Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
KATYA
I ’m in Evie’s arms before I even have time to react.
“You’re safe. I was so worried.” She pulls back and looks me over. “You’re not hurt. Dimitri told me you were in danger and ran out of here. Are you ok?”
I’m back in my brother’s penthouse. It’s not the place I grew up in, but it is the place I called home at one point.
No longer. Anton’s house is my home now. But if he doesn’t even survive, then I’m not sure I can ever go back there.
“I’m ok,” I tell my best friend. Evie gives me one more hug before letting me go.
“What happened? Tell me everything?”
Dimitri and I exchange a look. Things are still tense between us, and I worry they always will be. He still wants to go after Anton, and I don’t know how to process that. I don’t know how to process my feelings for Anton at all.
Evie looks between my brother and me. “What’s going on?”
Dimitri sighs deeply. “I’ll go back to the clinic to check on Anton.”
“No. I don’t trust you with him. You might try to kill him. You’re staying here.”
“And need I remind you, Katya, that you’re not the boss of me?”
“You don’t have a say in my life anymore. Not after you forced me to marry Anton. I don’t trust you not to hurt him. So, stay here.”
We both glare at each other for a long moment before Dimitri sighs. “Fine. I’ll stay. I want to make sure you’re safe anyway.” Muttering under his breath, he walks away.
Evie’s eyes widen. “What was that about?”
“Dimitri wants to kill Anton. He only agreed to have me marry Anton for temporary peace until he could find a way to kill him. Anton’s hurt now and could die.”
Evie slowly sits on the couch, bringing me down with her. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Sure, you do. You hate Anton, too. If you had the choice, you’d want him dead.”
“I never said that.”
“Come on, Evie. We both know it’s true. You want me back here with you just as much as Dimitri does. Neither of you wants me to like Anton. I can tell it makes you uncomfortable every time I say I don’t hate him.”
She shifts in her seat, wrapping her arms around herself, unable to look at me.
I point at her. “See? You’re uncomfortable right now.”
“How did Anton get hurt?”
“That’s not important.”
“It is to me. Before Dimitri went after you, he made it sound like you were hurt. What happened? You’re keeping something from me. We’ve been best friends since freshman year. You’ve never kept secrets from me before.”
“Because I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Katya. Tell me.” There’s a hardness to her eyes I’ve never seen before. Evie and I have never dealt with something coming between us. Even when she married my brother, it didn’t come between us. So, why is Anton the thing that’s going to ruin my relationship with my best friend?
“There’s a man.” My throat clenches at the memory of Luca. “A Mafia man. Luca Moretti. He wanted to hurt Anton, but Anton wouldn’t stand for that. Luca came after me. He tried to kill me until Anton saved my life. And then, tonight, Luca showed up and shot Anton. We both could have died. Hell, Anton still might die. I don’t even know. But that’s what’s going on. That’s why I called Dimitri for help. I needed him to help me get Anton to a doctor. There. Now you know everything.”
Well, not everything. I still keep the sexual assault a secret. Luca only touched my breast. It’s not worth Evie knowing if it’s just going to worry her even more.
She slowly shakes her head. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before? Is that why you freaked out at the café?”
“I thought I saw him. Luca.”
“Why not tell me?” The pain in her eyes kills me. The betrayal.
“Because I didn’t want you to worry!”
She huffs. “I’m a big girl, Katya. I can handle anything you throw at me. You should have told me.”
I flinch and look away from her judgmental gaze. I deserve it. I know it. “You’re right. I should have. But I’m just kind of upset right now, Evie. Ok? My husband was shot. He could die, and I’m scared. And Dimitri still wants to kill Anton, but I don’t want that to happen. What am I going to do?” The tears hit me before I can stop them. Once they come out, there’s no bringing them back in.
Evie’s eyes soften as she stands up and pulls me into a hug. “You’re going to be ok, for starters. Anton will be fine. He’ll survive.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because Anton is a hard man to kill. I guess, in a strange way, that’s his one saving grace.”
“What am I going to do about Dimitri? I don’t want Anton to die, and I don’t want you to hate me for wanting that. I just want to be happy.” I sob harder into her shoulder, and Evie tightens her arms around me.
“I want you to be happy, too. Always.” She pulls back to look into my eyes. “Katya, I know I wasn’t supportive of your liking Anton, but if you really do like him, I’ll learn to like him. I’ll talk some sense into Dimitri. Make him understand that killing Anton isn’t the answer. I’ll help you.”
“You will?”
“Why do you sound so surprised? We’ve been best friends for years. We’ve saved each other in difficult situations. You’ve always had my back, and I have yours now. Don’t worry about me. You could never disappoint me. If you truly like Anton, then I just need to get on board.”
“What if he dies?” I whisper.
