Page 148 of Tarnished Tyrant (Zhukova Bratva 1)

“You’re en—” I shake my head. “Since when?”

“It’s been in the works for quite a while,” she says with a vicious smile. She can see how much this hurts me. I’m not exactly concealing it very well. “But it became official last week.”

My vision swims. For a moment, I actually think I might faint.

I’ve been sleeping with a married man. Or a soon-to-be-married man, at least. Nikolai promised himself to someone else and then spent a week fucking me silly.

I guess I really was the dirty little secret after all.

Maybe Nikolai says something just then. I can’t be sure because my ears are ringing. Blood is thrumming through my veins, and I want to cry.

But I won’t cry here. Not in front of him. Not in front of all of these people.

I have to get out of here.

First things first, though…

A waiter walks by with a tray of appetizers. Exquisite timing. Tiny little crackers topped with a soft white cheese and a dollop of some kind of jam. Whatever it is, it looks messy. Perfect for what I have in mind.

I yank the tray out of the waiter’s hands and smash it into Nikolai’s chest.

The crowd gasps as the tray clatters to the floor. I can’t lift my eyes any higher than the red jam smeared across the front of Nikolai’s suit. If I do, I’ll see his gray eyes—and then I’ll definitely cry.

So without another word, I turn and sprint for the exit.

As far as I’m concerned, this party is over.

35

NIKOLAI

The elevator doors have already closed, but when I hit the button, they slide open again.

And there’s Belle.

Her arms are crossed over her chest and her eyes are red and puffy. She’s crying. As soon as she sees me, her spine straightens. “Stay away from me.”

“Belle—”

“I’ll scream,” she warns. “I’ll scream so fucking loud, I swear.”

The doors try to close, but I hold them open. “Okay. Do it. Scream.”

“Are you deaf? I said I’ll—”

“You’ll scream, I know.” I nod. “And what do you think will happen? Everyone here works for me, Belle. Do you think they’ll save you?”

The fear in her eyes shifts to full-blown terror as she realizes how isolated she is.

“Rethinking your decision to come to Iceland with me?” I ask.

“I’m rethinking everything. I was… I was so stupid,” she whispers, her fists clenching at her sides. “I knew who you were and what you’ve done, but I came with you anyway. I should have known better.”

“And who am I?” I stalk into the elevator.

Belle presses herself flat against the back wall. “A filthy, lying criminal.”

“I’m a criminal. I’ll give you that.”

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