Her mouth twisted.“He didn’t usually involve me in anything important.I was just supposed to look pretty, keep my mouth shut, and take whatever beating came my way.”
My hands curled into fists, my blood running hot.It took everything I had to push down my anger.
“Anything at all, Ariana,” I encouraged.“Don’t doubt yourself.”
She exhaled slowly, shaking her head.Then she stopped, peering into the distance.
“What is it?”
“It’s probably nothing.”
“Or it could be everything.”
“That night at the gala… He never left me alone like that.Ever.”
I nodded, contemplating what was so important for Victor to leave Ariana if he usually didn’t.I was kicking myself for not following Victor instead of Ariana.If I had, maybe I would have figured out what he was involved in.What Ariana’s role was in all of this.
But if Ihadn’tfollowed her, I never would have spoken to her.Never would have been mesmerized by her.Never would have been on my boat outside her home on Star Island.
And I never would have seen that man try to take her.
As much as I wished I knew what Victor had discussed with Nikolai Volkov outside the art museum, I couldn’t regret not tailing him.Not when that one decision may have saved Ariana from whatever Victor had planned.
“How was he afterwards?”
Her laugh was brittle.“Aside from nearly choking me to death for talking to you?”
I gritted my teeth until my jaw ached, my nostrils flaring as guilt collided with rage.What I wouldn’t give to wrap my hands around Victor’s throat and bring him to the edge of death.
I had to remind myself his time would come.I’d make sure of it.
“I swear to you, Ariana,” I began, my voice trembling with the raw fury vibrating through me.“I’ll make him pay for every second of fear he instilled in you.Every bruise.Every scar.Every minute he made you wish for death.I’ll make him do the same.And I won’t fucking rest until he can no longer hurt you or anyone else.”
I kept my eyes glued to hers so she could see the truth in my words.I’d never wanted anyone to believe me as much as I wanted Ariana to believe me right now.
Totrustme.
For one suspended heartbeat, I thought she did.Thought she saw me not as her captor, but as the man who would risk everything for her.Who wouldbleedfor her.But just as quickly, her walls went back up, her expression tightening once more.
“I assumed it was because he saw me talking to another man,” she admitted, pinching her lips together as she stared past me again, deep in thought.“But now that I think about it, he was on edge before we left for the gala.He went straight for the scotch when he came home earlier that day.He only did that when something had him rattled.”
“So he comes home upset,” I began, hoping to make sense out of the various puzzle pieces.“At the gala, he leaves you to discuss something with the Obshchak of the Miami Bratva.The following day, a man tries to abduct you.A man we now know was paid to take you and was working with the Bratva to some extent.It has to be connected.I just don’t know what their endgame is.”
“What do we do now?”
We.The word hit me straight in my gut.It gave me hope I hadn’t completely fucked this up.I didn’t expect her to forgive me right away.Or trust me.Not after everything her husband put her through.
Not after everythingIput her through.
But I was going to do everything in my power to earn her trust.Even if it took me the rest of my life.
“Wedon’t do anything,” I told her gently.“You have a concussion, along with a sprained knee and some bruised ribs.All you need to do right now is rest.”
“You expect me to rest while the Bratva is after me?”She sucked in a sharp breath, flinging her eyes to mine, panic and concern swirling within.
“What is it?Did you remember something?”
“My mom.What about my mom?What if they…” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
