Page 94 of Beautiful Revenge

“Just stating the truth,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “You are annoying and crazy and insane and an asshole.”

“I think you like that about me.”

“Oh no.” I turn away from him. “I’m not going to let you seduce me again.”

“Why not? I did it so well earlier. You came on my mouth, princess. I’ll never forget it and I don’t think you’ll ever forget it either.”

“I hate you,” I hiss.

“Not surprising. But you didn’t seem to hate me that much when you were moaning as I ate you out.”

I turn around and smack him across the face. “You did this to me. You kidnapped me and now you’re making me feel all these…thingsI don’t want to feel. It would be so much easier if you just died. Then I could move on with my life.”

“And if I don’t die?”

“Then I’ll be worried about you for every second of every day, just like your mom. Because for some inexplicable reason, Finn, I actually do care about you. You saved my life and that’s not something I’ll ever forget. But I hate you for putting me in this impossible situation. If you make me choose between you and my dad, then I’m choosing my dad.”

“Good to know where I stand,” he sneers.

“Yeah. Good. Why is it so hard for you to just be happy? If you made peace with Dante, you could live. We could try to start a life together. Why can’t you just do that?”

“Because I can’t! Because Dante pissed me off when he teamed up with Erik Koslov. My brother pissed me off when he left me in the dirt for some girl and joined ranks with Dante and Erik. I’m pissed, Aria. And I can’t let go of that anger.”

“Why not?”

“Why can’t you?”

I blink and take a step back. “What?”

“You’re full of anger too. I can sense it in you. It’s partly what drew me to you. Why can’t you let go of your own anger?”

“Because I’ve been used and abused by men since I was a child. You’re just another one who thinks he can tell me what to do. But my dad is the only person who has ever made me feel safe. Himand Dante. And now you’re going to keep me from them forever? I don’t like that.”

“Suck it up, princess. We all have to do things in life we don’t like.”

“Not when you’re kidnapped. Make peace, Finn. Or our life together is going to look like this. Constantly fighting. On the run. Me worried when the day comes I’ll find you dead. Worried that some other insane hitman is going to find me. I just want to feel safe and you can’t give that to me. You’re the opposite of safe.”

Finn goes quiet and stares down at me for a long moment before he backs away. “Fine. But I’m going to go kill that fucking hitman so you can feel safe. You don’t need your daddy and Dante to do that for you.” He storms out of the house.

I sit back down, all the energy drained out of me and pick up the gun and point it at the door. It’s going to be a long day.

Finn

I need to fucking kill Sal already.

I go back to the house where I saved Aria from. When I enter, I find it completely dark. Nobody is there.

I settle on the couch and wait to see if Sal will return. I wouldn’t be surprised if the fucker has security cameras. He probably can see me. If he wants to end this fight, then he needs to show up.

I can’t risk Aria’s safety like that again. Even though she annoys the fuck out of me, I care for her like I’ve never cared for anyone before outside of my mom and brother. She has wedged herself into my heart and I can’t seem to get rid of her.

I don’t want to.

I find it exhilarating fighting with her. How she stands up to me with that little defiance in her eyes. The way she looks so fierce as she yells at me. It makes me hard just thinking about it.

No woman has ever had this hold on me. I don’t mind that Aria does but now I’m struggling on what to do next. I need to kill Dante and Erik but if I kill Dante, Aria will never forgive me.

That leaves Erik. Maybe if I just kill him, it will weaken Dante enough that I won’t have to kill him. It will please Viktor if Erik is dead and I can work with him to gain power.

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