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“I’m not going to kill you, Dahlia,” he says finally.
She sniffles. “You’re not?”
“Natalya told me what happened to your husband. I’m truly sorry for your loss. What happened between my brothers and our Uncle Konstantin… Many lives were lost on both sides, and I do regret that your husband was one of them.”
Dahlia drags her hand across the bottom of her runny nose. “Thank you,” she mumbles quietly.
“But I’m not going to kill you. Konstantin may have ran things in such a way. Other Bratva families may deal with traitors the same way. But I’m different, Dahlia. I know it’s not much, but Idoabide by a set of rules I hold myself to. One being that I will never harm women or children.”
“But I spied on you for years.”
“I know.”
“And I helped sneak in Edvard’s assassin!”
Dimitri grins at me. “That worked out rather well for me, actually.”
“I kidnapped your son.”
“And now, despite your best efforts, he’s safe and sound upstairs.”
Dahlia looks confused as hell. Shocked, even. I remember feeling the same way when I finally came to understand Dimitri. He’s a good man beneath it all. His work doesn’t define him. It’s the other way around.
“So I… I was worried for nothing?”
“Would you prefer my wrath?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then consider this the final word on the matter.” Dimitri stands tall, his head held high. “I’m not incapable of being merciful. Consider what happened between us forgotten. Will I forgive you? No, of course not. For your sake, I better not see your face ever again, do you understand me? That being said, I will not kill you as punishment, either. You’re frankly not worth the cost of the bullet.”
Dahlia winces. “I guess that’s fair.”
“You’re free to leave.Move on. Live out the remaining years of your life elsewhere and in peace. You will have no trouble from me or the Antonov Bratva.”
Slowly, Dahlia rises from her chair, her little shoulders trembling as she nods. “Thank you, Mr. Antonov.”
“My guards will see you safely off the property,” Dimitri says.
Before she goes, Dahlia gives me a small, weary smile. “Congratulations, Natalya. I wish you and your little ones well.”
I return her smile, seeing no point in holding onto my bitterness. Grudges have only ever done more harm than good. “Be well, Dahlia.”
For some strange reason, it’s almost bittersweet seeing her go. Knowing this is the last time I’ll ever see her face fills me with an odd sense of wistfulness. I can’t bring myself to hate her for what she’s done. Not when our stories are so similar. I may be uniquely qualified to understand what she’s been going through. Hatred and a burning need for revenge… It’s an all-consuming, soul-destroying pursuit. I genuinely hope she can find peace.
After seeing Dahlia out, Dimitri returns. He sighs heavily as he shoves his fingers through his hair.
“Well, that’s definitely one way to start the morning,” he jokes tiredly.
I go to him, cupping his face. “I’msoproud of you.”
“Do you think it was the right decision? Letting her live.”
“Yes,” I tell him firmly. “I don’t think she has it in her to come after us again. Let the cycle end here, with us.”
Dimitri nods, taking one of my hands to press a kiss to my palm. “You’re right.”
“Feel like going back to bed?”
