Page 8 of Cherished By the Sinners

Magnus got to his feet.“Protective?”

“He made a vow to keep her safe.”

“Did you explain to him that she is underourprotection?”

Mason let a satisfied smile slide over his face.“I didn’t have to, Darlene physically held me back.He noticed and acknowledged her claim.”

Magnus sat back down slowly, nodding his head.

Mason let some of his frustration out in his voice, growling, “She was angry.When she put it all together, understood that we watch her, it made her angry.”

“Why?”

“She said we didn’t have the right to do that.She’s afraid she will lose her job.”

Magnus snorted the same disbelief Mason felt.

“She’s also afraid we will get into trouble.She says she cares about us.”Mason took a couple more steps inside the room.“We might want to change our strategy.She isn’t like most women.I don’t think waiting for her to become comfortable with us is going to work.”

“We want herbecauseshe isn’t like most women,” Magnus said.He watched the screens again, but Mason didn’t think he saw what was on any of them.

“We should ask Anna for her advice.”

“Do you think she can help us?”

“She isn’t like most women either.”

“True.Let’s ask now.”

They found Anna working in Yvgeny’s apartment.

She glanced up when they entered, one eyebrow raised at the appearance of both of them at the same time.

Normally, they went about their duties in a way that put one of them on roving patrol around the building, while the other manned the security office or performed other tasks near the lobby.

By the time they came to a stop in front of Anna, who was seated at Yvgeny’s never-used dining table, she’d refocused her attention on the computer in front of her.Alone.

“Where is Evan?”Mason asked.

She didn’t look up.“He has gone shopping.”

“You let him go alone?”Magnus asked, concern laced through his words.

“What is he shopping for?”Mason asked.Anna would never let Evan do something that would jeopardize his safety and security.Something else was going on.

She finally looked at them and smiled as if they were complete strangers.“Is there a problem?”

“Not with the hotel,” Mason said.

Silence.

After a moment, she raised one eyebrow.“You have a problem with something else?”

“Darlene,” said Magnus.

Both Anna’s eyebrows rose.“What did she do?”

“Nothing,” Mason said, on a sigh.