“Then I’ll be there for you when you mourn. And I’ll tell anyone who judges you for your feelings to back off. The men in our lives always try to protect us, but Katya, I will protect you. I will make sure you know you’re not alone.”
“I have been a little lonely,” I admit. “I can’t lose him, Evie. I don’t want to.”
“Then I’ll make sure Dimitri knows that. I won’t let him lead us back into war. He’ll listen to me.”
“Will he?”
She smiles. “He listens to me. Trust me. Dimitri isn’t stupid. Happy wife, happy life.”
It’s my turn to smile. “I should’ve told you sooner. I missed talking to you like this.”
“I just have one question—why do you like Anton?”
“I like him because he makes me feel alive in a way I’ve never felt before. I can’t lose that. I can’t lose him.”
“Then we just have to hope he’ll survive. And in the meantime, why don’t we just hang out. The way we used to? No overprotective men. Just us girls, having a sleepover.”
I wipe the last of my tears away. “That sounds perfect.”
Perfection doesn’t last long, though, when the following day, I hear a loud commotion come from the foyer.
I hurry down the hallway and round the corner to see …
Anton. In the penthouse. In the foyer. Upright. Alive.
“You need to leave,” Dimitri says. It’s just him and Anton. This can’t be good.
“I’m here for my wife.” Anton’s eyes slide to me, and he gives me a smile. “Katya.”
“You’re alive.” Slowly, I walk over to him. He looks strong and handsome despite what he just went through. “How are you standing right now?”
“It’s taking everything in me not to fall over,” he says in a low voice, shooting a glare at Dimitri. “Don’t think you can use that against me.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, looking between them. “Why are you asking Anton to leave?”
“Because you belong here,” Dimitri says. “Anton is clearly still hurt. He can’t protect you if Luca makes himself known again. I went back to the restaurant last night and didn’t find his body, which means he’s probably alive. You’re much safer here.”
“But why can’t Anton stay here with us?”
Anton raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, brother. Why can’t I?”
Dimitri’s clenching of his jaw is noticeable even from where I’m standing. “I’m not your brother.”
“Brother-in-law. Close enough, don’t you think?”
It makes me happy to hear Anton using his smartass banter. It means he’s truly standing here, alive and well.
“He can’t stay here because he gets on my fucking nerves,” Dimitri growls.
“He’s my husband now, Dimitri. You need to learn to get along with him. If Luca is looking for Anton and me, isn’t it safer if we both stay here?”
“No. Because if Luca finds Anton here, then you or Evie could get hurt.”
“Who cares?” Evie says, coming into the foyer.
“What do you mean ‘who cares’?” Dimitri asks, looking at her with hurt eyes. “I can’t see you get hurt. Or worse.”
“I know. But if you can’t learn to accept your sister’s husband, then you’re never going to be at peace. It’s been breaking my heart for weeks knowing Katya could have gotten hurt married to Anton. It seems my fears were unfounded. She likes him, Dimitri. You just need to learn to accept that. I would gladly get hurt if it means Katya is safe.”
I grab Evie’s hand and squeeze it in thanks. “So would I. So, Dimitri, if you don’t want Anton and me staying here, then we’ll go. But if you make him leave, I’m leaving with him.”
The pain in Dimitri’s eyes does nothing to me. He brought this on himself. “You’d really do this?”
“I am doing it.” I walk over to Anton and stand by his side. I can feel him looking at me, but I keep my eyes on my brother. “Either Anton gets to stay here, or we’re returning to his house. My house since he and I married. Nothing will change that. So, either get on board or …”
“Or I might have to kill you,” Anton tells Dimitri.
I look at him sharply. “I don’t want my brother dead.”
“But he wants me dead. That much is obvious. I thought we made peace, Dimitri.”
“We did,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Then why break that peace now?”
“I’m just trying to keep my sister safe.”
Anton wraps his arm around my waist. “And she is safe. With me.”
“She wasn’t. I had to help you get to the doctor, Anton. Remember that. You’re not invincible.”
He smirks. “I survived, didn’t I?”
“Let’s just go,” I say, tugging on his hand.
Evie runs over to Dimitri and grabs his hand. “Please. Let Anton stay. I don’t want Katya to get hurt.”
“What’s it going to be?” Anton mocks, and I wish he wouldn’t. Dimitri already hates him. His attitude isn’t making things easier.
Dimitri glares at Anton for a long time, and for just a moment, I let myself believe he’ll let Anton stay, but then he sighs and bows his head. “I can’t. You have to go, Anton. I can’t look at you a moment longer.”
“Then I’m going with him,” I tell him.
Dimitri doesn’t even acknowledge me as he glares at Anton. “This isn’t over.”
“Oh, I think it’s over for now.” Anton keeps his arm around my shoulders as we leave the penthouse. The second we’re in the elevator, he slumps against the wall.
