AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s the same way I would have snapped at him when it comes to Cora.
Yasha has never been in love before, but I think Jorden might be changing that. And as cold and unfeeling as I am, I don’t want to be what stands between Yasha and the woman he loves. Especially when I don’t think there is much Yasha can do to help me right now.
Where Francia is concerned, I’m on my own.
“Okay,” he says. “Thank you. I’ll stay here and handle whatever. Anything you need, I’m available. I’ll look into Francia and see what I can dig up. But what else is there? What’s your plan?”
That’s a great question. All I’ve done so far is react to the situation in front of me.
Francia disappeared, so I went to look for her.
Cora was kidnapped, so I rushed to save her.
Francia threatened Cora, so I did what I had to do to keep her alive.
Now, finally, it’s my turn to make the first move. And there is only one thing that makes sense.
“We find Cora.”
Yasha sighs. “Yeah. That’s what I want, too, man, but… I have to be honest, I don’t know how to do that. Francia slipped under all of my radars. We had an inkling the Sokolovs were involved, but I never picked up on Mikhail specifically playing a role in all of this. And Cora’s stepdad has been elusive. Alexander McAllister never came up on any of my searches. If he’s working with Mikhail again, they could be hiding Cora anywhere. I don’t know where to start.”
“The usual suspects won’t be of any help. Mikhail has obviously kept his part in all of this quiet, so there won’t be any rumblings about it in the usual places. And we can’t march into Konstantin Sokolov’s office without warning again.”
Especially if what I did to help Katerina escape has made its way back to Konstantin. He will not be pleased with me after hearing that news.
“So we go to a new source,” I continue. “To the person who will have more dirt on Cora’s mom and stepdad than anyone else.”
“Who would that be?” he asks.
“Cora’s father.”
11
IVAN
“No.”
I’m not often stunned, but hearing my house manager defy a direct order is stunning. There's no other way to put it.
“Excuse me?”
Niles lifts his chin. “I said… I said no, sir. I respect you, Mr. Pushkin. Deeply. But I will not work forthat woman.”
I know he remembers Francia’s name. Niles never forgets a damn thing. So if he's not using her name, it's for a very good reason. Probably because saying it three times might summon her like Beetlejuice.
While I was negotiating with Francia, talking to Mikhail, and leaving Cora's ring with Kieran, Yasha called to fill Niles in on the last twenty-four hours. Apparently, the man took the news of Francia's betrayal about as well as the rest of us.
I sigh. “If I could have Cora back here right now, I’d…”
Well, I’d lock her in my room and never let her out. I’d tangle her in my sheets and wrap her in my arms and we’d never come up for air. Niles would have full run of the mansion. He’d never have to take care of me again because I’d be extremely well cared for.
But instead of all that, I say simply, “This is what I have to do to make things right.”
His teeth click together so hard the soft line of his jaw quivers. “She betrayed Ms. Cora. This woman you’re bringing in here hurt my mistress.” His face flushes. He’s embarrassed by his own devotion to Ms. Cora, but that doesn’t stop him. “I won’t lift a finger to serve anyone who hurt Ms. Cora. That woman could be on fire and I wouldn’t bother to spit on her.”
“Holy shit,” I snort, biting back a laugh. “And I thought what you said about Konstantin Sokolov after his first visit here was bad.”
Niles’ hesitant smirk dissolves into a deep frown. “That man hung his jacket on my head like I was a coat rack. When I corrected him, he apologized with a one-dollar bill. They can both share a room in hell.”
