Page 106 of Take the Sub and Run

“Enough, Sofie. They were made for the glory of God and are being used for the greed of man.”

“But I've made copies of paintings with no religious content. Not painted by Catholics. You keep mentioning van Gogh, but only a handful of his works depict anything religious.”

“I said enough.” Noah tapped the metal tip of his cane hard on the stone floor. The sound rang like a shot.

Sofie flinched, curling in on herself, but only for a moment. She was brave and this was an adventure. A terrible, terrifying adventure, but an adventure nonetheless.

“What about the money? People paid you for the paintings I made. Where did that money go?"

“To do good works.”

“To do good works, or did you give it to your sister so she could remodel this house?”

Again, she hoped for a gotcha moment, but Noah just shook his head.

“I did not want you to feel so alone. That's why I let you live in the city where there were people all around. But I feared that the protection I gave you was not enough."

“Protection? The men who came into my home…you sent them."

“That place is not your home anymore. I think it's best you live here now. It will be less convenient for those who wanted to work with you, but I will find an intermediary.”

Sofie shook her head. “I'm not staying here. And I'm not staying in Amsterdam either.” She raised her chin. “I'll keep your secrets, Father. I have to because I now know that you lied and what I've been doing is a crime, even if I never knowingly created something so it could be sold as the original. So I know that if I try to go to the authorities, I will end up in prison.

“But I'm done. From now on, I will only paint for myself. For my own joy.” She looked up at the wall, at the near sum total of her life’s work. “I will come back for these and then I’ll disappear.”

Noah tapped his cane on the floor again, this time twice in rapid succession.

“No, Daughter,” he said kindly. “I’m afraid you won’t.”

The door opened, and three men appeared. There was something terrifyingly familiar in their builds, though this time she could see their faces.

Noah gestured to her with one hand. “Please take my daughter upstairs.”

She still hadn't really believed that it was her father who had sent those men to hurt and scare her. Still doubted that he would do her any real harm, even as they chased her through the house, one punching her in the stomach when they finally caught her. She doubled over on the floor, mouth opening and closing as she desperately tried to get air into her lungs.

“Take her upstairs,” her father said. “I’m sad it has come to this, but I’m glad we prepared.”

Twenty-Two

“No one had seen her. I asked at the market, and at that church.” Colette’s voice was tight with worry.

Andrei paced his gate at the airport. It felt maddeningly like he could have walked to Amsterdam in less time than it took to fly there from London. He’d bought the ticket this afternoon, but the only flight with space was this late-night one that was currently delayed an hour.

The fact that he didn’t know how long she’d been gone, let alone where she was, was killing him.

“She definitely flew back here yesterday?” Landon’s voice was distant. Colette must be holding the phone.

“Yes, confirmed with immigration on both ends. She landed in Amsterdam yesterday morning. She must have gotten on the first flight out.”

He felt slightly sick, thinking of her going from the club immediately back to the airport. Probably sore. Maybe in sub drop. He’d done hours of aftercare, but she deserved better.

His angel who’d rarely done more than go to the store and church but was so terrifyingly fearless at times.

“Did you see the papers I gave her in her place?” he asked. “Interpol envelope.”

“No. I didn’t. She might have tucked them away. She has secret vaults and safes in some of the walls.” Colette’s tone brightened, but if was forced. “Maybe she went to a hotel. Or a spa. I wish you’d been able to track her phone.”

Andrei closed his eyes. Once he'd had her number, he tried to track her phone, but she had ridiculously high security on it that prevented him from getting access. A panicked call to Rolf hadn't helped as even Rolf’s clearance wasn't high enough. She must have somehow been given diplomatic level credentials on that phone to prevent tracking. He doubted she had any idea, but it was another way Visser had isolated her.

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