Chapter 4
4
“ S ofia.”
She closed her eyes momentarily as the voice she dreaded hearing came from behind her.
“Look at me.”
She couldn’t. She was frozen in fear.
Unable to move.
That voice had ice forming around her. Until she was trapped.
Terrified.
Then she felt him move closer. But it did nothing to melt the ice. The stench of his breath hit her nose as he slid his mouth close to her ear.
She shuddered in revulsion.
Please don’t let him touch her.
He’d caught her in her office at Solynshko. She’d been about to head home. Exhaustion was making everything fuzzy and her back was killing her.
She had to get out of here. The last thing she needed was for Sacha to catch her here. She didn’t need another lecture. It had been three days since he’d caught her and Colm in the storeroom.
Wow. That sounded like they’d been doing something wrong, which they hadn’t.
He’d just been helping her. Like he always did.
Because he was her friend.
That’s all they were. It was all they ever could be.
Friends.
Sofia wasn’t supposed to work tonight, but she’d come in because they were short-staffed. A nasty bug was going around, so she’d helped out behind the bar. And she hadn’t had a chance to sit down all night so her back was on fire, the pain agonizing.
And where had Oleg been?
Not here, anyway.
“Where you going?” he asked in his broken English.
“I’m going home,” she said, hating that she answered him.
It’s not like you have any choice.
“And the cash in your hand? What it for?”
“It’s for Bea and Miller,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Miller. I cannot believe you hire that slut.”
“She’s not a slut!” But she knew that nothing she said would change his opinion.
Miller was someone that Sofia would love to be friends with . . . in another life where she was free to have friends.
“Why you give them money? Is payroll system not working?”
Like he’d know anything about the payroll system. He played a good game at pretending to work when she actually did it all.
“It’s working fine. This is a bonus for their hard work.”
The other women had worked their butts off tonight. They deserved it. Miller had only been working here for three days, but she liked the other woman a lot.
And you really like that Colm is here every shift with her.
Yeah, she liked that most of all.
“They doing their jobs,” Oleg spat out. “They don’t need reward for doing what paid to do.”
For fuck’s sake.
He was such an asshole.
He spun her around. Sharp pain slashed her spine. God, that hurt. She was so busy breathing through the pain and trying to keep it hidden from him that she failed to notice him plucking the cash from her hand.
“I just take this.”
Her eyes watered and she had to blink a few times before she glanced up to find him stashing the cash in his back pocket.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “That’s not yours.”
“It is now.” He smiled.
In another life, when he was a better person, he might have been considered handsome.
To her, he just looked disgusting.
Rotten.
Nasty.
Ugly. So very ugly.
“Call it payment for putting up with Anisimov moaning at me all week about you doing my work while I went to doctor appointment.”
Fuck.
She wished she’d been able to think of a better excuse for his absence when Sacha caught Colm helping her in the back room.
Oleg hadn’t been happy with her after Sacha dragged him into his office to ‘talk’ to him.
Sacha was protective of her. Unfortunately, he couldn’t protect her from Oleg.
He was her burden to bear. Her punishment.
“Apparently, I am slacking off. And need to ‘man up’ and take care of you better. So, this is me taking care of you better, Sofia.”
“What? By taking the money meant for my staff?”
“Tut-tut Sofia. Our staff.” He moved closer to her.
God. Why couldn’t he brush his teeth? The stench of his breath turned her stomach.
Garlic and onions.
It was getting so bad that she was now starting to gag when she smelled them cooking.
“Have you heard of a breath mint?” she spat out before she could stop herself.
“You heard of self-preservation?” he snarled back. “Respecting your betters?”
“What betters?” she snapped back.
Oh God.
What was she doing?
You. Idiot.
He grabbed her hair and shoved her head back. Tears sprung unbidden, and she had to fight hard not to let them drip down her cheeks.
Don’t show him your pain.
Oleg was a leech who fed on pain and fear rather than blood.
But it was so hard; the pressure on her back was almost too much to take. Her breathing became shallow, gasping pants.
“Let. Me. Go.”
“No.” He deliberately seemed to breathe right over her face.
She gagged.
God. That was so bad.
“I am your better, Sofia,” he told her in a low voice. “And you do well not to forget that. I am your superior in every way. You just a stupid, useless slut. Aren’t you, Kukolka ? Now, you gonna get down on your knees and apologize for disrespect and lies to your cousin. You know, I near fucking vomited when he started going on how wonderful you are. Are you, Sofia? We both know that not true, don’t we?”
She had no idea how he knew her darkest secret. Or how he’d gotten that video of Aleksandr.
Oleg knew too much. Unfortunately, that meant she had to put up with him. But the agreement was that they’d only pretend to be together. She wasn’t going to sleep with him.
And how long do you think it will be until he changes his mind? Until he forces you.
It was her turn to feel nauseous.
