Page 71 of Rebellion

One foot in front of the other.

Get somewhere private.

Sofia wasn’t sure how she’d managed to get herself up the stairs, but she breathed out a small sigh of relief as she did. Colm turned to glance at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze. She was too busy holding herself together.

When they reached a door, he held it open for her so she could slip inside.

“There is an attached bathroom. I’m in the bedroom next to you. I’m a light sleeper.”

Right. Message received.

If she tried to get out, he’d hear her.

The truth was that she wasn’t going anywhere tonight.

“Hear me?”

“Yes, sir!” she said sarcastically.

His gaze narrowed, heat flaring. “Don’t push me, Sofia. I’m holding back because I know you don’t want me and you’ve been through a lot tonight. But I am close to the edge too. And being a brat might push me over.”

What did that mean?

She had no idea. But she was still staring at the door long after he’d shut it.

15

Colm stood outside her door after he shut it.

You cannot barge back in.

You cannot force her to let you in.

And as much as you want to... you cannot tell Sofia that she can’t mourn that asshole she was dating.

He’d noticed that she hadn’t even asked about him. Nor about what was going to happen to any of them.

Shouldn’t she care at least a bit about Oleg?

Then again, it was Oleg. He hadn’t seemed to care about her. Colm still didn’t understand their relationship.

But she was barely showing any kind of reaction to anything that had happened. Yeah, she’d been pale and quiet.

Maybe she was in shock?

However, he’d thought she might have shown something. Fear? Horror? That she might have had questions.

Maybe it was due to her upbringing.

Was she so used to violence that it no longer affected her? Did she not care that she’d come close to dying tonight?

Because Colm cared, he cared a whole lot.

And he hated that she seemed so fucking blasé about the whole thing.

Because he wanted her to care. He wanted her to... to show him that she wanted to live.

Fuck.

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