Page 30 of Sapphire Tears

“I get it,” he says, his voice barely audible over the downpour. “You’re pissed off and you have a right to be. But we’re not going to solve anything by standing out here in the rain.”

“I can look after myself.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” he says. “Not when I’m willing to do it for you.”

The way he says it makes it all sound so simple. It makes me sound so unreasonable. Especially considering everything inside me is screaming with relief to find myself in his arms again.

I never experienced anything remotely like this with Adrian.

And the man literally rose from the dead to find me again.

“Come with me, June.”

If I’m going to survive this, I know I can’t let him convince me. That’s what happened before, and it almost killed me.

And yet when he pulls me towards the car, I go with him.

We walk slowly despite the rain, or maybe because of it. He helps me back into the seat, and I say nothing. I watch his form part the rain as he strides around the front of the car, so strong and so assured and so utterly, completely wrong for me.

He settles behind the wheel and starts the engine.

And we drive.

13

JUNE

I don’t register the cacophony of red and blue lights surrounding the mansion until we’re almost on top of them.

The rain has slowed considerably by now. Enough to allow us to see the crowd of people standing outside the black gates of Kolya’s home with umbrellas. Men and women, all in uniform, all with the pinched expressions of people who aren’t here to deliver good news.

“Kolya…?”

He’s tense. I can tell from his posture that he’s not expecting this, either. We park inside the gates, and he gets out of the car with his chest held high.

“Officers,” he booms as he approaches the herd, “this is private property. Can I ask why you’re blocking my gates?”

“We’ve received a tip,” one of the officers announces, stepping forward. He’s a large man with a silver beard and close-set eyes. “An allegation concerning you, Mr. Uvarov.”

“Alleging what?”

“Abduction, sir.”

That’s when I notice Geneva.

“Oh no, Genny,” I whisper to myself. “What have you done?”

The cops start to inch closer, hemming Kolya in against the car. He looks unbothered by their presence, but I sense that it’s an act. This isn’t his plan, not by a long shot.

“Then I can only say there’s been some sort of mistake, officers,” Kolya says smoothly. “I haven’t abducted anyone.”

“Yes, he has!” Geneva interrupts, pushing between the cops to break through the front line. “My sister. He has my sister!”

I wonder if she can even see me sitting here. The rain has obscured the windshield, twisting all the people outside the car into misty silhouettes.

Kolya glances towards me, and I see the uncertainty in his eyes. If I step outside of the car and back up Geneva’s claim, then he’ll be arrested on the spot.

I open my car door and emerge. The rain is gentle now. Warmer.

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