Page 180 of Marrying the Savage

“I didn’t know your men were coming tonight.”

“If you had known, you would have left?”

“No,” he says. “I would have moved civilians away from the front.”

That answer is practical. I accept it for now.

“Did you know my wife was here?”

“She came here tonight, like my other guests,” he says smoothly. “I don’t make a point of knowing anybody’s business, more then they deign to share.”

I cock a head. I can’t tell if he’s lying or not. But I guess that’s what happens when you run a gambling house.

I look at Sofia. She doesn’t lower her eyes. No apology. No explanation. She is tired, pale, shaken, and still ready to fight me if I make this ugly in front of everyone.

Grigori’s warning comes back at the worst possible moment.

If she asked for help, dragging her back will prove everything she fears. She was hiding out here. She thought running away was better than facing me.

“Did you know the men who took her?” I ask Anya, wanting her to slip.

“Nope, didn’t see them. They tried to kidnap her, thankfully we got to her before they could take her out of the city,” she says.

“Right,” I say.

“You should really be grateful to me for saving your wife,” she says.

“Is that so?” I ask.

“Anya,” Sofia whispers. “Can you not do this here?”

“Your husband is an ass,” she whispers back.

I feel my temper fraying, but I hold it back. I turn to Sofia. “Did you see the men who tried to take you?”

“Probably Dmitri’s,” she says, then adds, “Actually I don’t know for sure.”

Her explanation makes sense. Sokolov men were there, they could have easily taken her. And the reason there wasn’t a peep afterward was because they lost her.

“Sofia,” I say.

Her chin lifts. “What?”

“We are leaving.”

Anya steps closer. “Maybe she should decide that.”

Nikolai looks at her as if she has lost her mind. She ignores him.

Sofia looks at Anya, and something passes between them. It’s quick, but I see it. Anya asking if she wants to stay. Sofia deciding how much more trouble she can survive tonight.

I say nothing. That costs me more than I show.

Finally, Sofia says, “I’ll go.”

Anya doesn’t like it, but she nods. “Call me.”

“I will.”