

“Yes.” I blink back tears.

Virgo clenches his jaw, and the fury I witnessed at the club returns. “Did he do anything else to you?”

I shake my head slowly. “He was going to rape me, but someone called him to tell him about his wife.” My voice turns croaky with emotion. “He left. I fell asleep, and when I woke up, he was next to me. Dead. The two of us were covered in blood. The police think I did it. I didn’t.”

“The girl I used to know hates guns.” He speaks in a listless voice, as if lulling me into a dream. “She wouldn’t even kill a fly, let alone a person in such a violent way. But since you told me I must be mistaken, I guess I don’t really knowyou.”

Menace lights up his eyes, and I catch a glimpse of his power. It’s dark and demanding. As powerful as night chasing away daylight and owning the moon and the stars in the sky.

I’ve only crossed paths with one Bratva boss, and that was just before he killed a man for stealing from him. The man didn’t even get to say two words to explain himself before a bullet was wedged between his eyes and blood splattered everywhere.

That happened when I was with Flavio. We went to this underground club to meet up with the bastards I now owe money.

As I look at Virgo, I detect the same ruthlessness. There’s no wonder if he would kill exactly like that, or act like the Hell god I’ve christened him to be.

“I told you not to go with Petr.” Virgo inclines his head and gives me the I-told-you-so look to match his words.

“Why are you here?” I lift my chin higher, as if I still have control of this situation. I know I don’t, but I want to know his angle.

“That’s a good question, given the fact I don’t know you. I shouldn’t be here, should I? Unless you are indeed my Olivia,Alice.” He searches my eyes, and something inside me slips. “Are you?”

“Tell me why you’re here.” My voice shakes, but I keep my breathing steady, hoping to regain control of my body.

“I’m here to make you an offer.”

“An offer?” I keep my eyes locked with his. “What kind of offer could you give me?”

“One you’d be foolish to refuse.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you are theonlysuspect in Petr's murder. There was no one in the house but you when the police arrived. You were covered in his blood. Your prints were in his bed. He was all over you. The police are booking you in for murder. You don't have a hope in hell of fighting this even with a good lawyer.” He almost sounds as if he’s taking pleasure in this. “From the negligible state of your bank account, I don't think you could afford one.”

I already feared everything he’s laying out before me, but the confirmation of truth ignites my nerves with unquenchable terror.

Virgo can see it written all over my face as clearly as if I’d tattooed it into my skin. He doesn’t need whatever method he’s using to get intel on me to find out how bad my bank account is or where I’ll be, and when.

“I didn't kill Petr,” I rasp out.

“I believe you.” He nods. “But your testimony is as good as shit because you’re the prime suspect.”

“If I'm a prime suspect, how the hell canyouhelp me? What hope do I have?”

“Sweetheart, you’ll come to know that I can do many things and people like the police wouldn't dare challenge me. If I believe you didn’t kill Petr,they'llbelieve you. If I say you didn’t kill him, then you didn’t kill him, whether you did or not. I can make this little problem of yours disappear as quickly as smoke after a fire.” His don’t-fuck-with-me attitude ripples off him in powerful waves, mingling with the musky scent of his cologne. “I can do all of that for you, but you have to accept my offer.”

God, the last thing I wanted was to be more trapped than I am.

But how could I be more trapped than being imprisoned from murder?

That would be forlife.

If I don’t accept whatever he’s offering me, I’m looking at spending the rest of my living days behind bars knowing I will die there.

That is what my future looks like after the mistakes that led me here.

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