Page 63 of Take the Sub and Run

She sighed, shoulders slumping a little. “I can’t tell you.”

“I’ll protect you,” he vowed, meaning every word.

She looked at Agent Baas, and he could tell from the set of her jaw she wasn't going to say anything.

“Agent Baas, give us the room.”

The other agent hesitated only a moment before getting up and leaving.

Andrei waited, hoping that being alone was enough, but after the click of the door closing behind the other agent, Sofie was silent.

But then she looked up and their gazes met.

His angel's eyes were a beautiful blue, but not one shade. Her eyes were the sea at sunset or dawn when the water, sky, and horizon were all distinct shades of blue.

Her lips parted as she let out a soft breath. He saw the tension leave her neck as if she finally let go of a heavy weight.

She was going to tell him who her father was. Not because he was an Interpol agent. Not because he'd been in that tree to catch her as she made her ridiculous escape attempt.

She was going to tell him because she trusted him.

“My father is the prefect of the Vatican Secret Archive.”

Fifteen

Sofie felt oddly light.

There was a not inconsiderable part of her that was in a blind panic over what she’d just done.

She’d never before told anyone who her father was.

It wasn’t that it was a secret. Certainly some people knew, because the only way his declaration that her home was holy ground held any weight was if they knew his connection to the Vatican. Her father's enemies, or perhaps it was more accurate to say rivals, respected the church enough to honor his declaration.

The men who’d invaded her home at least knew that her home had been declared holy ground, even if they didn’t know specifically who her father was. That’s why they hadn't done more than scare and slap her.

Yes, her father’s identity was known to some, her home's status known to an even wider circle than that.

But she’d never told anyone.

She’d never had anyone she trusted enough to tell.

And now that she had told someone, her body felt lighter than it had before.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Colette held up her hand, clicking her tongue in a very French way. “What you’re saying…it’s all too disconnected. Sofie, just tell us everything from the beginning to now.”

Sofie wiggled into a slightly more comfortable position and thought about where to start.

She, Andrei, Colette, and Landon were in a partially completed bar and lounge area on the glass floor, as she’d decided to call it.

She hadn't been able to see this room previously, given that it was on the opposite corner of the building from the playroom she and Andrei had used, with the elevator bank blocking direct line of site. This space had a view not only of the river which curved in just past the building, but also the skyline and lights of Amsterdam. If this area once had small glass offices, they’d been removed, leaving a large open space.

And unlike the other spaces on this floor, here there was no visible BDSM equipment, or hints as to the purpose of this place.

A bar was being built against the back of the elevator bank—the bar itself was in place, as was the plumbing for the sinks and the under counter dishwasher, but the glasses were still in their boxes. A bank of small refrigerators was installed and plugged in under the back counter, which is where Colette had gotten the cold bottle of mineral water Sofie now held as she sat on a long, low leather couch.

Andrei was beside her, slumped on the couch with his eyes closed, a Belgian beer in one hand. The other arm was laid out along the back of the couch. His hand almost brushed Sofie’s shoulder.

She kept waiting for him to touch her again, but so far, he hadn’t. Even when he’d led her upstairs after saying goodbye to Agent Baas.

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