Page 51 of Rebellion

“I just need you to hold it together. We have to represent him now. So I need you to be strong so that everyone else knows he’s fine.”

“I know. I know the drill.”

“I know you do,” Viktor told her. “Just like I know you’re strong. That you’ll do what you need to do for the Pakhan.”

That was her. Always doing her duty by the Pakhan. No matter if he was her father or cousin.

The trouble was that it never left any room for Sofia to break down. To do what she wanted. Be who she needed to be.

Stop wallowing in self-pity.

Sacha needs you.

She straightened up and glanced at Viktor with a nod. “I just felt a bit dizzy from donating blood.”

“And the stress and not sleeping. I know this is hard.”

“It’s fine. It’s what I need to do,” she said woodenly. She tried to bring that feeling of being numb back. That barrier had started to crack when Colm had walked into the room.

“Is there something going on between you and Finlayson that I need to know about,” Viktor asked bluntly.

Fuck.

He was too observant for her own good.

But she knew that Sacha had noticed things too. She’d caught him watching her a couple of times when Colm was near. So he’d likely said something to Viktor.

“Nothing. I haven’t even seen him in a while.”

“I get the attraction of the forbidden, Sofia. But that isn’t something that could ever work.”

She eyed him coldly. “You’re not my brother, father, or cousin, so I don’t need a lecture.”

He raised his hands. “Fair enough. Just remember. Stay strong. Put on a good front. We have to protect Aleksandr now.”

She’d always protected him. Even when he didn’t know it.

11

Sofia stepped into her small house.

All she wanted was to close her eyes and climb into bed. To sleep for days.

That wasn’t going to happen, though.

Aleksandr had woken up yesterday. He’d been drowsy and kind of out of it. But today, when he’d woken up, he’d been far more lucid.

And mad.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this angry. He was out for the blood of whoever had shot him.

Sofia breathed out a sigh of relief. He would be all right now. She’d wanted to stay with him again tonight, but Sacha wouldn’t allow it. Basically, he’d told her that she looked like shit and to go home and sleep.

Unfortunately, she’d been unable to argue that.

Stumbling into the bathroom, she turned on the light and stared at herself in the mirror.

Yikes.

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