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)
His frown grew, but he didn’t interrupt her, letting her get everything out. “That asshole. Who hired him?”
“Boris.” She didn’t even think of trying to lie. Why would she? It was the truth.
Although she thought Oleg was really the one behind that decision. She couldn’t tell Sacha that, though.
“I’ll take care of Boris,” he said ominously. “Do not worry about this, understand? This is not your fault. You did not do this. Miller will be fine. I will see to it. It is not your fault she was harmed.”
Shit.
He knew her so well. He knew that her primary concern was for Miller. But also that there was be a dark pool of guilt in her stomach, threatening to pull her under.
To drown her.
Miller worked for her.
She’d let her take the garbage out on her own. Why hadn’t she gotten Dima to do it?
Such an idiot.
“Sofia? Kotyonok, I need you to hold it together for a bit longer, all right? I will help you through this, but MacGuire will be here soon, so I’m going to need you to keep yourself under control.”
Why would he think she wouldn’t do that?
Did he think she was going to collapse? To cry? Scream?
Perhaps that would make her feel better . . . but it wasn’t happening anytime soon.
“I can do that.”
He squeezed her knee, looking like he was in pain. Lord, how had she become so selfish that she hadn’t noticed he was in pain?
“Sacha? What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Wrong?”
“You look like you’re hurting.”
He placed his hand on the side of her face. It was so reminiscent of what Colm had done the other night that it made her jolt in surprise.
“I’m hurting for you,” he said quietly. “He deserved to die, but I know you. I know you will still feel guilty despite what he was going to do.”
He was hurting for her and what she’d done.
But the strange thing was . . . she wasn’t feeling guilty about killing Dima.
At least not yet.
“You are a hero tonight, Sofia. While part of me wishes to scold you for putting yourself at risk, an even bigger part of me is fiercely proud of you, mladshaya sestra.”
Little sister.
It was enough to cut through some of the shock and have tears filling her eyes.
She pushed the blanket down so she could clasp hold of his hands. Hers were chilled and shaking, but he didn’t say anything.
“Ya lyublyu tyebya, starshiy brat,” she said back.
I love you, big brother.
He closed his eyes and nodded. A knock on the door made him sigh.
“I don’t like that you had to do this. That you were so close to this asshole. I’m going to have Arseni stay close to watch you for a while. All right?”
It might have sounded like a suggestion, as though he wanted her agreement. But she knew that wasn’t actually the case. Her job was to nod and agree.
Which is what she did.
As the doctor came in, she slipped back into that strange headspace.
Oleg wouldn’t be happy that Arseni was staying close by. But she couldn’t bring herself to care.
The door opened once more, and in walked Rogan MacGuire. She quickly glanced up at him, then away.
Rogan was a good-looking man, although he wasn’t as attractive as Colm. Tonight, he radiated a furious energy that she just couldn’t deal with. So she kept quiet, her mind going back to that sickening crunch that Dima’s head had made when her bat hit it.
God.
Don’t be sick.
Keep yourself calm.
That’s what Sacha needs from you. Not for you to freak out on him.
She tuned back into what they were saying just as Sacha grabbed Rogan’s arm.
Oh, this wasn’t good.
And yet, she couldn’t seem to find the energy to be scared. Rogan yanked his arm from the other man’s grasp.
“The doctor is checking her over,” Sacha told him intently. “Colm’s with her. She’s safe. I promise.”
“She should be at the hospital.”
Hmm. Did Rogan have feelings for Miller? It was difficult to tell, although he certainly looked upset, and Miller always having Colm with her also suggested that he did.
“Can’t.” Sacha stared at him steadily, his face giving none of his emotions away. “Sofia killed the man who attacked her.”
Yep, she was going to be sick.
Keep it together.
Rogan glanced over at her, but she deliberately kept her emotions in check.
“What happened?” he asked.
Sofia fought the nausea bubbling in her stomach.
She’d killed a man.
She was a murderer.
Stop it. Think about something else.
For some reason, the image that floated through her mind was Colm.
Images of Colm insisting she wore his jacket. Checking that her belt was secure. Colm watching her from across the restaurant.
Almost as much as he watched Miller.
“Miller was taking the trash out when she was attacked by one of the kitchen hands,” Sacha told him. “Sofia went out to check on her, saw Dima attacking Miller, and hit him with the baseball bat.”