Page 4 of Take the Sub and Run

“Among other things.” He released her chin to circle her delicate neck with his hand.

“But how would you get me there? I’ll scream.”

“Is that a challenge, Angel?” The endearment slipped out, that image of her seeming to glow imprinted on his brain.

“It’s a statement. I will scream and tell them you’re kidnapping me.”

“All right, then. Let’s see.”

Andrei hauled her away from the door, bent, and planted his shoulder in her midsection. He stood, one arm wrapped over the backs of her knees. She made a little yelping sound, but he’d knocked the air out of her with that move, and it wasn’t loud enough to draw attention over the low hum of conversation and string instruments coming from the gala on the other side of the curtain. Small hands dug into his back as she braced herself.

Andrei strode not back through the gala—too much attention—but down the hall toward the exit on to the gardens. Rijks Museum was large, but he’d committed the layout to memory in preparation for tonight.

“Sir,” a security guard said as he approached the door. “You can’t be here.”

Sofie sucked in air.

Andrei bounced her on his shoulder, as if adjusting her weight. The air she’d taken in escaped as a whoosh as her midsection thudded against his hard shoulder.

“She’s a little drunk, and my investors are here. They can’t see my wife like this.”

“Sir, you have to exit out the front.”

“Fine, fine. Can you help me get there without anyone seeing?”

The guard frowned, then brought the mic on his shoulder to his mouth. He spoke Dutch now rather than the English they had been speaking, so Andrei couldn’t follow it, but a second later, the guard nodded to him. “You may exit here. There are signs in the garden that will direct you back to the front.”

“Thank you so much.” Andrei adjusted Sofie again, and this time she grunted. Having his shoulder jammed into her midsection couldn’t feel good, but he had no problem causing a sub a little discomfort.

A second later, they were outside, the night cold. Andrei strode toward where he’d parked the rented van. He’d gotten a larger vehicle specifically because he knew there was a possibility Landon would end up hauling a "less than fully willing" Colette out of the museum.

They hadn’t anticipated an accomplice. Sofie was a fun little surprise.

Andrei let her slide off his shoulder when they reached the van. She tried to run, but he wrapped an arm around her middle and hauled her into the back of the van, climbing in with her.

“You’re kidnapping me!” She sounded outraged more than scared. And maybe a little excited.

He really fucking loved subs.

“You would prefer I arrest you?”

She froze. “You can do that?”

“Yes.” And technically, he could. He’d just have to turn her over to local law enforcement and then do a mountain of paperwork requesting they transfer custody to Interpol.

Kidnapping was simpler.

“Oh. You’re Interpol. Like Landon.”

Andrei paused, realizing he hadn’t identified himself. As far as Sofie knew, he was a stranger who had, in fact, kidnapped her.

Given that, she was surprisingly calm.

Andrei pushed her into a seat, then forced her arms around the back of the chair, cuffing her wrists together.

He turned up the volume on his earpiece, but the crackling static meant he and Landon were too far apart for the devices to work.

“You…handcuffed me!” Sofie sounded shocked rather than scared.

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