Anisimov gave a nod of satisfaction.
“Wait. I want your reassurance that Colm is going to survive this. Without injury,” Rogan added.
Colm didn’t even care that much about his safety. As long as he got his licks in with that bastard, Oleg.
“I’ll return him to you,” Aleksandr said. “In one piece.”
“You don’t have to go,” Rogan said to him quietly.
“But I do. Don’t worry, I’m going to enjoy this.”
24
“Can we stop at my place to get my phone and handbag?” Sofia asked Igor.
The other man just nodded. He wasn’t much of a talker, but that was all right. Sofia wasn’t in the mood to talk.
They headed to her house and she walked in with Igor following behind her.
“Uh,” she said, turning to give him a confused look.
“The Pakhan doesn’t want you out of my sight.”
“Even to use the bathroom?”
His cheeks colored slightly. “I’ll wait in the living room.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thanks.”
After grabbing her handbag, which was still on the sofa where she’d left it, she rushed into the bathroom.
She did need to pee, which she took care of quickly, but then she grabbed her phone. Seeing that it still had five percent battery left, she sent a message to Colm.
Sofia:Hey, I just wanted to check in on you. I’m back home. I, uh, thanks for everything.
God,she sounded like a dork.
But she sent it off before she could second-guess herself. She wanted him to know that she was all right.
And she really needed to hear that he was too.
After waiting a couple of minutes for a reply, she knew she had to leave the bathroom. Stepping out, she followed Igor to the main house. He moved into the kitchen while she wandered upstairs.
After a long shower, she climbed into bed.
It didn’t take long until she drifted off.
Someone shook her awake.
What the hell?
What was going on? She let out a small scream, but a hand landed on her mouth.
“It’s me, Sofia. Arseni.”
Relief filled her and she sat up, looking around. The clock by her bed said it was after eleven.
“What is it? What’s going on?”