Page 68 of Mr. and Mrs. Novak

36. The deal

RUSLAN

A deep voice pulls me from sleep. Slow, measured, but filled with restrained reproach.

"You should never have brought him here, Sophia."

I keep my eyes closed. My body is still numb from the pain and the painkillers, but my mind is already alert.

"He’s my husband," Sophia replies firmly. "I made the only possible decision. He risked his life to protect me. I wasn’t going to wait for administrative approval while we were being shot at in the middle of the street."

The man lets out an annoyed sigh.

"It’s not your call to make. This safe house follows strict protocols. You just put us in a complicated situation. You should have gotten him cleared as soon as you got married."

"I know."

And I understand why she didn’t. Natasha. It’s hard to trust someone with your safety when that someone is the person who just betrayed you—when that person was holding another woman in his arms on his own wedding day.

I slowly open my eyes. Dimly lit room. Sophia stands at the door, arms crossed, unwavering. In front of her, a man in a suit, probably in his forties, with piercing eyes. A superior, clearly.

I try to move, a dull pain pulses in my shoulder. I grit my teeth and sit up.

"If the problem is me, then let’s settle it right now," I say, my voice rough.

They both turn toward me. Sophia frowns.

"Rest, Ruslan."

I ignore her and lock eyes with the man in front of me.

"I can help you with your investigation. I have evidence. Names. Recordings. You want a trade?"

The guy watches me, weighing my words. He doesn’t like it. But he’s listening.

"Go on."

I push the blanket aside and lean against the headboard.

"Turns out I discovered that Stanford is using my company to carry out his trafficking. Since then, my partners and I have started gathering evidence against them. I’ve compiled a full file on his accomplices."

I see interest spark in his eyes.

"If you want to take down this network, you’ll need us. And in exchange, we want your protection."

The man sighs, runs a hand over his face, thinks for a second. Then he nods.

"Alright. But from now on, you follow my rules."

I glance at Sophia. She’s tense, but she knows we just secured an advantage.

"We have a deal."

The man, however, isn’t done with me yet.

"If you break Sophia’s heart again, just know—I know how to make bodies disappear."

"Oh, boss, that’s so sweet. I knew you loved me." Sophia says.