Page 68 of Stripped

Chapter 31

Wraith was gone when Pim woke up. She rummaged through her ballet bag, pulling out a pair of sweats and an off-the-shoulder warmup sweater. The pile of clothes Gabriel had procured the other night sat on a chair in the corner. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she would handle it better in her own clothes. Changed, she pulled her hair back into a bun and slipped her feet into her warm up boots. She needed to call Peter, but she had no phone. No doubt, he would be worried.

She took a last look in the mirror, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and opened the door to leave. The agent from the other night stood in the hallway. If she remembered right, his name was Sin. His steel gray eyes cold and dark, he looked her up and down. A large sable and white dog sat next to his feet. "Keeping guard, so I don't escape," she said a bit harshly.

"On the contrary, I'm keeping guard for your protection. We don't know much about Viktor Sokolov and as long as he's out there, you're vulnerable." He held his hand out to her. "I don't think we've been formally introduced. Sinclair Stuart."

She gave it a brief shake. "Pim."

"This is William."

"I believe we've met before," she said to the dog.

He gave her a loud woof.

She followed them down the hallway. "Are the girls okay?"

"As good as they can be. The ones in the house are getting reunited with their parents. The authorities are still trying to locate the few who were already sold, but that, unfortunately, can be nearly impossible once they leave the country."

"There was a little one. Annika was her name," she started to ask.

Sinclair stopped and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you. Once I turned it over to the police, I was out of the picture."

She was reminded, in the moment, exactly who she was dealing with. These men were killers themselves. "What makes a man evil, do you suppose?" She wasn't sure why she asked it and regretted it almost instantly.

Sinclair kept walking, but she noticed he slowed just a bit and stiffened. "In what manner are you speaking?"

"In the manner of taking a life."

"In that case, it would depend."

"Depend? A life is a life."

"What about in war? Euthanasia?" he countered. "Self-defense."

"I'm talking about when you don't have authority."

"What if those in authority aren't doing their jobs and people continue to get hurt?" He stopped outside a door. "Are you asking if Wraith is an evil man?"

"No." She looked down, feeling her face grow warm.

"He's not." He tilted her chin up. "Sokolov is an evil man. What he did to you and those girls is evil. Wraith is not that. Me, on the other hand, watch out for; they call me Sin for a reason." He opened the door, not giving her a chance to respond. She followed him into a dining room. Wraith, Alex and Gabriel stood up when she entered.

"I'm glad you could join us, Ms. McNeil," Alex said, setting down his napkin.

"Pleasantries aside, I didn't think I had a choice."

The corner of the colonel's mouth quirked up. "Please, have a seat." He motioned to the chair next to him. She followed Sinclair over to it as he pulled it out for her. Her eyes briefly caught with Wraith's.

"Can I get you anything?" Sin asked.

William seemed content to settle himself at the foot of her chair.

"I'll get it," Wraith said. He went over to the sideboard and made her a plate. When he returned, he set a mug of black coffee and a poached egg with toast down in front of her.

"Can I borrow your phone?" she asked quietly.

"I've already called Peter. He wants you at the theatre by five. We have plenty of time." His hand brushed her bare shoulder, sending goosebumps down her arm.

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