“I don’t care. You should have dragged her back to me, kicking and screaming!”
“I’ve aged in retirement. Your wife is a fighter, a soldier. I couldn’t best her.” I truly don’t know whether that’s the case or if he’s bullshitting. He still works out religiously, but so does she.
“AGH! Damn it, Dad! I need to go.”
“Be wise in how you handle things, son. Remember who she is, and what this means to her. She was never meant to be yours, but you’ve been gifted her anyway. Don’t risk losing her.”
I hang up.
‘She was never meant to be yours.’And look how I’ve fucked things up. I accused her to the point of making her flee, and now she’s putting her life in jeopardy.
I haven’t been a good husband.
Before I can dwell on it, my phone rings again.
“The target approached my car,” Mark tells me.
I grit my teeth at the name.
“It’s Mrs. Montclair to you; not the target,” I correct him.
“Yes, sir.” He coughs, then continues. “She told me she’s going in tonight.” Mark’s words send a chill down my spine.
“I’ll prepare the men. Stay on her, but don’t go in after her.” I hate the words as I say them, but I have to follow the plan.
It’s time to end this.
Chapter 51
Katerina
The entrance to the prison where I was tormented for most of my life stares back at me. Feelings of inferiority and weakness threaten to surface, but I push them down. This time when I step through the door, it’ll be with a strength I never possessed before.
This is where it all ends. It’s down to him and me. A fight to the death. Because despite what my husband and brother have planned, this doesn’t end until Viktor dies, or I go down trying.
Mustering a look of distraught, I gear up to play the part of heartbroken daughter. I’m back in one of those hideous dresses he always made me wear. It perfectly conceals my knife in its thigh holster.
Thoughts of never seeing Dominic again are enough to start the stream of tears. Mascara runs down my cheeks, the perfect addition to the look.
I take a deep breath, then knock on the door.
It swings open, and I’m standing face to face with Yelena. For a second, a look of concern crosses her features then she’s ushering me inside.
“Katya, get off the streets. Someone could see you in such a state, and then what would they think!” She pulls me through the threshold then slams the door behind me.
“I… I…” A sob bursts from me, followed by multiple hiccups. “Is… ????… here? I… need… him!”
Doubt crosses Yelena’s features, so I ramp up my performance. I try to fall into her arms, and she pushes me away.
“Come, girl. Your father is in his office.” She steers me down the hallway as though I don’t know my way around the house I grew up in.
Instead of waiting for her to knock, I throw open the door and stumble inside.
“Yelena, you–” he pauses at the sight of me. “Katerina, what is wrong with you?” There’s no concern in his voice, only disgust. His Bratva Princess should never be seen in such a state of distress.
“I… He… Oh, ????!” I throw myself into one of his chairs.
“Speak up, girl. What happened?” There’s a gleam in his eyes that reveals he knows exactly what happened. Of course he does. He orchestrated it.
