Page 108

Leo comes closer and studies the coin through the plastic. “An old Russian coin,” he says. “My father kept a few like it when we lived there. I haven’t seen one in years.”

Andrei keeps looking at it. His jaw tightens before he hands the bag back to Drew.

“Make sure the investigator has it,” he says. “Find out who worked near that wall today.”

“Someone left it there for you,” I tell Andrei.

He turns toward me, but his eyes return to the coin in Drew’s hand. Leo steps beside Sofia and watches his nephew’s face.

“What does it mean to you?” I ask.

“I don’t know who left it,” Andrei replies.

“I didn’t ask who left it. You recognized it.”

Leo looks between us. “I recognized it too. Coins like that weren’t unusual when we lived in Russia, but Andrei knows why this one matters to him.”

He says nothing. Drew takes the evidence bag out of the room, and Reid follows him to call the team reviewing access to the stable. Sofia leads Birdie toward the kitchen with a promise of tea, giving Andrei and me privacy that neither of us asked for.

He comes closer, stopping before he reaches my chair. “I thought the roof had fallen on you,” he says. “When I saw you crawling, I knew you were alive, but I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”

I reach for his hand, and he grips mine. He was afraid for me today. I can see that, which makes it harder to ask about the coin.

I want to stay close to him. He came running when he saw me beside the burning stable, and he hasn’t stopped checking whether I’m all right. Last night he slept beside me. He offered to cover the bookstore’s bills so I could look for Connor. I know he cares about me, and I care about him more than I’m ready to admit.

But he recognized that coin. Someone carried it onto his property and set a fire while I was inside the stable, and Andrei still won’t tell me what it means to him.

I let go of his hand and look out at Walter in the paddock. I want Andrei with me tonight, even after everything that happened. That’s what frightens me most. I’m falling for a man whose past may have led someone straight to that stable, and I still don’t know what he did to make them come.

17

ANDREI

Cassie watches Walter through the sitting room window while the rest of my family moves around us. Her hand has slipped from mine. I can still feel where her fingers pressed against my palm.

“You should put your ankle up,” I tell her.

“The paramedic said to rest it, and I am.” She turns toward me, one eyebrow raised. “You’ve reminded me three times since we got back.”

I pull the footstool closer with my shoe. “Then you already know why I’m bringing this over.”

Cassie gives me a look but lifts her injured foot onto the stool. “Thank you. Now will you tell me why you recognized that coin?”

Leo and Sofia are in the kitchen with Birdie. I hear a cupboard close, then Sofia asks whether anyone has eaten. Their familiar voices should make the house feel safe. I look toward the stable again and see the damaged doorway where I found Cassie on her hands and knees.

“I will,” I say, my attention returning to her ankle on the footstool. “You can rest here while Sofia brings dinner. Afterward, if you feel up to the stairs, we can talk in private.”

Cassie studies me. “You don’t need to move me away from everyone to tell me about a coin.”

She waits, giving me room to say more. When I don’t, she pushes herself up from the chair. She tries to hide the pain in her ankle, but her hand goes to the armrest before she puts her full foot on the floor.

“I’m bringing your things here. You can stay in my house tonight.”

“Murphy’s at the guesthouse.”

“Sofia can bring him over. Birdie can stay there if she’s comfortable, with Harris outside and the guards Drew assigned.”

Cassie crosses her arms carefully, protecting the burn on her forearm. “You’ve decided where everyone sleeps.”