Page 135 of Surly Sheriff
“Still…” He dropped his head and uttered a curse.
Rae placed her hand on his arm. “You told me about the tunnel and the dinghy. It got us out.”
Andrei’s lips quirked up at the corners. “If anyone had the gumption to leave that hellhole, it was you. Fuck, Inessa, but you had such spirit, and I’m truly pleased you got away before—” He expelled a harsh breath. “I hope that you and Kat can forgive me for not doing more?”
“I cannot speak for my sister, but I never blamed you, Andrei.”
“Kat … how is she?”
Beau grunted something unintelligible, and Rae transferred her hand from Andrei’s arm to Beau’s.
“My sister has risen above her past.”
“Good. I …” He looked over her shoulder for a beat because focusing on her again. “I was at the courthouse today. If things went south … I was going to come forward, corroborate your testimony.”
“Should’ve done so years ago,” Beau accused. “At the first trial.”
Andrei’s gaze moved to Beau. “You’re right. By then I was in Cape Town enjoying the anonymity at university. I wanted nothing to do with the Liminov name.” He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a card. “My personal cell number is on there. Keep it, throw it out, that’s up to you.”
Beau grabbed the card from him. “Andrei … Sokolov?”
“My mother’s name.”
“Andrei runs Sokolov Shipping,” Rae added.
Her cousin’s brows hiked up. “You’ve been keeping track of me?’
“I have a family,” Rae stated. “And go to great lengths to keep them safe.”
Andrei fixed his stare on Beau, and slowly nodded. “Figured you were more than a bodyguard.”
“Damn straight,” Beau retorted.
A smile spread across Andrei’s face as he looked from Beau to her. “I’m happy for you, Inessa, and I really hope you make use of the number on the card.”
She moved closer to Beau. “We’ll … consider it, Andrei,” she said.
“Spasibo.” He took a step to the side. “It was wonderful seeing you, Inessa.Da svidania.”
Until we meet again.
Part of her liked that idea. “Da svidania,Andrei,” Rae replied, smiling.
With a nod, her cousin turned and walked away to his vehicle three rows away. They watched until the Lexus disappeared out of the parking lot.
“That was … unexpected,” Rae murmured.
Beau held the card between his fingers. “Keep? Toss?”
She took the card from him and dropped it into her jacket pocket, in no mood to make such a weighty decision. “I’ll think on it. Talk to Felicity. Right now, I want to go back to the hotel and get rid of this awful disguise. My skin is itching like crazy under all the makeup.”
Looking into the eyes of the man she loved beyond measure, Rae added, “And then I want to go home and hug our son and start the rest of our lives.”
Epilogue
“They’re here! They’re here!” Jack shouted, racing into the kitchen.
Rae gave her son an indulgent smile. While her excitement did not match her son’s, she was looking forward to seeing Aubrey and Chance and spending Thanksgiving weekend with them.
