Page 52 of Take the Sub and Run

He squeezed her. “No it was not.”

“How do you know, you didn’t do it?”

“I meant, it wasn’t fun for me.”

The bark was scratchy against her bare feet, and Sofie was fairly certain her lower legs were scratched up, thanks to the smaller branches she’d scraped past in her mad scramble.

Andrei rested his chin on her head. “We can’t stay in this tree.”

“Why not.”

“Either your assailants are still in your house, or they’re not. Either way, we need to get away from here.”

“Away?”

“Yes. We’ll go to… Shit.” He paused to think. “I’ll get a hotel and we’ll work this out. I can’t take you to the Interpol offices. Too many questions.”

“No.” She jerked back, remembered they were in a tree, and reversed course, slamming herself against his chest hard enough he grunted.

“What exactly are you saying ‘no’ to?” His question was dangerously mild.

“I can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

“Because this is the only place I’m safe.” She pointed back over her shoulder at her house.

Andrei chuckled.

Why was he laughing?

“Angel, you can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“Three men just pulled you out of bed.”

“You saw that?”

Instead of answering, he gently gripped her chin, forcing her head away from his chest. “Did they hit you?”

“Just once.”

He turned her face to the moonlight. She wasn’t sure if there was something visible, but when he released her, his jaw was tight.

“The point is, your home clearly isn’t safe.”

“It is. It’s the only place. There and the store.”

Andrei stared at her, then firmly pushed her body away from his. Not far, and he guided her hand to grip the thick branch above them.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“We are getting out of this tree.”

“Oh.”

Andrei climbed down one branch, then reached up and guided her down with him.

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