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“Who was that?” I whisper as we step closer to the car.
“Someone from the Lanzzare Mafia,” he explains, his grip on my hand tightening ever so slightly. “The Starukhin Bratva and Lanzzare Mafia have been rivals for generations. It all began when our families were involved in the same bootlegging business during Prohibition on the East Side. A territorial dispute led to a bitter feud that has lasted decades.”
He pauses for a moment. “Over the years, the rivalry has escalated into a full-blown war. Both sides constantly try to undermine each other, whether it’s sabotaging businesses or targeting family members. Brutal and relentless.” He pauses fora moment. “That man … I recognize him from a meeting we attended a few months back.”
A meeting. With guns, I bet.
Nikolai opens the door for me and I quickly step in. Relief floods through me when he joins me and shuts the door. Intuition tells me that the Lanzzare Mafia is probably worse—way worse—than Nikolai and the Starukhin Bratva.
The car moves quickly, even though we aren’t being chased. I would’ve stared out the windows on any other day, but right now, my attention is wrapped up in Nikolai and the Lanzzare threat that seems to have him so rattled.
“Are they coming after you?”
“Yes.” Nikolai nods. “But I’m worried about the family. Lara, Rurik, my men.” He pauses. “And soon, you.”
I sit back and look away. “But aren’t I part of the problem?”
“You’re not one of them, Eden.” He shakes his head, his grip never loosening around me. “Your father might be a traitor, but he is still one ofus.We treat our own differently. I’ll protect you.”
“You can’t make a promise like that,” I argue. “You don’t have control over what these people do.”
“But I have control over what I can do,” he retorts. “And I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. As long as you remain honest with me.” Nikolai turns toward me, and his voice softens. “Understand?”
I stare into his eyes, expecting it to be a trick as he pours his smooth charm all over me. But his expression is sincere. For thefirst time since I met him, Nikolai doesn’t look threatening or like the untouchable god that he is.
All I see is a man. A man with faults and fears. A man who held me close the other day and pressed his lips softly against mine in a kiss that set my heart ablaze.
A man who is capable of feeling, no matter how much he denies it.
I’m shocked that I can make him feel this way.
And I realize that I can hurt him if Ireallywant to.
32
NIKOLAI
I never should have kissedher.
Kidnapping Eden was a necessary evil. Or so I tell myself. But deep down, I know I crossed a line that I can never uncross.
Sunlight streams through the wide windows, casting a bright light into the room. The clear morning is in stark contrast to the storm brewing around me.No,within me. The light illuminates a painting hanging on the wall—an abstract piece with swirls of red and black, like blood mingling with shadows. I get up to close the blinds to protect my collection, and I feel like an ogre hiding my treasures. I glance toward the spiral staircase, half-hoping to see Eden descend. But she doesn’t.
A princess in a tower. How appropriate. But I’m no prince. The real prince died years ago.
What if …A new disturbing thought takes shape in my mind. I don’t dare let it finish.
I can’t deny the feelings that Eden is invoking inside of me. They complicate things in more ways than I want to admit.Lust is not love,I tell myself.
But what I feel with Eden is not lust. If there’s one thing that I’m certain of, it’s that.
She’s awakened something in me that I had been forced to repress. She’s allowed me a tantalizing look at something else that I can be other than this monster.
Whenever I catch a glimpse of her, my heart races for reasons beyond strategy and revenge. The way she looks at me makes me feel all the worse, knowing what I’m about to put her through. What I’m about to do to her father.
But if she’s pretending …the vengeful monster that has stirred to life since that terrible day whispers inside.Then you’ll shoot her father without remorse.
“You should’ve been an artist …” Unprompted, the words pass from my lips, and I clamp them shut as soon as I say them.
