Page 117 of Beautiful Sinner

“Julia left and I need to find her. I know you hate me now, Erik. But I’m not here to fight. I’m here to find my sister.”

“I don’t believe you. You’ve been killing a lot of my men over this past year.”

“Then fine. Take me in. Torture me. Kill me. But then you’ll never have peace. A lot of my men will seek revenge. I need to find Julia and I need to tell her that I’ve accepted her and Matteo. I… I’ll make peace, Erik. I mean it this time.”

He rocks back on his heels and crosses his arms. “Oh, so now that you’ve lost someone you care about, you’re finally willing to make peace?”

“Don’t be an asshole. You wanted peace for a long time. Are you really going to pass it up? I’m offering it to you on a silver platter.”

“I’ll admit. I’m tempted. I do want peace. I know all about Julia and Matteo. I thought it was brilliant actually. Your sister and Dante’s second in command. It’s the perfect marriage for peace.”

“Contact Dante. Tell him I’m looking for Julia. That I’m done fighting. I swear it. You know me, Erik. You know I’d do anything to protect my sister.”

He wavers before he nods. “I do know that. Ok. I’ll call Dante. Let’s set up a meeting and discuss this.” He calls Dante but after a long moment, he lowers the phone. “He’s not answering.”

“Then keep trying. I need my sister to know that I don’t blame her anymore. That I still love her.”

Erik keeps trying but Dante keeps not answering. “Come with me. We’ll wait at one of my restaurants until Dante gets back to us.”

“You mostly want to keep an eye on me, don’t you?”

“Can you blame me? I want to make sure that what you’re saying is sincere. That you really want peace.”

“You’re not just leading me to my death, are you?”

“I considered it but I can see in your eyes that you’re desperate to save Julia. I know you mean it. You wouldn’t be doing something so risky like going to Dante’s properties, looking for her, without meaning what you say. You have no reason to trust me, Viktor, and I have no reason to trust you. But let’s start now. I won’t kill you. I do want peace. I’ve always wanted it. And this way, we can become such a powerful force in this city that no one will ever get in our way again.”

“Ok. I’ll come with you. This a show of my own trust. I am trusting you not to kill me.” It’s taking all of my strength not to let my pride win. I have to do this, for Julia.

Matteo

Dante and I have twenty men with us when we attack Viktor’s house. They all quickly shoot down his guards and we storm into the large mansion.

The housekeeper screams at the sight of us with our guns drawn.

“Don’t shoot her,” I say. “She’s innocent. Search the house. I want Julia found and I want Viktor dead.”

Dante nods. “There’s the friend I remember. Never lose sight of it again.”

The men search the whole house and come up empty except for Inessa. They bring her into the foyer and shove her at my feet.

“Careful,” I snap, helping Inessa up. She’s still innocent in all of this.

“Matteo. What are you doing here?” She looks around at all the men as her face turns paler. “What have you done?”

“Viktor would have killed me. You saw it. He’ll never change. I’m taking Julia, Inessa. And I’m killing Viktor. There will never be peace. I see that now.”

“No, wait,” she gasps. “Julia is gone. She’s not here. Viktor went out in search of her. He wants to make amends with Julia. Trust me. He told me himself. He wants to make peace. He thinks she’s with you. He wants to tell you that he’ll agree to your marriage. He just wants Julia in his life. You have to believe me.”

Dante scoffs. “You’re telling me that Viktor, the stubborn as a fucking mule Viktor, has suddenly changed his mind at the last second? Right when we stormed into your house?”

She ignores him and keeps her eyes on me. “Matteo, you know enough. Do I look like I’m lying? You just screwed everything up by doing this. Viktor will never forgive you now. You had your chance. You should have just laid low.”

Doubt starts to creep inside of me. What if Inessa is telling the truth?

“Don’t listen to her,” Dante snaps. “Let’s just find Julia and kill Viktor. Where are they?”

“I don’t know!” Inessa screams. “Seriously. Julia left. I think she went to you but clearly that’s not the case. Viktor is out looking for her now.”

---