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Sophia and I sit at the kitchen table. Roman’s working out in the gym with Blake to pass the time.
What are we waiting for? Blake insists on finding Dimitri, but I’m not entirely sure why. He obviously left, cutting all ties. Roman and Blake both disagree with my conclusion. So they’ve hired someone to track him down. Which could take ages.
Sophia blows across her hot cappuccino. “I’m with the guys on this, Arianna. We all heard him say he loves you at Christmas Eve dinner. That was only a week ago, and he seemed damned sincere. Did something change in the span of a week?”
I’ve been asking myself that question too. “Not that I know about.”
“Then let’s figure this out, look at the alternatives. You said he forged your signature on those divorce papers. Could his have been forged too?”
“It hardly matters. He left that note. No one but him could have left that note, it was too personal.” My heart breaks all over again when I think of what he wrote.
Sophia sets her cup down, spinning it in her hands as she thinks. “Could anyone else have known that you wanted a divorce in the beginning? I mean the rest of the note’s contents are kind of generic. Anyone can see you two are quite opposite in a lot of ways and guess at there being friction in your relationship because of it.”
“What about the fact it’s his handwriting?” I don’t understand why we’re digging into this. He’s gone. We’re divorced. I should move to my parents place and try to get on with my life. Though every time I think about doing that, I choke on my own tears.
“An expert could have forged it.” Sophia’s so adamant that a tiny ray of hope shines in my heart.
I give her questions some real thought. Who could have known that Dimitri not only forced me into this marriage but also forged my signature? Only one name comes to mind. Maks. He was there in the church. Though so was the priest.
But Maks wouldn’t do something this devious, would he? To what end? And the priest was probably paid to keep his mouth shut.
Coming between Dimitri and me benefits nobody. As far as I can see there’s no motive for anyone to have forced us to divorce.
Unless Maks… Did he convince Dimitri to let me go? Ugh, I don’t know. I’m so frustrated and heartsick. All I want to do is curl up in bed, hide under the comforter, and never come out again.
“Maks,” I tell Sophia. “He’s the only one who knows the details of our marriage. But he has no reason to do this.”
“None that you know of anyway.”
I shake my head and sigh. “He wouldn’t.”
Sophia eyes me. “You trust him that much?”
“I do.” At least I think I do. Though he’s also missing, just like Dimitri and it makes sense for them to be together.
“Okay, then?—”
My phone rings and Maks’s name shows on the screen. Speak of the Devil…
“Maks?” I answer right away.
“Thank fuck. Where are you?”
“I’m at the estate. Why? Where are you?” I’m jittery with nerves.
“We were ambushed on the way to the club last night.”
I suck in a sharp breath.
“Hold on,” he says, then I hear his muffled voice. “I don’t have a fucking minor concussion. I’m checking myself out, now give me my clothes and get the fuck out of my room.”
“Where are you?” I stand up, my heart racing.
“Hospital,” he grunts. “Just leaving. Anyway, they must have grabbed Dimitri because he’s not in here with me and I can’t get ahold of him. I was afraid they might have taken you too.”
They? Who is they?
“No. But everyone’s gone. The caretakers, the guards, everyone at the estate. Who did this?”
