Page 77 of Take the Sub and Run

Sofie’s breathing sped up as panic gripped her. “Are you arresting me, for real?”

“No,” Andrei said vehemently, slanting a glance at Rolf. “We’re not. But I’m telling you that you could be. That you could be arrested and convicted of forgery.”

“But…but my father said...”

“He lied to you.” Andrei twisted in his seat and took both her hands in his. “About a lot of things, I think.”

Sofie’s face heated with shame. She snatched her hands back from Andrei.

“I know that. I’m not a fool. I know my father isn’t… I know.” She swallowed. “I know.”

“Ms. Vermeer,” Rolf said gently, “you were trafficked as a child. Adopted and groomed for the sole purpose of using your skills for financial gain. Even now, what you’re experiencing is forced labor.”

Sofie shook her head but couldn’t speak. Her cheeks and chest were flushed with shame. She wanted to curl up into a stupid little ball and hide.

“Work or service extracted under penalty of violence is forced labor.”

“My father wouldn’t hurt me. He may not be a good man, but he wouldn’t hurt me.” She barely got the words out through a tight throat.

Rolf’s expression softened. “Ms. Vermeer, the men who attacked you weren’t your father’s enemies. They were hired by your father to scare you into compliance.”

“No! They only came because I left my sanctum.”

“Sofie, Angel, please listen.” Andrei reached for her, but she leaned away and refused to look at him. “Even if he declared your house holy ground, that wouldn’t stop someone from kidnapping you from there.”

“It’s not just my house,” she snapped. “It’s my house, the market, and the Basilica of Saint Nicolas. Those places I’m safe and no one can touch me.”

“That’s not true.” Andrei’s voice was no longer soft and caring.

She whipped around to look at him, shocked at the mocking smile on his face as he lounged back in his chair, legs stretched out and crossed.

“You’re smarter than that. You know that those men weren’t really your father’s enemies.” He arched a brow in challenge, as if to say or maybe you aren’t that smart.

The soul-deep shame that had been burning her from within shifted to a different kind of heat. Anger.

“What I know is that if I leave, I’ll never have the chance to get back what is mine,” she snapped.

Andrei’s eyes glittered. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“What my father is or isn’t doesn’t matter.”

“No, what matters is what you are. And what you aren’t is a thief.”

Days ago, she would have been relieved to hear him say that, but this wasn't a confirmation of her lack of thievery. This was a taunt.

“Not yet, but I will be.”

“Good enough to steal something from the Vatican?” Andrei’s brow arched and he shook his head mockingly.

“Yes,” she shot back. “I will. I’ll get back what’s mine.”

“Please stop planning crimes.” Rolf looked pained. “I can hear you.”

“You're going to go steal back all those ‘copies’ you made?” The mocking way Andrei said copies made Sofie want to strangle him.

“No, I don't care about the copies.”

“Forgeries.”

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