Page 42 of To Love a Monster
“I’ve been around long enough to know what it means when a man starts using words like ‘with my life.’Nikolai, you didn’t sign up to feel anything for her.I didn’t hire you for that.”His gaze holds mine, unwavering.“But it seems like it’s already too late, doesn’t it?”
He flicks ash off the end of his cigarette, the ember burning low, like something dangerous waiting for breath.“Men who let emotion steer the wheel tend to make messy choices.They don’t see the angles.They react instead of calculate.They put themselves between the girl and the bullet without thinking about where the next one’s coming from.And that.That is what worries me, Nikolai.”He just studies me like he’s seen this before.Like he already knows the ending.
The silence stretches between us, thick with what neither of us is willing to say out loud, but I don’t flinch, don’t deny or try to justify.I just shift the weight back to what matters.
“I’m not saying she gets everything,” I say finally, my voice quiet but firm.“But if she knows enough, if she understands that someone who is getting close to her isn’t who he says he is, then we have a better shot.She might even be able to help us set the trap.”
That snaps him upright.“You’re not using my daughter as bait, Nikolai.”The quiet fury in his voice is like a gun cocking.
“I wouldn’t be suggesting this if I thought there was a better way and I would never do it without her consent,” I say.“We have until tomorrow night.That’sour only window of opportunity.Carl won’t move until then—he thinks everything is going to plan.He’s too comfortable at the moment, which also makes him an easy target until backup arrives and we have an even bigger shit storm to handle.This is about getting the upper hand, Matteo.Something we don’t have right now.Somethingtheydo.But if Lila knows what’s coming, she becomes the one thing they don’t expect.”Matteo’s face is stone, but his silence carries weight.
I pause, jaw tight.“This is the perfect time to hit back.If she helps, if she’s aware and prepared, I can catch him off guard.Corner him.And we cut the Syndicate off before they ever lay a hand on her.”
The room on his side of the screen is thick with smoke and stillness.Then he finally speaks.“I don’t like it.”
“I know.Trust me, Matteo.I don’t either.” He stares at me like he’s trying to read between every word.But finally, he says it.
“Fine.I trust you, Nikolai.”The words are simple, but they land like steel.Then his gaze sharpens, a final flicker of something colder beneath the surface.
“Don’t make me regret this.”A pause.“You fuck it up, and you won’t need to worry about the Syndicate coming for you.”Another breath.“Because I’ll get there first.”
I nod once, then add, “I’m going to need proof.Something that shows her this isn’t just me spinning some story to turn her against Carl.She won’t believe speculation, she’s smarter than that.”
Matteo's voice drops low.“What kind of proof do you need that you don’t already have access to?”
“I don’t know.Photos.Records showing he was watching her before she ever met him.Surveillance, timestamps, location trails, anything that proves I’m telling the truth.I want something that she can hold in her hands.Something official.Something real.Because if I don’t have that, she won’t believe any of it.”
He’s quiet for a long moment.Then he says “You’ll have it within the hour.I say nothing as I get ready to end the call but then Matteo nods once.“Oh, and Nikolai?”
I pause.“Yes.”
“Don’t just stop him.”A pause.“Make sure you send a message.”Then the screen fades to black.He hired me to protect her.And I will.But I’m done lying to her.Whatever version of the story Matteo wants told, too bad.I’m doing this my way.
Chapter Sixteen
Lila
