Her friend rambled nervously, repeating herself.
“You can’t go back with him. That’s crazy.” She couldn’t believe what Maya suggested.
“I don’t have a choice. Too much is riding on me staying where I am. I have to help them. I’m not the only one.”
“The containers. Are you talking about the containers?”
“Yes and no. It’s complicated.”
Rhia clutched Maya tight and willed the tears that wanted to make their debut under control.
“I didn’t realize the kind of man Bjorn was until it was too late. They use him as the bait and once they have you, there’s no leaving. Thank God you didn’t take my advice. And don’t trust—”
Sevastyan’s office door opened and she took a couple of paces back from Maya, who fell to her knees when Dimitris cut his gaze to hers. “You know how I am about disobedience, child.”
“Yes, Master,” Maya muttered, and Rhia’s heart shattered into a million jagged pieces.
With Maya so close she had to do something or she feared no one would see the woman again.
“Volkov, I fear I must decline your gracious offer for this evening’s pleasure and return my submissive to her home.” His cold, beady eyes glued to where Maya knelt.
“I understand,” Sevastyan offered.
Rhia fumed on the inside, but on the outside, she stayed cool and poised, so rigid her father would be proud of the poker face she held in place with nothing more than determination and love for a friend. Not a lick of emotion lived in Sevastyan’s words. As if he didn’t know Maya, didn’t care for the woman under his roof. Hadn’t Roman said anyone within Haven’s walls was under their protection? Or did that only extend to her? Well, screw them. If anything, she could follow them and find out where they were taking Maya. From there she could call every acronymed agency in a twenty-mile radius and pull in the cavalry.
“Gentlemen, please excuse me. Sir, a pleasure.” What was one more lie really? She bowed her head and ignored Sevastyan’s silent glare that screamed for her to obey his former order for her to stay put. After tonight one thing had become crystal clear, no one would have that much control over her.
With a solid plan in place, she ducked out the back and let the late evening mask her presence as she slid behind the wheel of her car with only a whispered prayer as backup.