Page 123 of Rebellion

“You will take things slow. Date her. Pick her up and take her out. She needs romance.”

She never thought she’d hear Aleksandr say those words.

“Agreed,” Colm said.

“Very well. She will also live with me while this wooing commences.”

Sirens sounded in the distance.

“For now, we all need to leave.”

27

Sofia raced down the stairs as she heard the doorbell ringing.

Sacha appeared out of nowhere as she reached the bottom of the stairs, grasping her around the waist.

“Whoa. Slow down before you break a leg.”

“I’m fine. I’m good.” Her heart was pounding, though.

This was going to be their first real date. On their own. Leaving the house.

Colm had come to visit her here a lot. He’d bring breakfast, or dinner, depending on his schedule.

But tonight, he was taking her out.

This was also her first time off the estate since being kidnapped ten days ago. She was nervous and she thought Sacha might be too.

She’d promoted Bea, one of her bartenders, to manager at the restaurant. Bea had worked for her since she’d first opened Solynshko and she had always been amazing.

Everything seemed to be working out perfectly, even though Bea and Sacha did seem to butt heads for some reason.

“You could’ve tripped and fallen. And what about your back? You shouldn’t be running around with your sore back.”

“It’s all right at the moment.”

It was true. Her back was feeling pretty good today. Although she was certain that a fall down the stairs wouldn’t do her any favors.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sacha asked worriedly. “If you’re not, then you should tell Colm you want to stay here.”

Yeah, she wasn’t the only one nervous about her leaving the estate. But she wasn’t entirely safe anywhere; that much had been made clear.

“I want to do this, Sacha. Honestly, I need to. I’m going a bit stir-crazy here.”

He gave a short nod. “Fine.” Turning, he strode to the door just as Colm started knocking again.

Her heart gave a small surge seeing him standing there. God, he was so gorgeous. And he was hers.

Sometimes, she woke up in the night after a nightmare and was terrified that she’d dreamed it all.

That Oleg wasn’t dead.

He is.

And Colm wasn’t hers.

He most definitely is.

---