Page 134 of Sinful Promise

I turn my head away from his touch, but I instantly regret it.

Igor fists my hair and yanks it hard so that I cry out.

He sneers. “Don’t ever look away from me when I’m talking to you.”

His face is so close to mine that his hot breath scorches my cheek.

I’m completely at his mercy. It would take nothing for him to take my head in his hands and snap my neck like a twig.

“If you promise to behave, I’ll make sure that you won’t suffer.” He loosens his grip on my hair just enough for the pain to stop. “It’s the least I can do really, considering what Danil is willing to do for you.”

My stomach turns to lead.

“W-what do you mean?”

“He’s willing to give up information on his family in order to protect you.”

Oh, Danil… What have you done?

“I knew Danil was going to be the weak link in the family. After all, he’s willing to do almost anything to prove to his brothers that he’s worthy of being a Koslov. It’s a little cliché if you ask me, but I suppose it’s all working out in my favor.”

To try and stop myself from screaming for Danil, I bite down on my lower lip so hard that blood fills my mouth.

“But there was a piece of the puzzle missing. I needed something, or rathersomeone, to use a little motivation to get Danil talking. So, I took a gamble on you, Emily Mullens. I had a gut feeling that your relationship was more than just platonic, but the evidence was consistently suggesting otherwise.”

Evidence?

Had Igor been spying on Danil and me all this time?

“That was, until one of my men spotted the two of you on the sidewalk one night, looking quite cozy together, and that solidified my plan.”

The night where Danil almost kissed me for the second time…

“So, my gamble paid off because Danil is willing to do whatever it takes to save your life. You picked a good one there, Emily.”

“Let him go.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Kill…me,” I grit out as I fight against the nausea. “Kill me instead.”

Igor muses as he releases his hold on my hair.

My head falls forward, and I wince at the stinging pain in my scalp.

“It’s a tempting offer. But what you’re offering isn’t enough.”

“What do you want?”

The corners of his mouth tilt up in a smile. “Many things, Emily. Many things.”

I wait for him to continue.

I figure the longer I keep his attention, the longer Danil stays alive.

“Ultimately, I want all the Koslovs dead.”

I try not to react to his words, though he must see something flash in my eyes as his smile only widens.

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