Page 5 of Guarded Rebellion

Why? What changed?While I was giddy with the news that he’d suddenly allow me to do as I wanted, I had to wonder why he’d changed his mind. My uncle wasn’t prone to rash decisions—ever.

“Thank—” I couldn’t finish the instant burst of gratitude, smiling too wide to speak well. I coughed on a breath, stunned speechless.

I’m out of here! I can leave! I canliveon my own terms away from this place for once!

“Thank you, Uncle.” I risked annoying him by approaching him. I kept my hug short and simple, which wasn’t easy to pull off since he remained seated, but I swore he was fighting a smileat my gesture. After the deaths of my cousins, I was the only princess he had. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied in his gruff tone as he patted my hand. “You will, of course, have security.”

I stood back from him, freezing my face into this expression of calmness.

Fuck.

Security?

Here, it was the norm. The headquarters of this Mafia family and the residence of the Boss would naturally be guarded. Those many soldiers who patrolled were a big part of why I wanted to get away and live somewhere where I wouldn’t be watched and kept in place twenty-four, seven.

“A bodyguard,” Oleg added, watching me closely. “If you wish to go to college, you will have security with you.”

Dammit.I nodded, though, obedient on the surface. He could send a soldier out to watch over me on campus.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t try to lose him while I’m there…

3

LEV

It made the most sense for Rurik to drive us to the Baranov mansion where the Boss lived. He made the enormous, lavishly decorated and exquisitely maintained residence his working space as well. The study near the back of the mansion was where we often received our orders. Calling Oleg Baranov a homebody would be an insult, but it seemed the best description for the man who’d taken me in as an orphan.

“An assignment?” Rurik asked, confused when I told him to change the route from my place.

It seemed my plans were toast. Going home to my apartment would have to wait. That hot shower, big steak, and a solid night of sleep in my bed with the pillows I preferred wouldn’t be happening just yet.

Goddammit.

I sighed, letting my shoulders slump with the exhale. “That’s what I said.”

“Damn,” he commiserated, chuckling a little.

When the big boss called, you ran to follow his orders. It didn’t matter what position a man held in this organization. You had to listen to the Boss. When he said jump, you fucking jumped. I’d seen firsthand what happened when new recruitsthought they could take their sweet time with obeying him. It never ended well.

“It seems to me that you might’ve jinxed yourself,” Rurik teased. “All this talk about taking it easy.”

“Ah, shut up.”

“I guess it’ll still be a while before you’ll get some.”

“Peace?”

“And otherwise,” he teased.

“Very funny,” I replied dryly.

The high of having a job well done no longer had me in an optimistic mood. Whatdidthe Boss want? Why would he call me with an assignment already? I hadn’t even fully come home from the last one yet. And I was one among many who worked for the family. It couldn’t be a matter of being short-staffed.

Expectations for soldiers could change from day to day. As a loyal member of the Baranov organization for almost twenty years, I had gone from one assignment to another before. Back-to-back jobs weren’t unheard of. However, I was hopeful that the duration and difficulties of my assignment to take out Yusuf would have granted me some slack.

“What did you say was happening on the home front lately?” I asked Rurik, trying to latch on to a guess in all these musings.

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