Page 72 of Guarded Rebellion

I nodded.

“Yeah. Me too,” Marcus said. “Gotta look out for them all, but I thought this shit going on here was because of the Petrov girl being here.”

I shook my head. “The Ilyins have been present too. One got close to Eva at that party.”

“Shit.” Marcus shook his head at me. “You got your hands full.”

I did. And I had no clear direction of who was behind all these incidents.

The Petrovs?

Ilyins?

After talking to the Boss, I was leaning more on the assumption that the Petrovs were the ones causing trouble here. But now…

I headed back to the apartment, unsure who the hell the number-one enemy was anymore.

30

EVA

“Ican see why you’d want to live here instead of the dorms,” Kelly said.

I raised my brows at her. “Well, from what I saw, I can tell that the dorms looked decent.”

She laughed once.

“Maybe the room was small.” I winced. “Cozy,” I amended.

“And out of date.” She looked around at the spaciousness of the living room. “Cramped. I won’t knock it. That dorm was the nicest home I’d ever had. I can’t relate to allthis, though.”

We hadn’t talked in depth about where she’d go since the dorm room was destroyed. We’d pay off the college for any damages. In an effort to control the narrative of what happened there and hide the fact that we’d seen to a man’s death in that room, we would sweep it all under the rug.

I knew that she intended to stay, though. After this semester, she’d resume her studies because she had nowhere else to go.

When I offered for her to move in with me for good, she’d refused, claiming that she wanted distance from my family. I understood. If I were in her shoes, I’d say the same. From the little that she’d seen so far, association with a Baranov came with risks.

Her comment about this fancy apartment didn’t sit right with me, though.

“It’s not about the place that makes somewhere nice and inviting,” I told her, also looking around at the high walls, many windows, and immaculate furniture.

“It isn’t?” She sat up, seeming more curious. “I have to imagine your house is like this, only ten times bigger and fancier.”

“It is,” I admitted freely and without shame. I would never rub my wealth in someone’s face for the sake of trying to feel superior to another. And she knew that. “But it’s more about who you share that space with that makes all the difference.”

“Aww. I like rooming with you too,” she quipped teasingly.

“I was so desperate to leave home because it never felt like a home.”

“Because your dad is a drunk and your mom left?”

I frowned. “Yes, and no. My uncle is always there. But it is also his work space. Meetings are held there. Deals were discussed and arranged there. Soldiers come in and out…”

“Ah.”

“I was most excited to come to college to get out of there and be comfortable in a different place. In a seemingly normal and ordinary location. Like the dorm would’ve been. But it’s not about the structure or building. It’s not about the things that can be used to liven up or decorate a space. It’s about who you share your space with.”

“Like… Lev?” she guessed with a naughty smile.

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