Page 130 of Wicked Villain

I grin. “Depends on what you mean by defiling.”

The fucker probably thought I’d defile his precious girl on our wedding night and send over her blood-stained sheets. He won’t be getting those. For a start, while I have more than defiled his daughter, we don’t have the sheets to show for it.

Corrado looks uncomfortable as hell. “You know what I mean by defiling.”

“She’s my wife. What the fuck do you think?” I cock my head and give him a sidelong stare.

He answers with a stony glare. “I want her back, Lev. Doesn’t matter what you’ve done. I want her back.”

Now I laugh. I can’t help myself. “You’re not serious, are you?”

“I’m very serious.” Corrado nods. “Her absence has taken a great toll on my wife and, of course, myself. Please understand. She’s our last living daughter. After what happened to my girls, of course, I’m going to do whatever I can to get my daughter back.”

His eyes plead with me, and he wears the face of a desperate father who loves his daughter. At least he appears to. But I know different. A good father wouldn’t blame his daughter for her sister’s death.

“There must be another way we can solve our problems between us.” He steps forward and clasps his hands.

I raise my brows. “Problems? You think we merely have problems? You and I?” I shake my head. “No, no, no. A problem is finding a tax discrepancy on your form. A problem is spelling my name wrong. A problem is a parking ticket. The list goes on and on. We do not merely have problems, Corrado D’Auria. You double-crossed my family, and because of you, my mother and sister are dead.”

It’s the first time I’ve uttered those words in this house while Gabrielle was here.

I’d still like to keep the truth from her.

The time we’ve spent together has put me in a strange place. This new thing I have for her exists outside the sphere of revenge. Things have changed between us in a way I can’t describe to anyone. Maybe not even to myself.

Corrado lifts his head and releases a ragged sigh. “Lev, I have told you repeatedly. It was an accident. Their deaths were never supposed to happen. I understand you don’t believe me, and I have not exactly painted myself in the best of ways, but it was an accident. No harm was ever supposed to come to anyone. At least believe this.” He pauses for a beat. “I did not allow anybody to storm the property knowing that your family were in your home. Your family were supposed to be away. Your father and I were good friends then. I would never have intentionally brought harm to him or his family⁠—”

“And yet you did,” I cut him off. There’s no way I’m going to allow him to look like a saint in this. And he wasn’t fucking thoughtful. “Even if we weren’t home, we had staff at the house who were all killed. Their lives were no less important than ours. Fifty people died that day. Fifty! That’s not a fucking accident.”

All those people were like family to us. I’d known them from birth. The one who survived was Zoya. And that was because she was in Russia with the rest of my family.

Defeated, he doesn’t try to argue. Good. He hasn’t got a leg to stand on, so it’s best to shut up about it. No matter what he says, I have a counter. Like how he stood by my father to help look for the killers knowing full well his hands were just as dirty. How many times did he lead my father astray to protect himself?

“Find another tune, Corrado, or get the fuck out.”

He swallows hard, furrowing his bushy gray brows. “I have another offer for you… in exchange for my Gabrielle. My niece is about to turn nineteen. I have spoken with her father, and he’s given his blessing for you to marry her instead of Gabrielle. We can annul your marriage, and my niece, Maria, will take her place. She is the heiress to the other half of the real estate business. She is worth several million, and, as you know, real estate is an investment that keeps on giving.”

Part of me wonders if I would have accepted this offer weeks ago. Real estate is an investment that definitely keeps on giving, and part of my goals was always to expand the Karsavin empire to other business ventures.

But I already know the answer before my mind can process the question.

No.

No amount of money or bribery can appease my bloodthirst.

And now there’s something else I want. Something that’s taken my interest and obsession. Something I’ve developed a new taste for.

Her.

My wife.

“Sorry, Corrado. I don’t want your niece.”

His skin pales. “Please, at least consider it. Gabrielle is an innocent young girl. She belongs with her family. Me and her mother.” His eyes hold mine, begging. “My daughter’s absence has weakened my wife to the point where the stress and constant worry have made her illness so much worse.”

“Gabrielle can see her mother anytime.”

“That’s not the same thing.” He shakes his head vigorously. “My niece, on the other hand⁠—”