Page 25 of Crimson Wrath

“Plans? You mean the plans that ended up with me being kidnapped by your Bratva buddies? They fucking beat me, Anton!”

His jaw clenches defensively. “That was not my fault.”

I tilt my head and fix him with a blazing gaze, refusing to back down. “Are you for real? I just told you they beat me, you big jerk! They could have killed me! What the fuck kind of man are you that you could let that happen to me?”

He goes stiff against me, and I know I struck a nerve. His wife. The report that Cody pulled up about Anton and how his wife was brutally murdered.

“Scarlett—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Did you let that happen to her too? To your wife?” I ask, my voice cold and unforgiving. It’s a low blow, and I know it, but I’m pissed off as fuck. I’m still bruised from the bastard who hit me. It could have been worse.

The baby—

I can’t think about that now. My baby is safe. I’m going to keep it that way.

Anton’s eyes are like storm clouds, swirling with pain and anger. “Watch your mouth.” His voice is low and dangerous.

“Or what? You want to threaten me with worse than what I’ve already been through?” The venom in my words stings even me, but I refuse to back down. The stakes are too high; lives are on the line. Nikolai’s life is on the line.

My baby…

“Enough,” he growls, pushing himself up and away from me. But I don’t let go of his arm, forcing him to face me.

“Are you seriously telling me that all the stuff that went down ismyfucking fault? Own your shit, Anton Ulianov! You lived that life, now I’ve been sucked into it.”

Anger roils as I think about that. He forced me into this thing and now he’s blaming me for the outcome. Dammit, I shouldn’t be lying here naked having this conversation. I should shut my stupid mouth, wait for him to let his guard down, and get my hands on the diamond. Then hightail it out of here. This man is going to get me killed. Worse…get my baby killed.

It’s his baby too, Scarlett!

Before I could think further, he does the worst thing he could possibly do. His expression softens, almost tender. Which is just plain nuts because I can’t imagine this man aiming that emotion at me.

“Scarlett, I never intended for you to be in danger.” His voice is tight with frustration. His jaw clenches as he looks away from me. But when he turns back to me, his beautiful eyes almost melt my heart. “I am…sorry,zayka.”

The sudden about-turn leaves me speechless. Especially since it seems so sincere.

Don’t, Scarlett.

Don’t let him make you weak.

“Yeah, right,” I mutter, though I can already feel myself falling.

He cups my face in both his huge hands. I swallow hard. “I mean it. It should never have happened. When I thought you were dead…” He shakes his head and squeezes his eyes shut for a second. “Blyad!I cannot speak of this.” He sucks in a shuddering breath and for the first time ever, I see the man look defeated.

“Anton, I…”

“I was powerless.” His voice is rough. “Powerless to help you. I could not stop them. Do you understand?” His expression is fierce but I sense it’s a fierceness aimed at himself. “Just as I could not stop it when Katya…” He trails off. “You are right. What kind of man am I?” He straightens and then turns away from me. I’m facing shoulders as broad as mountains and suddenly, all I want to do is wrap my arms around him and tell him it’s okay.

But it’s not, clearly.

You could have died, Scarlett!

The baby…you’re having his baby!

What do I do? What the fuck do I do? Do I tell him? And then what? Just let myself be drawn deeper into this dark dangerous world to the man who could end me? Or take the safer route? Leave him behind me. Get the diamond and sell it. Live a life of wealth beyond my wildest dreams. Have the world I always wanted.

And raise my child without a father?

But we’d be alive!

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