Page 22 of Inheritance

"Ivan is here."

"How do you know it was him? Is he still there?"

His tone shifted, but he stayed calm.

"No, he’s gone. I’m fine, I just want to leave."

“Where are you exactly, right now?”

“In a fucking janitor’s closet.”

Another pause. Then, “Good. Stay there. A car will be outside in a minute. Stay on the phone with me until you’re inside.”

I waited silently on the phone with him for what felt longer than a minute.

“Okay. Go outside.”

I followed his instructions, slipped out of the closet, smiled nervously at the janitor, and left the building, saw the sleek blackcar coming to a stop and didn’t hesitate, dropping the act and running as fast as I could in heels, which wasn’t fast at all.

I slipped inside and pulled the door shut behind me. The car lurched forward, and I sighed in relief.

“I’m in.”

"Tell me what happened," he said.

I rubbed a hand along the side of my goosebumped arm.

“I was ready to leave. The auction wasn’t over, but my piece had already sold, so I tried to slip out. I noticed he was following me, so I ducked into a closet. There was a janitor?—”

“Calm down. Breathe.”

I took a shaky breath.

“Ivan came looking for me. He described what I was wearing to the janitor. Said I was his date.”

I heard Gabriel exhale, low and measured. "How do you know it was Ivan? What did he look like?"

I hesitated. "Someone called his name."

Another pause.

“Gabriel?”

“I’m here. He couldn’t have recognized you, or known you would be there. Tonight was just bad chance, but you’re safe. I never would have sent you there if I’d known he would be there.”

“I know,” I said, feeling exhausted.

“I’ll see you soon, Sophia.”

“See you soon.”

Gabriel

“So, Ivan Sinclair was at the museum. Completely unguarded,” Damien drawled, leaning casually against the wall in the war room.

Nikolai leaned in, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Had we known, you could have taken him out.”

I shook my head. “I’m sure he had guards, Nikolai. They were just among the crowd, blending in.”