Page 81 of Just One Silver Fox

Katia gave her an intent look. “Well, it works both ways. Call me if you need anything.” She pulled on her boots again and followed Nate with obvious reluctance. She stopped in the corridor and turned back. “For what it’s worth, my plan was brilliant. You could have gone to St. Barts as me.” She waited, as if hoping that would sell the plan, but Sonia just shook her head. Her sister sighed and stomped down the stairs.

Sonia stood listening until they were both gone, the door to the street slamming and locking after them. Then she closed her own door and leaned back against it, realizing that her palms were damp.

She had to solve this, herself.

It was her battle, her war, and she was going to win.

Ten

Satan and his handmaiden.

He always liked you best.

Nate didn’t know exactly what Sonia and Katia had been talking about but he could guess—and he didn’t like his suspicions one bit. In fact, he wanted to hurt somebody, preferably one or both of her parents, for doing such a lousy job of protecting and defending their daughter, even from themselves. It sounded as if Sonia had spoken up, but no one had believed her, which made him even more angry.

Well, one person must have believed her, the person responsible for whatever she’d endured.

Nate had a pretty good idea who that was.

And Nick. The gorgeous dope. No matter how stupid that guy might be, his name made Sonia sigh with rapture. She hadn’t meant what she’d said the night before, or she hadn’t meant Nate to hear. Maybe she’d been practicing her sweet confession for the next time she hooked up with the cinnamon bun.

Nate carried the red bag to the foyer and left it by the door. He could hear Katia coming down the stairs behind him in her heels and realized that she hadn’t changed out of Sonia’s clothes. He had to wonder what the nosy neighbor was making of all this.

“You could have been more help,” she complained when she reached his side.

Nate opened the door. “Except I have this weird conviction that adults should get to make their own decisions.”

“Ha ha.” They stepped out to the street and she dragged the bag down the front steps before shooting a glance his way. “You’re not asking any questions. Do you know the story already?”

Nate could have asked which one, but it didn’t matter. “No. If I ever know it, it’ll be because Sonia chooses to tell it to me.”

“I could tell you. I hate that they’re back together again.”

It was the story about Satan and his handmaiden, not about Nick. “But I don’t think it’s your story to tell, is it?”

Katia frowned and looked unhappy. “No, because I didn’t have her back all those years ago. That makes me part of it, even though that wasn’t my intention. And that means I want to fix it.”

Nate could understand that urge—he wanted to fix it, too. “I think she has to find her own solution.”

“With you?”

Nate shook his head. “I’ve moved out of town. We’re done.”

Katia looked him up and down. “But you’re here.”

“Came back to do one last favor for a friend.”

She surveyed him for a long moment. “That’s too bad, Bucky Barnes. It’d be good for my sister to be able to call on a superhero when she’s in a tight spot.”

Nate was ready to go but he had one last thing to say. He headed for his car, then pivoted to face Katia. “You know, Sonia doesn’t need to be rescued. She doesn’t need anyone to make anything right for her. She can do it herself, and she’s been doing it herself, and you should stay in your lane. Show her a little respect.”

Katia blinked.

Then she rummaged in her purse for her cigarettes. It was odd to watch her, because she looked halfway like Sonia—in Sonia’s clothes with no make-up—and halfway like herself—with the big designer purse and the high-heeled boots, not to mention the attitude, the cigarette and the suitcase. Nate didn’t think she’d reply, but once she’d lit up, Katia looked him in the eye.

“You’re right,” she said. “I always think of her as the fragile one who needs protecting, but you’re right. We’re not kids, anymore. We shouldn’t have to be afraid of seeingthem.”

Did Nate even want to know the nitty gritty details?

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