Page 140 of Cruel Juliet

“Master Petyr.” Anya runs into me in the corridor. “Dinner is in the?—”

“I’m not hungry,” I cut her off. “Where’s Sima?”

Anya seems taken aback. “She went out,” she says, like she expected me to know. “To dinner. Kira is with her.”

My brow knits. “Why wasn’t I informed?”

“I’m sorry,” Anya says. “I thought?—”

“No matter.” I wave it off. Keeping me updated about the movements in the house is not on Anya’s long list of duties. It’s the security team who should be on top of these things. “I’ll call Luka.”

“I don’t think he’s with them,” Anya offers. “I cleared his plate a little while ago. The mistresses were already out by then.”

That sets me on edge. “They didn’t take anyone else?”

“I’m not sure.” Anya purses her lips, hesitant. “I didn’t see.”

My fists curl at my side. This isn’t right. Sima knows what’s at stake. She wouldn’t risk her safety for a girls’ night.

Then again, she isn’t a prisoner here. She’s free to come and go as she pleases. If she wanted to go out, I wouldn’t have stopped her. We’re long past that.

But they didn’t take security, and that doesn’t sit right with me.

My jaw tightens. Of all people, Kira should know better. Sima’s new to this, but Kira’s been a Bratva wife for years. She knows how these things work. What the hell was she thinking?

Then I hear the front door.

Relief hits me so hard it hurts.

They’re back. They’re safe.I’m halfway down the hall before I even think about it.

Kira stands in the foyer, coat still on, hair a mess. Her eyes are red. She looks like she’s been crying.

My relief turns to ash.

“Where’s Sima?”

The question comes out too sharp, makes Kira flinch. But I’m not in the mood to police myself. This is my wife we’re talking about.

Kira’s hand tightens on her purse strap. “We went out for dinner,” she says. Her voice is shaking. “She got up to use the bathroom and… she never came back.”

I stop short. “What do you mean, never came back?”

“I waited,” she says. “I called her name. Checked outside. She was just gone.”

My chest goes tight. “She didn’t call you?”

Kira shakes her head. “Nothing. I think…”

“What?” My patience is running out.

When Kira looks up, I can read the hesitation on her face. She doesn’t want to say it, but she doesn’t want to lie to me either.

“I think she ran off again,” she confesses.

I stare at her. The words don’t make sense. Ran offagain. Like this is just something Sima does for fun.

“She wouldn’t.” My voice comes out low. “Not without a reason.”