“Where did she go?” Duncan mused. “Tohim?”
I adamantly shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
“She runs to him every time something’s wrong,” Duncan pointed out. “We all know this.”
“He would’ve called me. If she was there, he would’ve called me,” I insisted.
“Sasha’s loyalty is to her,” Duncan said. “Barrett comes first in his mind, always.”
“Not anymore. Quinn is his woman now,” Ash said.
If I’d been alone, I would’ve poured a glass of scotch, damn the time. But I wasn’t alone. Even though I considered Ash and Duncan family, I still didn’t want them to witness my lack of control over this situation. Thank God the lads were with my aunt and uncle. It would’ve been hell trying to explain this to them.
Maybe she’d waited to leave until they were visiting family. I didn’t believe she’d leave her children for any length of time.
“Have you called him?” Ash asked.
“And let him know my wife is missing?” My tone was bitter. “And give him a chance to gloat?”
“Sasha wouldn’t gloat,” Ash insisted. “Not after…not now. He’s changed. As Duncan pointed out, we’ve all changed.”
One thing I knew as a constant was Barrett and Sasha. It was eating me alive not knowing where she was, but I’d be damned if I would call and ask if she was with him.
We were all silent for a moment and then realization dawned. “I’m such an eejit. God, how could I have been so stupid?”
“What?” Duncan asked with a furrowed brow.
“It’s the anniversary,” I announced. “The anniversary of his death.”
Emotion roiled through me as I realized that today was the anniversary of the day Barrett killed Igor Dolinsky.
Chapter6
BARRETT
“Mrs. Campbell!”
I brushed the snow from my peacoat and smiled. “Good afternoon, Hildie,” I said in her native tongue. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Barrett?”
“It wouldn’t be appropriate. Come in, come in,” the housekeeper replied in Russian. “You were supposed to be here hours ago!”
“Ah, yeah. The plane had trouble landing due to visibility, and on the drive here, the snowstorm hit.”
Hildie looked behind me, her already wrinkled forehead creasing even more as she frowned. “You drove yourself from the airport?”
“Da.”
Hildie’s mouth closed and then she shut the door. I was immediately enveloped by warmth and familiarity.
“I’ve had borscht on for a few hours and a loaf of bread has just finished baking.”
I cradled her papery cheek in my hand. “You’re a doll.”
“No luggage, I see.”
“Why pack when I know I have everything I need here?” I asked with a droll smile.
“How long will you stay?” she asked, ushering me into the foyer.