“You’re still hurt.”
“Noticed that, huh?” He winces as he pushes himself upright. “I put on a good show for your brother in there.”
“Anton, what if Luca comes after us again?”
“Oh, I plan on him doing exactly that.”
I hit his arm. “Why didn’t you try harder to be nice to Dimitri?”
“Ow,” he mutters, holding his arm. “You have a wicked right hook, you know that?”
“Just answer me.”
“Because I’m not a man who bends or breaks to any other man. If your brother cannot accept us being together, then that’s on him. I have to focus on Luca. I have to focus on keeping you safe. I can’t believe he took you from me.”
“Luca didn’t take me.”
“Dimitri. He thinks he can take better care of you than I can. What a load of shit.”
Sighing, I lean against the wall myself. “Anton, you almost died. Dimitri has a point. Can you actually take care of me?”
He gives me a long, hard look. “You wouldn’t have come with me if you didn’t believe I could take care of you. I’m going to keep you safe from Luca. After how I’ve saved you, you still doubt me.” With a rough shake of his head, he mutters, “Unbelievable.”
I flush. “I don’t mean to doubt you. You’re just hurt. I want to make sure I’m making the right decision leaving with you.”
He reaches over and takes my hand in his. His grip is so strong that it leaves the imprint of his fingers behind on my skin. “You’re my wife. I’m your husband. We made vows together. Of course, I’m going to do everything I can to take care of you, even in my current state. Nothing can keep me down. You should know that better than anyone by now.”
He cups my face in his hands a little too roughly, but I don’t pull away. “You are mine, Katya. If anyone is going to make sure you’re safe, it’s going to be me.” He slams his lips into mine, making me gasp.
Acting on instinct, I press my lips hard against his with everything inside me. All my pain and fear and anxiety and relief at Anton being alive.
I run my hands down his body until he flinches and pulls back, hissing slightly.
“Sorry.”
He smirks. “You’re really not. Just be careful not to touch my stomach right now. It’s still a little tender.”
I dig my hand against his bandaged stomach, making him groan. “That’s what you get for all the things you’ve done in the past.”
“I thought you liked me.”
“I do. But you still deserve to face a little punishment for your actions. You’re not innocent, Anton.”
“I never claimed to be,” he growls, capturing my lips in another passionate kiss. We’re like two demonic entities, eating away at each other.
He presses me against the wall and grabs my hands, lifting them away from his wound. “Somebody wants to play.”
“You could have actually died yesterday.”
“But I didn’t. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“I want to believe you’ll be fine, but I don’t. Not yet.”
“You know I don’t go down easily.”
“I know. But you keep putting yourself in danger, Anton. One of these days, it’s going to catch up with you.”
“It hasn’t yet, so don’t worry about it.”
“Easier said than done. You never worry about anything. Why is that?”
“Because nothing scares me.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Really? Nothing scares you?”
He gives me a hard look that I can’t decipher before kissing me long and rough. “Nothing scares me.”
Somehow, I don’t fully believe him.
When the elevator dings and opens, Anton and I are forced to break apart. I’m not about to give someone a show.
Anton moves slowly, I notice. His usual confident gait is missing. Luca took that from him. Just another reason why I hate him and want him dead.
“I have to ask you something?” I say as we leave the lobby and walk outside. “Why didn’t you attack my brother?”
“Why? Did you want me to?”
“No. Of course not. But I know your style. You love to blow things up. I half expected you to blow up my brother’s penthouse.”
“See, that was the old Anton. The new one is much more diplomatic.”
“Is he now?”
“Yep. Now that I have something to lose.” He looks right at me as he says it, making me blush. Damn him. I wish he didn’t have such an effect on me. Everything would be easier if I hated every fiber of his being.
“So, if I wasn’t in my brother’s penthouse, you would’ve blown it up?”
“Possibly.”
I grab his arm to make him stop walking. “Am I really the only thing keeping you from raining chaos on this entire city?”
“If I say yes, that’s going to go straight to your head, and I can’t have that. So, I’m going to say no.”
“But you mean yes.”
“Maybe.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“That’s why you like me. Now, let’s get home. I’m tired of standing. My abdomen is fucking killing me.” He wraps his arms around me and looks down at me with a dark expression. “You helped save my life, you know.”
I try to squirm away, but he doesn’t let me go. “I know. What of it?”
“You could have let me die. I was dying. I felt it in my body. The darkness overtaking me. I felt my soul leaving my body. The last thing I saw was your face and then darkness. And then I woke up. You saved me. Why?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you could have let me die. You would’ve been free of me. Why save me when I’m not good for you.”
“Who says you’re not good for me?” I lean into his arms.
