“Get out of the way,” Tom says with a snarl.
“No.”I straighten and feel Wyatt move from behind me.My fists clench wanting to lay out this fucker, but now isn’t the time.“You don’t get to be all self-righteous now.Not whenherfather took Sara.”
“You’re positive it was Sokolov?”Tom looks stricken before he masks it.Natasha stands and wraps her arms around him.She leads him back to the couch and they sit.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”Wyatt bites out.
I lower into my seat and put my elbows on my knees, clasping my hands between them.I meet Tom’s green eyes, so similar to Sara’s, and feel a punch to my gut, knowing I could have stopped all this.
If I’d taken what she so sweetly offered me instead of waiting, she would have been tucked away in my apartment.Maybe.I can never tell with Sara.Regardless, I should have been able to figure this out sooner.
“He met her when she was out with her friends and bought her an expensive diamond necklace to go with her dress for the fundraiser.”I can still picture her from that night.Fuck, she was gorgeous and elegant and everything a man like me could desire in a partner.I shake it off and focus.“That night he danced with her and told her about his daughter and how she liked to run away like Tom.”
I meet Natasha’s eyes.There’s a wrinkle between her brows and her knuckles are almost white where she holds Tom’s hand.
“She left the apartment to take out Peabody.Peabody was left in the lobby with a new diamond collar.The message said,Return what’s mine and I’ll give you back yours.”I pointedly look at Natasha.
“She’s not going back to him.”Tom wraps his arm around her, drawing her in tight against his side.A muscle ticks in his jaw.
“Tom,” she says softly and touches his face to turn him to face her.His eyes soften and he rests his forehead against hers.
“He can’t have you, Tasha.”Tom straightens and looks at both of us.“There has to be another way.”
“What were you planning to do?Run forever?”I ask like they’re insane.Because that’s what their choice is.Leave behind everyone they love to hide and worry forever about being found.No one can live like that.Not forever.
And Peter isn’t a guy without resources.It may have taken a while, but he would have found them.
“We were going to the Feds.”Natasha blows out a breath.“We were going to turn over everything we have on my father.”
I sit back.Fuck.I don’t know about Tom, but Natasha might actually be in love if she’s willing to turn her father over to the law.Tom’s going back with us if I have to knock him out and hog-tie him.
“If he gets his hands on Tasha, he’ll take her and disappear.”Tom wraps both his hands around hers.There’s a little look of panic in his eyes.
“But Sara doesn’t matter,” Wyatt bites out.
“Of course Sara matters.”Tom runs his hand through his hair.“I’ve spent my whole life protecting her.I hoped that the three people who’ve always had my back would keep her safe.”
“We didn’t even know what kind of danger she was in,” Wyatt growls.“Your room and hers were tossed in the townhouse.That’s what made her move in with us finally.”
Tom glances my way with a questioning look.
“I just wanted her safe.They have a doorman.I don’t.They could be there when I couldn’t.”I lean back in the chair.He doesn’t need to know yet about the four of us with his sister.Our primary objective is getting Tom and Natasha back to where we have control over the situation.
“Dante and Finn went to rescue her.”Wyatt stares at Tom.“If either of them ends up hurt?—”
Natasha covers her mouth.“Tom, we have to go back.I have to face him.”
“He’ll take you from me.”Tom glances at her and then at Wyatt.“Fuck.I can’t just give Tasha back to him.You don’t know this man.”
“That he wants her to marry someone to take over for him when he dies?”I quirk an eyebrow.“We know more than you think.”
“You don’t care that he has your sister?”Wyatt gets up to pace again.His fists clench and unclench.On this Wyatt and I can agree.Even I want to deck this asshole.“Fuck, Tom, for years she’s been your only concern and now she means nothing?”
“She doesn’t mean nothing.”Tom shakes his head.“She’s safe even with Peter.He’s not a violent man… usually.”
“Here’s where we are.”I keep my voice calm to defuse the tension.“Dante and Finn are rescuing Sara from Peter’s estate.We’ve come to bring you back to make sure we hold all the cards when he comes at us again.If you want to meet with the Feds first, by all means, do so.But we aren’t leaving without you two.”
Tom releases his breath.“Fine, but we need to talk to the Feds first.They’re meeting us at a café and expect us in a few minutes.”
