More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Only a villain will do what’s necessary to save you. He’ll burn down the world if he has to.”
Rosalie Manno is nothing short of an ethereal vision.
“I don’t care if I have to be the villain in your story. At least I’ll keep you alive, and it’s the only thing that matters.”
God damn, the powerful emotions I felt when I heard Rosalie laugh scared the shit out of me.
“Luna, no!” I hear Rosalie’s panicked voice. My eyebrow pops up because I’m pretty sure it’s coming from my room. “No, don’t walk and poop all over the place,” Rosalie shrieks. Turning off the faucets, I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my waist. Yanking the door open, it’s to see the puppy trying to eat her own shit while Rosalie’s pushing her away so she can wipe it up. “What. The. Fuck,”
I know without a doubt this woman loves me. I’ll never love another woman the way I love you, baby.
“I might let you go the day after tomorrow, but you’re mine, Rosalie. I’ll give you all the time you need, and when you’re ready, you’ll come back to me.”
“Are we going to lie to each other these last two days?” She nods again, her voice hoarse as she whispers, “I can’t face the truth.” I lift a hand and brush my knuckles over her cheek. “Then we’ll lie,
“You don’t mind taking care of Luna until I send for her?” I ask, my voice quivering. I need to settle down before I can bring her to New York. “At least I’ll have one of you for a little longer.” God. My heart.
After everything I learned about my family, it now seems so stupid that I left Viktor. He might be a villain, but that’s what I need right now. Because only a villain will do what’s necessary to save you. He’ll burn down the world if he has to.
I watch as she’s forced into an SUV. Parisi climbs in the back with her, then they drive off the property. Wrath, unlike anything I’ve felt before, makes my body tremble. I’m going to wipe out the Cosa Nostra. My voice is filled with carnage and destruction. “I’m going to fucking kill them.”
“I pronounce you husband and wife.” “No!” I shout, the sound echoing around the church. The church doors creak loudly, and everyone turns to see what the disruption is. My entire body goes weak at the sight of Viktor shoving the doors wide open with a gun in each hand. Light streams in behind him, making him look like a god.
Viktor dips the barrel of his gun in the bowl of blessed water and slowly signs the cross as his eyes drift over everyone until they stop on me.
He’s a sight to behold, all power and wrath – and nothing like the man who was kind and patient with me while I stayed in his house. There’s nothing sweet and caring about him. The head of the bratva is here to take what’s his. Thank God.
Intense fear bleeds through the church, murmurs fill the air, and people start to move, trying to get out of the pews and away from the Priesthood. Using what little strength I have, I force myself up on my feet and say, “Did I forget to mention I belong to Viktor Vetrov?” Greco gives me an enraged glare, but this time he doesn’t dare hit me.
Viktor came to save me. Viktor’s eyes lock on mine. His eyebrows narrow, and his features grow tenser. “Who laid a hand on her?” “Rosalie never told us she belonged to you,” Mr. Parisi says. For a moment, Viktor closes his eyes as if he’s a second away from losing his shit, then he growls, “Who. Hit. Her?” “Greco,”
Then it really hits – Viktor came for me, and because Greco tried to marry me, Viktor is going to kill him. I get to watch the monster die by the hands of the man I love. “I’ll never leave him again,” I whisper, more to myself than Luca.
“Kneel,” I bark to the priest who dared to fucking pronounce them husband and wife. Against Rosalie’s will. He drops to his knees, and as he begins to sign the cross, I press the barrel of my gun to his head. “Please,” he begs. “I’m a sinner, Father. You’ll find no mercy with me.”
“Take me home,” she whispers. Slipping my arms beneath her knees and behind her back, I pick her up bridal style and carry her out of the fucking church to the SUV.
“I’ll only kneel before you, moya Malen'kaya Roza. You have the power of the bratva and the Priesthood behind you. Never hesitate to use it if you find yourself in trouble.”
“So… am I still the villain in your story?” She stares up at me with awe. “Yes.” When I narrow my eyes, she explains, “Only a villain would’ve done what you did. You killed to save me.”
Suddenly tears burst from me, and I cover my face. “What the fuck, baby?” Viktor quickly steers the car to the side of the road. “Why are you crying?” He pulls me into his arms, peppering my hair with kisses. “B-because I’m so h-happy,” I sob. “Oh,” he sighs with relief. Pushing me back, he tilts his head to capture my eyes. “Then you can cry all you want.”
“How much did you transfer?” I ask, bracing myself for a ridiculous amount. “Only two-hundred-and-fifty.” “Oh, that’s much better than the fifty million,” I say. “Two-hundred-and-fifty million,” he corrects me.
When the plane touches down on the tarmac, my stomach explodes in a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
Viktor lets go of my hand and falls back until he’s behind me, stepping in every footprint I leave. Chuckling, I glance over my shoulder. “What are you doing?” His eyes lock on mine as he comes to a standstill. “I’ll always be behind you, moya Malen'kaya Roza. To protect you at all costs.” My heart.

