Page 44 of Cruel Redemption

I eyed him, hoping he would yield this to me for just a few minutes.

“Katya, what exactly happened? Does your husband know you left?” I asked.

She nodded. “We got in a huge fight. He’s been following the story about Enzo’s disappearance. Saying horrible things. Awful things. And when Luka was arrested yesterday, it got worse. They didn’t offer me support. It was the first time I could just show my grief and not hide it, you know? And they took it and slapped me with it.” She closed her eyes. “Vasha did not offer to help. Inna didn’t offer to call Mother. Wouldn’t a decent person do that for her daughter-in-law?” She shook her head. “I feel like a surrogate in that house, and it’s not even their baby.”

“What did you say to them?” Luka interrupted.

The emotions were raw and intense. He needed to be gentle with her. This was no longer the girl in the cute white cocktail dress dancing at her arranged engagement party. This was a woman trapped and scared.

“I told Andrey I was leaving.” She was quiet, but firm.

“Did he try to stop you?”

“No. I think that’s what scares me the most. What if he did have something to do with this?” she asked. “What if he knows about the baby?”

I put an arm around her just as Bella walked in with a tray of tea. One of the kitchen staff members followed behind her with a plate of sandwiches. We paused our conversation until they were out of the room again.

Luka pushed off the couch. “Damn it.”

“What?”

“Not one fucking family has come forward. This doesn’t make sense. No one operates like this, Amara. No one.”

I poured a cup of tea for his sister. “You’re right. They don’t.” I placed the pot on the tray. “I think we have to start looking outside of the firms.”

“And how big does the circle go?”

I exhaled. “I think I need to start with the Crescent Towers project.”

He crossed the room. “Do you know something?”

“No. But it’s the most important project I have. The legislation. The contractors in the state. It’s huge. It touches everything. The reach is bigger than the families. Enzo is a critical piece in how all my projects operate. Maybe someone wanted to hurt me by taking him.”

“Both of you. They wanted you both,” he growled.

He rubbed the back of his head. He still hadn’t had a chance to shave. He looked sexy with beginnings of a beard. I knew it wouldn’t last past dinner. It made his eyes seem darker. His stare harder. I would never get used to sharing air with a man who looked like Luka. His presence had a way of overwhelming every space.

“We need Barbara over here. And I’ll call Viktor.”

I gasped. “Are you saying our legal teams are going to work together.”

“They will.” He pressed his lips together.

He was in one of his moods where nothing would get in his way or dissuade him.

I looked at Katya. What were we going to do with her and the fallout?

“I have plenty of rooms. Why don’t you find one you like, and you can get some rest?” I suggested. “You’ve got to be tired.”

“I can’t sleep.”

“You should try,” I urged. “If Andrey does call, you want to be able to think clearly. I’m sure you haven’t slept much at all.” I thought about how I tossed all night in my empty bed without Luka.

“I’m not going back.” Her lips pressed together. “I can’t.” Her hand was protective against her belly. “This baby deserves better than the Petrovs.”

Luka spun to face her. “There is too much going on for you to leave that family right now. You can’t walk out on the contract that was signed at your marriage.”

“Are you telling me I can’t?” she challenged him.

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