Page 82 of Beautiful Secrets

He saved Sarah, and he did so as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Some men would first have considered their odds. Two against three—and with no way of knowing if the men in the alley were armed. And that would have given them enough reason to either not interfere at all, or go and get help.

Which would have taken too long.

Sarah might have lost her baby if Cole had reacted just a second slower than he had. Some men are brave just so they can prove they have no fear—Cole does not seem to care. Not about death, not about what others think. His bravery is pure and selfless.

All he cares about is forcing my father to leave his country.

After what I witnessed last night, the time we have spent together…I’m almost embarrassed that I cannot give him what he wants.

“We had a deal,” Cole says, but he’s looking at Derek, not me. “That fucker can’t try and wriggle out of it.”

Derek puts a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “The deal is still on. You’ll just have to wait a little longer.”

“I’ve been waiting five—” Cole cuts off with a grimace.

The house goes silent.

My eyes flicker to each of them as I try to piece together what they are talking about.

“You know what?” Cole purses his lips, and waves a dismissive hand. “It doesn’t fucking matter. None of this shit—” another wave, this time including me “—matters.”

As soon as he heads for the door, Sarah calls out, “Where are you going?”

“Back to the hotel,” he mutters before slamming shut the door behind him.

The living room falls silent, but Sarah flinches when Cole’s car revs loudly outside, and hugs herself when he pulls away with a squeal of tires against the tarmac.

We sit in silence for a few minutes before anyone dares to speak.

“I’m so sorry, Mika,” Sarah says. “I guess he’s not used to—”

She cuts off at the sound of a car pulling up.

“Is that…?” She turns to Derek, but he shakes his head.

“That’s not Cole.”

They’ve come for me.

My blood runs cold at the thought. I slide off the stool, wobbling before I can steady myself against the table.

How? How did they find me?

Oh God, this cannot be happening.

My reaction doesn’t go unnoticed. Derek is watching me with narrowed eyes, hands clenched.

I can’t go back.

If my father finds out…orYuri?

Derek strides over to the window and draws back the curtain just far enough to peer outside. His shoulders slump, and he’s wearing a resigned expression when he turns to look past me at Sarah. “I thought you spoke to Meisie?”

Sarah blinks at him. Gets hurriedly to her feet. “Crap, hon. I…I totally forgot.”

Derek’s mouth pulls into a line, but then he shakes his head and waves at Sarah, dismissing her concern.