Page 40 of Tied to Hope
Knowing that Rytsar would have handed her the letter if he’d wanted her to read it, she left it where it was and walked out with Hope to join him on the beach.
Once she reached him, she stood beside him in silence.
“Did you read it?” he asked gruffly.
“No.”
“Good.”
Brie’s heart ached, knowing whatever that letter contained had deeply upset him. But not understanding the cause of it was eating her up inside.
“Is there any way I can help?” she offered.
Rytsar put his arm around Brie, pulling her to him as he continued to stare at the ocean in silence. Hope seemed to sense the gravity of the situation and did not squirm as he hugged Brie in his tight embrace.
She laid her head against his chest and could hear his heartbeat—it was racing.
Brie closed her eyes, trying to calm her own heart, which had begun racing, too. Whatever was in that letter had shaken Rytsar to the core.
They stood there for so long without moving that Sir must have noticed from their own home, because he came up behind them and asked jokingly, “Are you having a private moment or can I join?”
When Rytsar turned to meet his gaze, Sir immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not ready to talk about it,moy droog.”
Sir’s expression changed from a look of concern to one of compassion as he placed his hand on Rytsar’s shoulder. “I’m here for you, brother.”
Brie could feel Rytsar’s muscles relax in response to Sir’s physical touch. Nodding, Rytsar kissed Hope on the head and looked out at the ocean again.
They stood in silence, both Sir and Brie wondering what could have befallen Rytsar to leave him so bereft.
Brie continued to listen to his racing heartbeat as the waves crashed against the shoreline. She tried to focus on the sound of the waves to keep from totally freaking out.
Finally, Rytsar let out a deep sigh and released his hold on her.
“I have calls to make.”
Sir asked him, “What can I do to help?”
Rytsar shook his head. “Nothing, comrade. This is something I must do alone.”
“Surely, there is something?” Sir insisted.
Rytsar shook his head sadly, leaving them on the shore as he walked back to his house alone.
Sir turned to Brie. “What happened?”
She frowned, looking at Sir in concern. “He received a handwritten letter from a submissive in Russia. That’s all I know.”
Sir looked back toward Rytsar’s beach house with a worried expression. “I’ve never seen him like this.”
A shiver ran down Brie’s spine. She knew the two men had been close ever since college and Sir had seen Rytsar through some particularly violent times.
“I’m scared, Sir…”
Hope started fussing in her arms.
Sir took her from Brie and smiled reassuringly. “There is no reason to be scared. Whatever has happened, we will address it once we know what we’re dealing with.”
