He catches my hand again, pulling me gently toward the cliff edge. The ocean wind whips my hair around, cool and salt-heavy. He sits easily, legs dangling over a hundred feet like it’s nothing at all.
Reluctantly, I sit beside him—far enough to feel safe, close enough to feel stupid for thinking I am. The city lights below cast a faint glow, outlining his profile in pale silver, and for the first time, I can almost see his face.
“I’m not a good person,” he says.
My head jerks toward him. “What?”
He gives a short laugh—quiet, humourless. “Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I want to be, sometimes I want to give away some of my control, some of my evil. Leave everything behind. Maybe start over somewhere clean, with someone who makes me feel… human.” His jaw tenses. “But other times, I want to kill everyone who upsets me. Watch them beg for pity and then slit their throats.”
I look around, almost confirming that we’re still alone up here.
Because, yeah, that’s not terrifying at all.
This would have been good information to know prior to sticking my tongue down his throat.
“Why?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“Why?” He glances over, probably confused that I would ever ask such a ridiculous question.
“Yeah, why do you feel that way?” I continue, I’m no stranger to death or murder, but finding out why he feels this way will tell me how much danger I’m in right now.
“My father wanted me this way.” His head swings back, facing the city beneath us.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly, and I mean it. Because I know that feeling—of being shaped into something you never wanted to be.
A smile etches his face. “You are very interesting, Aurelia, but I don’t want you to pity me, I want you to trust me.”
“I… I wasn’t supposed to be born. I’ve been locked away my whole life, never allowed to go out, never allowed to be free. I want to trust you, but you’re holding a big secret of mine.”
He doesn’t say anything at first, just watches me with that intense look.
Then, “I’ll tell you a secret.”
I blink, surprised. “Really?”
He nods. “Yes. But you can’t tell anyone either.”
“I promise I won’t,” I say, leaning closer without realizing it.
* * *
I try to process his words, but I can’t. My mind keeps glitching, looping back over fragments that don’t fit together.My papa? Running… all that? And the Bratva? The Orlovs?
It can’t be true.It can’t.
Even if Viktor is capable of something horrible, my papa would never. He loves me. He respects me. He… he cares about me.
“There’s no way that’s true,” I manage to say, my voice cracking a little.
He shrugs, like it’s nothing. “I wish it wasn’t. The thought makes me sick.”
“My papa… he’s a good man,” I insist, even though part of me wants to scream at the universe for making me hear this.
He looks at me, giving me a knowing look, so I continue, “Yes, I know he’s done bad things, but his heart is good.”
I want to believe what I’m saying. I need to believe it. But my stomach is twisting with the thought.
“You are… magnificent, Aurelia,” he says out of nowhere, and I feel my face heat up.
