Page 105 of Rebellion

But Colm saw it now. He could see it in the tension of her shoulders, the way her hand shook as she pushed back her hair, the paleness of her skin.

He wanted to bundle her up on his lap and keep her warm and safe. To promise never to leave her.

You’re going slow, remember?

He forced himself to pay attention to what Rogan was saying as he went through everything that had happened.

There was silence when he finished. They all stood there, waiting for Anisimov’s reaction.

Why the fuck wasn’t he saying anything?

Why wasn’t he asking Sofia how she was? Checking in on her? Didn’t he fucking care about her at all?

Chill.

His temper was getting out of control.

Anisimov was looking better. There was some color in his cheeks and he was smartly dressed. Colm wondered if he’d been planning on going home today. It wouldn’t be easy for him to be in hospital. Not in his position.

“Oleg kidnapped you?” Anisimov finally said in a low voice. His gaze was on Sofia. “From my estate?”

“Yes,” she said, her gaze flicking around the other men. “I don’t know how he got onto the estate.”

“He wasn’t able to come and go as he pleased?” Rogan asked.

“Absolutely not,” Anisimov growled.

“Sounds like you didn’t trust him,” Colm said. “Yet you let him near your cousin.”

Anisimov turned a furious gaze on Colm, who didn’t flinch. Why would he have let that bastard date Sofia?

“I am my own person,” Sofia said calmly. “What happened isn’t Aleksandr’s fault.”

“He should have protected you better,” Colm retorted. “It is his fault.”

He heard Rogan sigh quietly but ignored him.

This was too important to care about being diplomatic. This was about Sofia.

Screw the somewhat fragile agreement they had with the Russian Bratva.

If Anisimov had known that Oleg was abusing Sofia... if he had stood by and allowed that asshole to hurt her.

Then nothing would stop Colm from taking him out. He didn’t give a shit who the hell Anisimov was.

Anisimov met his gaze, his fury clear. Then, it all disappeared off his face, replaced by a cold mask.

“Everyone out except Sofia,” he ordered.

“No.” Colm crossed his arms over his chest.

Anisimov moved his gaze from Sofia to Colm. “Is there something else I need to be made aware of?”

“No, nothing,” Sofia said in a robotic-sounding voice.

“I wouldn’t say nothing,” Colm countered. “I care about Sofia, and she has been abused and traumatized right under your fucking nose. She was kidnapped off your estate. By someone who worked in your restaurant. And you had no fucking idea? Should we really believe that?”

“Colm,” Rogan said sharply. “You need to leave.”

---