Page 61 of Take the Sub and Run

“Your father. He’s someone powerful enough that you don’t dare leave.”

She shook her head. “It’s not safe to leave.”

“Because your father has you creating forgeries for dangerous people. And he’s one of them. I’m betting you could make yourself a passport if you wanted to, because we know Colette had several.”

Sofie only smiled.

He wanted to kiss her and then put her over his knee and then kiss her again.

“Sofie,” he barked.

“Yes?” She seemed entirely unruffled.

“You know that what you’ve experienced is human trafficking. You were adopted, relocated, and forced to work. That’s a crime.”

Sofie merely gazed back at him, but there was a faint blush of shame on her cheeks.

“You clearly had access to the internet, and read all sorts of things.”

Now the blush was something else. That’s what he’d wanted, to shift her attention away from the feeling of shame so many victims felt.

“The man you call father adopted you because of your artistic talent and put you to work forging paintings.”

She raised her chin and held his gaze but didn’t speak.

“You’re smart enough and skilled enough to leave if you wanted to. But you haven’t, and I know why.”

“I would be very surprised if you do.”

“Your father is a member of law enforcement, isn’t he?”

Agent Baas sucked in a shocked breath, but didn’t say anything.

“Someone who handles art crimes,” Andrei went on. “Is he with Carabinieri Art Squad, Europol cultural crime?”

Andrei watched Sofie as he spoke. He wasn’t looking for confirmation he was right—he was sure he was right. He was watching for fear, because fear and a certainty that she could never get away was the only thing that made how she’d behaved back at her house make sense.

But a small line appeared between her brows—a frown of confusion.

“No. He isn’t with any agency or police.”

Andrei blinked. He’d been so sure…

“Then why do you stay?” He dropped into a crouch in front of her. “Angel, given the timing and what happened, I think your father is the person who sent those men into your house to scare you.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No. He wouldn’t risk hurting me.”

“Wouldn’t risk it because you’re a valuable asset?”

She nodded, but didn’t meet his gaze.

“Maybe I am wrong. What did the men say?"

“They said that they would have taken me at the museum if you hadn't kidnapped me first."

“Excuse me?” Agent Baas interjected.

“No, it’s fine, we had sex afterward,” Sofie said bluntly.

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