“Pretty much everyone. Even I say I’m not good for you. You could’ve been free of me, Katya. You should’ve taken your chance.”
“I didn’t want to, ok? I don’t want to be free of you, Anton. Despite how much you drive me crazy, I want you in my life. So, just deal with it. Someone actually cares for you. How does that make you feel?”
He frowns. “Strange. The only person to ever care for me is my mother, and you know how I feel about her.”
“What about the other women you dated.”
“Like I said, just flings. A good time. Nothing more. Nothing serious enough for someone to truly care whether I lived or died. But you care.” He stares down at me with awe. It makes me feel weird, like there’s a flutter over my body that I can’t explain.
“So, what if I do?”
“I don’t know, baby. But what I do know is there’s no going back for us. Not now. You know that?”
“If I didn’t, I would’ve remained in my brother’s penthouse. I never would’ve left with you.”
“Good.” He gives me a small peck on the lips, and it’s too short in my opinion. “Let’s go home.”
We turn to his car parked on the side of the street.
And come face-to-face with Luca.
Luca and two guards, that is.
Anton pushes me behind him, but he’s too hurt to fight Luca and his guards. They grab and throw him to the ground, and one of the guards presses his knee into Anton’s neck, choking him.
“Stop!” I shout.
Luca turns the full weight of his eyes onto me, stopping me dead in my tracks. “Oh, Katya. How wonderful. You get to watch as we kill your husband.”
“My brother, Dimitri Ivanov, is right inside there.” I point to the apartment building. “You don’t want to do this.”
Luca makes a big show of looking around the street. “Funny. I don’t see him out here with us. So, he’s not a threat, is he? You and your husband keep sneaking away from me. It’s getting tiring.” He nods at his guard. “Get off him. I want to look into his eyes as I murder him.”
The guard stands up, allowing Anton to suck in a large breath. Luca smirks with triumph.
I can’t let Anton die. Not in the middle of the street with no dignity. Anton may deserve to be punished for his past actions, but he doesn’t deserve to die now. Not when he’s been trying to do better.
The sight of Luca makes my stomach clench. It makes my throat seize up. I know it’s panic. But panic is pointless when it can’t help me.
Anton needs my help now. I’m the only one who can.
“Wait!” I shout, making Luca turn to me.
“Yes?”
“Why do you want Anton dead?”
Luca looks at me like I’m an idiot, and maybe I am, but I’m just trying to think fast on my feet. “Why wouldn’t I want Anton dead? I thought I could use him for my own gain. Turns out, he’s a hard man to control. He needs to die because he’ll just come for me next.”
“But do you need to kill him? Maybe I can offer a bargain. A trade.”
“You have nothing I want.” Turning back to Anton, he motions at his guard. The guard pulls out a gun and points it at Anton’s head.
My next sentence is the hardest thing I’ve ever said in my life.
“You can have me.”
Luca goes eerily still before facing me again. “You?”
“Yes. If you spare Anton’s life, you can have me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you want me. And knowing you stole Anton’s wife out from under him would be sweet revenge in your eyes. It would torture Anton. It might even kill him. And isn’t that what you want? To torture Anton? Do you really want him just to die without feeling any pain?”
Luca stokes his chin, considering my words. “But the question is: Does Anton care about you enough for this to hurt him? I think we have to test it.” And as quick as the hit across my face comes, it goes away.
I stumble back from Luca’s punch, already noting how puffy my face feels.
“You fucking bastard!” Anton seethes, struggling against the guard.
“Would you look at that? He does care!” Luca claps his hands together like a little kid. “How lovely. You have a point, beautiful Katya. Stealing you would hurt Anton.”
“It would. So, do it.”
“You’d really sacrifice yourself for him? You love him that much?”
I freeze. Do I love Anton? My first instinct is to say no, but when I think about it a little more, I realize the answer to that question is not that simple.
“She can’t even say it,” Luca mocks. “How funny. So, you’re doing all this for a man you don’t even love? He must have the best cock in the world to make you feel this way.”
I look down at Anton on the ground. My strong, brave, slightly crazy husband.
“I’m still a virgin,” I say, knowing the second the words leave me that this will clinch the deal.
Luca looks at me with renewed interest. “Did I hear you right, dear?”
“You did. And you can have my virginity if you spare Anton’s life.”
“But if I take you, he’ll just come after me.”
“Not if he can’t find you.”
“No!” Anton shouts, pushing against the guard, but it doesn’t work. The guard is too strong, and Anton is too weak.
“What’s stopping me from killing Anton and taking you for myself?”
I keep my eyes focused on Luca. If I give Anton another glance, I’ll lose my nerve. “Because you want Anton to suffer, and you know this is the best way. So, what are you going to do?”
A slow devious smile crosses his face. “I say you have yourself a deal.”