Page 108 of Rebellion

“I don’t want him coming back in here,” he said to Viktor. “See to it.”

The other man nodded and left the room.

Leaving the two of them alone.

She swallowed heavily and reminded herself that Sacha loved her. Sacha wouldn’t hurt her.

Would he always love her, though?

If he knew it all?

“Don’t look at me like that,” he told her. “I’m mad at you right now, but I would never harm you. You better know that,Kotyonok.”

She jolted in surprise and then winced as her back twinged.

“Sit down, Sofia, you’re obviously in pain. You haven’t been taking care of yourself, have you?”

Guilt filled her.

She was a grown woman. She should be able to look after herself instead of creating issues everywhere she went.

“Sorry,” she whispered as she went to sit on a hard chair.

But he patted the bed. “Here.”

She sat as he climbed off and raised the back of the bed so she could lean back. He knew exactly what she needed, which eased the tension inside her.

This was her Sacha.

He would never harm her.

“Do you need a heating pad? I can send for a nurse.”

This was ridiculous. She felt like such a fake. “You’re the one who is injured. You were shot. I should be taking care of you.”

He shot her a stern look as she tried to move, so she froze. “Stay where you are. Right now, I look a hell of a lot better than you do.”

Charming.

But likely accurate.

He started pacing slowly back and forth across the room. “Tell me.”

This was it.

Her chance to come clean.

“Oleg was abusing me.”

The words were so hard to say, yet as soon as they came out, she felt lighter. Like a weight was gone.

But then she saw Sacha’s face and realized that weight, her burden, had gone straight onto his shoulders.

Guilt hit her hard and fast.

“Sacha, I’m sorry.”

His gaze slammed into hers with a ferocity that stole her breath. “Why would you be sorry?”

---