Page 39 of The Enemy Protector
Sofia
My gaze sweeps the lobby. I’m always alert, but more now. I just left Anton’s bedside. He’s awake. Mad as hell, but alive and healing. He hates being laid up. But he hates leaving me exposed more.
“Wait,” Gregor mutters and steps in front of me.
Gregor has been extra-vigilant today. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t want to be the next guard to be run down, or he’s genuinely concerned there’s danger lurking.
There’s always danger lurking.
He pushes the button for the elevator. We wait, both of us surveilling our surroundings.
We step into the elevator and for just a second, Gregor relaxes when the doors close.
“Do you know something I don’t?” I ask.
“No.”
“Gregor.”
“Anton called me.”
“And?”
“Said he would cut my balls off if something happened to you. And you know how much Anton loves his blades.”
I smile. “That he does.”
The elevator opens on our floor. Baranov Enterprises.
Gregor steps out. Left. Right. A moment to take it all in.
“Let’s go,” he says.
I follow him to my father’s office—my office. Yeah, his name is on the door, but we know it’s not long before it’ll be my name.
“Thank you, Gregor. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be right outside.”
Of course, he will.
I close the office door and take a seat at the massive desk. I haven’t been here in a few days. I sit down and get to work.
And then I see it.
I freeze, staring at the notepad at the edge of the desk. It’s not the notepad that’s wrong. It’s the writing. Not mine.
I snatch the pad and attempt to read the notes. They’re in Russian. I’m not fluent. I can understand some and speak less, but writing and reading is not something I’m familiar with.
I know my father’s handwriting, and this isn’t it.
Yuri.
I don’t know how I know, but I know.
He’s been here. In my office.
I get to my feet and jerk the door open. Gregor jumps to his feet from where he was sitting outside the door.
