Page 17 of Wicked Knight 2

“Go for it.” I stood back as she gently wiped Maxim’s inked skin. “A challenge?”

“Yeah. One of Papa’s spies. Maxim won.” She smiled at him. “Drowned Dominic in the water fountain downstairs.”

“Omigod.” I covered my mouth.

I grew up in a mafia world, but Aunt Vittoria kept me away from all the violence. She always thought we were too smart to get our hands dirty. Blood didn’t bother me. But I couldn’t imagine killing a man in cold blood.

“Dominic was the challenger. He got what he deserved.” She swiped dry blood from Maxim’s cheek and sobbed. “For a minute I didn’t think Maxim was going to make it, and then you showed up. Don’t take him from me.”

“I just want to go home.”

“I have to go.” She jumped off the bed. “Papa doesn’t like it when we serve lunch late.” She stopped to scan the room. “You haven’t eaten?”

“No. I’m not allowed to leave.”

“I’ll bring you lunch.” She patted my hand.

“Donata,” Maxim mumbled. “I didn’t kill her.” The rest was a string of Russian words I couldn’t even begin to make out.

“What is he saying?” I asked.

“He’s awake.” She pursed her lips. “It’s just his nightmares. He’s a restless sleeper. Give him the drugs before the guards hear him.” She rushed to the door and pressed her ear to it. “Do it,” she whisper-shouted.

“Wait. I need to ask him a few questions.” I placed my hand on his chest to calm him down. “Can you tell me your name?”

“Donata.” He mumbled again but didn’t open his eyes.

“He’s not really awake.” I faced Belinda. “What did he say?”

“I think he was dreaming about you.” Her gaze darted between me and him.

The pain I saw there cut me. I got the sense that maybe this romance between Maxim and Belinda was one-sided. Why else would Maxim be sleeping with a woman who loved him while also planning his vengeful wedding to a woman he hated. I stared at his disfigured face and all the old scars on his body. Maxim was ruthless—a monster without a heart. Just as Aunt Vittoria had always said about the Brotherhood.

In the next beat, Belinda whizzed past me and opened the door. “Tore, Donata is planning to escape. If you leave her in Maxim’s room, she’ll run.”

What the hell? She ratted me out. I pulled her toward me. “You’re making a mistake.”

“I’m doing this for your own good.” She yanked her arm away before she turned to Tore, the bodyguard. “You should take her back to her cell.”

“Please, don’t.” I put up my hands. “I promise I won’t try to leave. I can’t be in that place again” My heart thumped so hard; I thought I was going to throw up.

“Are you really going to risk it with Papa? What do you think he’ll do if you lose his mafia princess?” Belinda switched to Russian, bracing her hand on his shoulder.

“Papa said to keep her here. So Maxim can see her when he wakes up.”

“As you wish.” She gave him a one-shoulder shrug, as if she could take it or leave it. “But if she jumps out the terrace, it’ll be your hide.” She pointed at the French double doors.

Half an hour ago, she was desperate to send me away so she could keep Maxim to herself. What happened? I got that we weren’t friends. But at the very least, we had a common goal. She wanted me out of the way. And I most definitely wanted to be out of the way.

“I’ll be good. I promise.” I backed away from Tore when his facial expression changed from confused to determined. “No,” I screamed.

He moved so fast, I only got a couple of steps in before he trapped me into a bear hug from behind. My legs flailed without purpose, at first. But once I got the hang of it, I managed to land a few kicks to his shins. He groaned and loosened his hold on me. The door was opened, and he wasn’t blocking it. Maybe this was my chance to make a run for it.

I kicked and squirmed and screamed until he said through gritted teeth, “If you don’t stop your fighting, I will throw you in the cell with the dogs. I’m warning you. They haven’t eaten.”

A part of me wanted to believe that Maxim would want a bride with all her limbs. But honestly, these people were cruel. Maxim brought me here to enact his revenge. Maybe he already had plans to throw me to the dogs. I stopped, swallowing my tears. I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me suffer. Not anymore than I already had anyway.

“I’ll go quietly.”

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