Page 122 of Rebellion

“No, my darling.” He brushed her hair off her face. “That’s what it means. But what I should be calling you isMo Chridhe.My heart.” He had started undoing the ropes around her arms, but he paused as she shook her head.

He cupped her face between his hands. “You don’t love me,Mo Chridhe? Because my heart is yours and it always will be. I will love you for now and forever.”

“You can’t,” she whispered.

“Why not?” he asked as he cut through the ropes and then caught her as she fell forward off the chair.

Her arms were screaming in pain and she sobbed quietly.

“I’m not . . . I’m not worthy of you, Colm. And I know you see it. You see how broken I am.”

“You don’t think I’m broken too? We all have broken, sad parts in us, Sofia. But I want to help heal those broken parts of yours. Can you not do the same for me?” He sat on the chair with her on his lap, rubbing her arms.

“What broken bits do you have?” she asked.

“Wasn’t born wanting to be a part of this life,Mo Chridhe. It was thrust on me. I’m here now and here to stay. But it took me a long time to get rid of the anger against my father.”

“Oh, Colm. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not anymore. Not if it means I can use everything I learned and know to protect you. Let me protect you. Let me love you.”

“I . . . I love you too. But I’m so scared of losing you. Of doing something wrong.”

“All you have to be is yourself.” He kissed her long and hard but surprisingly sweetly.

“This isn’t something a cousin should really have to see.”

She drew back with a gasp at Sacha’s words. All of a sudden, she realized this wasn’t really the place for a declaration of love.

“Where . . . where are they all? Callahan? Arseni?”

Her cousin’s face tightened. “Dead. Callahan started shooting at us like a crazy man, and so we had to take him down. Arseni tried to run, but Viktor got him. We have to go, though. Even in this neighborhood, someone is bound to call the cops.”

Colm stood with her in his arms. Sacha stepped forward, and to her shock, cupped the side of her face.

She wasn’t used to these displays of affection from him. “Are you all right,Kotyonok?”

“Of course I am.”

His face tightened. “You’re not ready to share your real feelings with me. I understand. But we will reach the day when you are. I will see to it.”

So arrogant.

When Sacha reached for her, though, Colm stepped back, taking her with him. “I am not letting her go. If you can’t support our relationship, then I’m taking her with me now and you’re not getting her back.”

“Colm,” she said quietly.

“I think Sofia would have something to say about that.” Sacha crossed his arms over his chest. Then, to her shock, he winked at her. “Luckily, I will not make her choose. There will be rules, though.”

“What sort of rules?” Colm asked.

“Anything you see stays on the estate. It doesn’t go back to your boss.”

Shit. She glanced up at Colm, who was looking at Rogan. She hadn’t noticed the leader of the Cavan Gang step into the warehouse. But he must have given Colm the go-ahead as Colm nodded.

“Good. You will treat my cousin with the utmost respect and woo her.”

“Woo her?” Colm asked.

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