Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Turning away, she stumbled back into the kitchen. She was vaguely aware that there was no one else in there.
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.
6
“Sofia!”
She glanced up at Sacha as he strode into his office, Viktor behind him. She was sitting in an armchair. Sacha’s face was a mask of cold anger, but she could also see the flash of concern in his eyes.
Sacha glanced around the room. Miller was lying on the sofa with Colm crouched down next to her. Dima had struck her hard on the head.
Arseni was standing next to her.
“Are things taken care of?” Sacha asked Arseni.
“I called one of the cleaners. They’re taking care of everything.”
Of Dima, he meant. The cleaners would take care of Dima’s body.
“Good. Go and make sure that is being done. Then check back in with me.”
Arseni nodded and left.
“What injuries does Miller have?” Sacha asked Colm.
“That asshole hit her on the head. She’s dazed and confused.”
“You’ve called MacGuire?” Sacha asked.
“He’s on his way,” Colm said, standing.
“Good. Pick her up and take her into my private room. The doctor should be here at any moment. My men are keeping watch for him and MacGuire.”
Colm eyed him for a long moment like he wanted to argue. She held her breath.
Please don’t argue with Sacha.
Please.
Then he nodded and helped Miller up.
Sofia should offer to go with them. To help. But she couldn’t seem to move. She still felt so removed.
As though all of this was happening to someone else.
She barely caught the look Colm sent her . . . she couldn’t quite decipher it.
Was he upset? Mad?
Why?
“I will wait outside for the doctor,” Viktor told Sacha.
As soon as they were on their own, Sacha moved, crouching right in front of her.
“Kotyonok, are you all right? What happened?” he asked in a soft voice.
A shiver raced through her. Suddenly, she was so cold.
Swearing quietly, he jumped up and grabbed a blanket from a cupboard.
It was her blanket, the one he kept in here for her. It was light blue, soft, and fluffy.
She sighed slightly as he tucked it around her. Then he clasped hold of her knee through the blanket, his concern warming her slightly.
“What happened?” he asked again.
She slowly went through everything, her words stilted and quiet.