Page 49 of Beast

“Yes, even if it means going up against you and the whole Bratva to do it. We are mates.” I snarled a warning. “And nothing can separate us. Not even death.”

“If you let us go, I swear I won’t tell anyone about Uncle Maxim or this. You can say whatever you want to justify the vow you made with Dmitri.”

“Or I can kill him for you,” I offered because I already hated whoever this was who her dad wanted her to marry. “No groom, no wedding.”

“That would start a war.” He frowned, pointing the gun at my head.

“And who profits most from a war?” I mocked. “Whoever is on the winning side. Whoever is pulling the strings from behind the scenes.”

He snorted and his grip on the gun loosened, except he didn’t lower it. “You’re not as stupid as I thought you were.” After a glance at his daughter, he sighed. “Leave us. I need to speak with Natalia.”

I tensed, my fists clenched, ready for a fight, and Natalia faced me.

“Don’t. If he wanted to kill us, he’d have done it already.”

I ground my teeth, glaring over her head at him. “I don’t want to leave you alone with him.” What if he took her? What if he changed his mind and shot her?

“If he does anything, you have my permission to kill him however you like.” She briefly brushed her lips over mine.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I walked away. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. I walked to the sand dune and turned to watch them. I couldn’t hear everything they said with the waves crashing in, and I did my best not to try and eavesdrop, but my gaze was locked on him. And I knew he was recalling our previous conversation back at his place.

If I sensed danger, if I thought he was going to hurt her or take her, I would attack.

20

NATALIA

Istood in front of my father, the man who had always been a constant presence in my life. But as I looked at him now, I saw a stranger. A man who had killed my uncle and trafficked women for money and power.

“How could you do this?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and betrayal. “You always told me that family was everything. And yet, you’ve shown me that all you care about is your own selfish desires.”

My father’s face remained impassive, his cold brown eyes giving away nothing. “You think love runs the world? Nyet,” he said calmly. “Power and money are the only things that matter. And I will do whatever it takes to get them.”

I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. This was the man who had raised me, the man who had treated me like a princess when I did whatever he wanted. The wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“You’re wrong,” I said. “Love does matter. Without it, power and money won’t make you happy. You’ll always want more and things will never satisfy you.”

He snorted, not understanding or unwilling to accept my words. “Love is a luxury. It won’t feed your children or protect them from danger. Power and money will.”

I stepped back, feeling a chill run through me. “There’s always someone else with more money and power than you. Or someone waiting in the shadows to take you down. Love, on the other hand, can never be taken away.”

He didn’t look convinced.

“So, you’re willing to sacrifice me to get what you want?” I spat, shaking my head. “You’re a coward. I can’t believe I respected you for so many years.”

He said with a soft chuckle that sent shivers of fear down my spine, “You will learn, daughter, that the only person you can truly trust in this world is yourself.”

When I didn’t respond, he waved his finger, something he did whenever he was ready to dismiss anything that was said to him. He was the one that knew it all, and anything that came out of anyone’s mouth was nonsense.

“You take after your mother. Weak and once pretty like her. It doesn’t matter if you’re alive or dead. Do what you want! I can’t believe we share the same blood, you’re pathetic!”

I was fighting back any more tears streaming down my face, I didn’t want him to see me weak. “You’re a monster!”

My father turned cold like all the blood drained from his face, and then he was speechless. His gaze darted behind me to Tomas and something changed in his expression. Then he took one last glance at me, his eyes pinched, and turned to walk away. The man I had known as my father was gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered life.

I watched as he walked to the boat, my heart heavy with grief and confusion. I had always idolized him before I saw what he did to his brother. He was a ruthless criminal who had no regard for the lives of others.

I couldn’t be a part of his world—this evil and corruption. Even the Bratva had a code of honor that he didn’t abide by. Rules that I knew Tomas did and would.

---