Page 69 of Rebellion

“That’s no excuse,” Colm muttered.

Sofia glared at him. What the heck did he expect Aleksandr to do from his hospital bed?

He sent her home to rest. He didn’t realize she was going to get kidnapped by her boyfriend, who was blackmailing her into a fake relationship.

Rogan cleared his throat. “Why don’t I talk to Aleksandr first? We’ll do it tomorrow.”

Sofia nodded. She wished she could let Rogan do that, but she knew she had to be the one to tell Sacha what had happened. And first thing tomorrow. “I suppose I should go home.”

Maybe she could go to a hotel.

Fuck. Where was her phone? What if someone was looking for her?

And how had Oleg gotten onto the estate grounds?

“I think it would be best if you stayed here,” Rogan countered.

“No, I’d rather go home.” Sacha wouldn’t like it if she stayed here.

“You’re staying here,” Colm growled at her.

Sofia scowled up at him. He needed to realize that he wasn’t the boss of her. “I’m going home.”

“I won’t sleep if you go home, Sofia. I’ll just spend all my time worrying about you. Please stay. For me,” Miller begged.

Sofia was silent for a long moment. Then her shoulders slumped and she nodded. “I guess I wouldn’t be able to sleep either.”

“Do you want a sleeping pill?” Colm asked her.

She shook her head, hugging herself. She hated sleeping pills; they made her feel out of control. Like she couldn’t handle things. And then the next day, she’d wake up feeling awful.

Sofia was already on a knife’s edge and didn’t want anything tipping her off that cliff.

She watched as Miller and Rogan spoke before Rogan helped Miller up. He was so careful with her. So kind and caring.

I want that so badly.

“Colm, show Sofia to a guest room, please.” Rogan turned to give Sofia a firm look. But there was a hint of kindness in it. “Please don’t leave without letting someone know. You’re not a prisoner here, but until your cousin is out of the hospital, I feel responsible for you. If something were to happen to you under my watch, he’d kill me.”

Sofia nodded. Sacha wouldn’t be forgiving if she was harmed while under Rogan’s care. Even if she still wasn’t sure she should be here.

But she was at the end of her tolerance. She’d hit a wall and just needed to get away from everyone before that wall crumbled.

And everything came out.

“Don’t worry, Boss,” Colm told Rogan. “I’ll make sure she stays put.”

“I’ll put some of my clothes into your room,” Miller told her.

Miller and Rogan walked out as Sofia glared at Colm. “You’ll make sure I stay put?”

“Yeah, Squirt. I will.”

She nearly winced at him calling her Squirt. It seemed deliberate.

A reminder that she was no longer his ‘baby.’

She was glad she hadn’t looked up the translation ofMo leannan. It would have hurt worse knowing what it meant and that she’d likely never hear it again.

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