Page 24 of Rebellion

Good. That was good.

She didn’t know why it was good, just that it was.

Where was Colm? How would she find him?

Why couldn’t she think properly?

Just as panic threatened to overwhelm her again, the kitchen door swung open and the man she’d been hoping to find strode into the kitchen.

He froze for a moment as his gaze ran over her. What did he see? Did he notice the way she was shaking? That she could barely breathe?

“What the fuck happened? Sofia? What is going on? Are you hurt? And where the fuck is Miller?”

His accent was so thick now that it took a moment for her brain to register what he was saying.

Oh.

Yes.

Miller!

“Come! Come!” She reached for his hand, then saw that she was still holding the bat. She dropped it with a cry and grabbed his hand, dragging him outside to where Miller still lay on the ground.

“Fuck! What the fuck happened?”

“I hit him. Is he dead? I think he’s dead. He was attacking her. Am I going to get in trouble for hurting him?”

Why did she sound so strange? So detached? In fact, it felt like she was removed from this whole scene. As though she was staring down at it from afar, cataloging it.

Colm turned from where he’d kneeled next to Miller. “You are not in trouble. You saved Miller. Why would you be in trouble?”

“He’s a friend of Oleg’s. He works here. I should be punished for killing him.”

Colm stood and grasped her shoulders. “Sofia, I know you’re in shock. But I need you to help me. Can you do that?

“I can help you.” She pushed her shoulders back. Colm had never asked for her help before.

And why would he? She was basically useless.

Unless it came to hitting fucking rapists over the head and smashing their skulls in... then she had skills.

“I’m going to be sick,” she muttered.

“No, you’re not. You’re going to contact Aleksandr and let him know what happened while I get Miller inside. I need someone we can trust to help guard the body. Do you know anyone?”

“Arseni will be close by. I’ll call him. He’ll help. I can do that. I can call him and Sacha.”

Colm placed the palm of his hand against her cheek. Lord, he was so hot.

Or was she just that cold?

“I know this is hard, baby. You’re in shock. I wish I could take care of you right now, but Miller is hurt and lying next to a dead body. Can you help me take care of her?”

“Uh-huh. I can help. I can do that.”

And she would.

She’d do anything for Colm.

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