Page 116 of Rebellion

“I need you to get dressed and come with me. The Pakhan needs you.”

“Sacha needs me?” She climbed out of bed. “Why? Where’s Igor?”

“I relieved him. And yes, I don’t know why. But he needs you at the restaurant.”

It didn’t make a lot of sense, but okay. She stumbled around, getting dressed. Arseni waited for her in the hallway.

“Oh no, my phone!” She had it charging by the bed. Rushing back into the room, she grabbed it and her handbag.

Arseni rushed her outside. Something must really be wrong.

They headed to the car and got in. He drove out of the estate.

But now that she was more awake, she was starting to get a weird feeling from this. “Did Aleksandr say what he needed? The restaurant will be closed by now.”

Why would he want her to go to him? Hadn’t he been on his way to see Oleg?

She swallowed heavily at that thought.

“He didn’t. But I just do as I’m told.”

Like all of them.

“I’m going to call him and find out what’s going on,” she said.

“Up to you. But he sounded distracted, busy.”

Shoot. Sofia didn’t want to call him if he was busy. Arseni drove past the restaurant and then turned down a street she’d never been down before. It was in a rough area that bordered the restaurant.

“Arseni? I thought we were going to Solynshko,” she said warily.

“You’re too trusting, Sofia.”

Alarm filled her. She grabbed her handbag, searching through for her phone.

“I wouldn’t,” he said as he came to a stop and then drew a gun out from the small of his back. “The boss wants to question you, but you can still answer questions with a bullet wound in your leg.”

Her breath came in sharp pants, panic whirring inside her. “Why? I thought we were friends. I trusted you!”

“You’re a nice person, Sofia. Too good for the world you’re living in. But you need to smarten up. Not everyone is loyal. Some of us are just out for ourselves. I was bought and paid for even before I became your bodyguard.”

“By who?” she whispered.

She just couldn’t believe it. She’d never seen it coming.

“Get inside, and don’t scream or try to run. I’m a good shot and have no qualms about shooting out your kneecap.”

She was going to vomit.

Fuck.

Was this really it? Was she going to die?

She’d never told Colm the truth about her feelings for him. She’d never gotten further than kissing him.

That was a huge regret.

She was only twenty-three, and she’d done nothing with her life yet, and now this bastard who she’d trusted was going to shoot her?

---