“In that case, I’ll take my time.”
CHAPTER 34
THEA
Icatch Amanda in the foyer as she’s leaving Gabriel’s office.
When she sees me coming down the stairs, she pauses, offering me that tight, professional smile that I’m used to getting from her.
“Thea. How are you feeling?”
She looks me up and down, as if she might catch sight of some important detail about my current state.
Or maybe she’s sizing me up.
“Better, thanks. The nausea’s actually been manageable these last few days.” I reach the bottom of the stairs, suddenly unsure how to bring up what I want to ask her about. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course.” She glances at her watch. “I’ve got a few minutes, actually.”
We move to the small sitting room adjacent to the entry hall. It’s a little nook with two chairs, a small circular table, and a niceview of the front stretch of the property. It’s a great place for a first cup of tea in the morning.
“What’s on your mind?” Amanda asks as she settles into the chair with practiced grace.
I take a deep breath. “I want to know what’s happened to Sylvie.”
Her expression doesn’t change, but something flickers behind her eyes. “Sylvie?”
“I wasn’t the only girl who was auctioned off that night. Sylvie is my friend.”
She winces. “Thea?—”
“I know it’s dangerous to ask. And it’s not like you can just march into Kolya’s place and demand answers.”
“You’re certainly right about that.”
“And I also know that Gabriel probably doesn’t want me thinking about it. But she’s my friend, Amanda. We’ve known each other for years. And I don’t have many people in my life like her.” The words are tumbling out. “I need to know if she’s okay.”
Amanda nods slowly, processing everything I’ve just told her.
“It’s not going to be easy information to obtain,” she says, her tone careful. “Kolya and his operations aren’t exactly transparent. Asking questions about any one of his acquisitions could draw attention. And right now isnotthe time to make Kolya paranoid.”
Acquisition. The word makes my stomach crawl.
“But is there any way to find out?”
She nods. “I can try. I have a few contacts in the DA’s office—people who track organized crime activities. If your friend is being held somewhere, they might have some intelligence on her.”
“Thank you.” The relief is immediate and overwhelming. “Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Her tone sharpens. “And don’t get your hopes up. As you can probably guess, when a woman is acquired in such a manner, they tend to drop off the map and they don’t often resurface—at least not in ways their loved ones might recognize.”
The words hit me like a splash of ice-cold water.
She sighs. “This isn’t going to be easy to hear, so forgive the bluntness. But Kolya has a reputation for tiring of his new girls quite quickly. If that’s the case?—”
“I understand.” I cut her off because I can’t bear to hear the words.
“Okay, then. I’ll make some calls,” she says, then stands. “It may take some time. These things require delicate handling.”