Page 12 of Rebellion

Fuck, her life was a mess.

It felt like she was walking a tightrope, and at any moment, the wrong move would send her plummeting to the ground below.

And she knew she wouldn’t survive that fall.

Guilt dug a deeper hole inside her. It was cavernous, empty; it felt like she would never be able to fill it.

“So, I have a lot to do before opening. I best get onto it.” She injected some impatience into her voice. “Why don’t the two of you get on with whatever you need to do and leave me in peace?”

She pushed Colm’s arm aside and stepped around both men to enter the restaurant.

Please don’t follow me.

Or fight.

She moved over to the bar and leaned her arms on it, resting her head on her folded hands. Christ, she was in a mess. One, she really couldn’t see her way out of it.

You could tell Sacha. Or Colm.

If Sacha found out that she was being abused. . . she shivered. Blood would run. The problem would disappear. Permanently.

But at what cost to their relationship?

At what cost to Sacha?

Because she knew that Oleg would bring her down with him.

Would things be any different if she told Colm?

Probably not. Especially not with how he’d just reacted to Aleksander scolding her.

His protectiveness of her wouldn’t be a good thing for Oleg.

It’s likely not a good thing for you either.

No, there was no way out of this unless she took care of it herself.

But damned if she knew how she was going to achieve that.

She tugged at her sleeve again.

Shit.

It just occurred to her that Colm might tell Sacha about the way she’d reacted when he’d touched her wrist.

Fuck.

Well, there wasn’t anything she could do if he did. Going back in there wasn’t an option.

Surely he wouldn’t tell him. Not when he’d have to admit to touching her.

Right?

Sofia wished she knew... but Colm Finlayson was still kind of a mystery to her.

And, unfortunately, he had to stay that way.

“You needto take better care of her,” Colm stated as soon as the door closed behind Sofia. She wouldn’t thank him for his interference, but he couldn’t just ignore the fear and pain in her eyes.

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