“Your cousin never shuts up! He said how fucking undeserving I am. We both know the truth, don’t we, Sofia?” He moved his other hand to her jaw, tightening his hold until she let out an involuntary whimper.
“We both know you a disloyal slut. So you lucky I keep your secret, right? You should do your best to keep me happy.”
But they both knew that the reason Oleg hadn’t told Sacha her secret wasn’t because of her. He liked their arrangement too much to want the truth to come out.
He enjoyed having this hold over her. He also liked the power and privileges that being Sofia Anisimov’s boyfriend brought him.
She shook her head with a grunt, and he let go of her.
“I will not,” she told him, proud that there was no waver in her voice.
“You will,” he spat out. “Get on your knees.”
Gross. Spittle landed on her face and she flinched, her stomach rolling over.
“No! And we both know you won’t tell Aleksandr anything.” She never called him Sacha in front of Oleg or any of his men. It just felt wrong for some reason. “You like this arrangement.”
“Do not think that give you any power, Sofia. It doesn’t. I’m building backup plan.”
What did that mean? What backup plan?
Before she could question him, he shoved her to her knees. Pain stole her breath as licks of agony raced through her back.
Oh God.
Sick.
She was going to be sick.
“Fuck! You gonna vomit? Don’t you dare!” He stepped back and she felt her breathing ease.
But then he grabbed her hair again, shoving her head back as he glared down at her.
“You think this get you out of punishment? No, I think of something else. For now, this cash is mine, and I expect more of it.”
“You already get paid.”
For doing nothing.
But her bravery was all gone and she kept that thought to herself.
“Not enough to put up with your asshole cousin.”
He was the one who’d wanted to get close to Sacha. But why? It didn’t seem like he liked Aleksandr. So what did he want?
And what was his backup plan?
Shit.
“Just remember play your role, Sofia,” he warned.
Uh-huh.
Her role. She was always playing a role, wasn’t she?
The pampered princess. The devoted cousin. The adoring girlfriend. The sensible business owner.
Role after role.
She wasn’t even sure who the real Sofia was anymore.
“Next time you need excuse for me not being here, come up with something better that won’t get me pulled into asshole’s office and scolded like naughty schoolboy. Understand me?”
He shook her back and forth until she cried out. “Yes!”
“Good.”
A knock on the door made Oleg freeze. Then he let go of her hair and pulled her onto her feet. She could barely stand. Nausea bubbled, and he had to take a moment to remind herself to breathe.
“Sofia?”
Shit. It was Miller.
Oleg’s gaze turned calculating. She didn’t like that look on his face.
She had to keep Miller away from him.
Keep her safe.
She was still shocked that Rogan had agreed to let Miller work here. Although she wasn’t entirely sure what sort of relationship they had. Colm had called her a house guest. So perhaps he didn’t really have a say in what she did.
However, the fact she was always accompanied by one of his men seemed to suggest that Rogan had some feelings for her.
Moving to the door, Sofia took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she opened it.
“Hi, Miller.”
“Hey! Just letting you know we’re heading out now if that’s all good.”
We?
Sofia glanced over Miller’s shoulder to where Colm stood. Those piercing blue eyes took her in, cataloging everything.
Anger flooded his face and she had to force herself not to retreat as he moved forward. “What’s wrong?”
“Wrong? Why would anything be wrong?” Sofia managed to say around the sudden lump in her throat.
“Yes. Why would anything be wrong?” Oleg asked as he moved in behind her, draping an arm across her chest.
Sofia had to work hard to keep the revulsion off her face, to not to step sharply away.
It was nearly impossible.
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Colm’s face as he froze. It was hard to see if he was even breathing.
“Oleg,” he managed to get out through gritted teeth. “Didn’t realize you were there.”
“Sofia and I just discussing business,” Oleg said in his slimy voice. It was an assault to her ears, like nails on a chalkboard. Or oil spilling into the ocean.
So very wrong.
“She said you did good job tonight, Miller,” Oleg told the other woman who watched him closely. “We so glad you join our little family here at Solynshko. Aren’t we, Kukolka ?”
Sofia forced a smile onto her lips. She hoped it looked somewhat genuine. “Very glad.”
“I thought you were just a bartender, Oleg,” Colm sneered.
Oleg tightened his hold on her and she had to fight hard to keep her grunt of pain from escaping. What was Colm doing? Why was he trying to anger Oleg?
“I also help Sofia manage the restaurant. And the staff. Don’t I, Kulkolka ?”
“Yes, you’re a huge help to me.”
Wow. The lies came so easily now that it was frightening.
“I’m happy to be here. Are you sure there’s nothing else I can do before we go?” Miller yawned, then gave her a guilty look. “Sorry.”
Sofia waved her off and took a step toward the other woman, hoping that Oleg would let her go without a fight.
“Don’t be sorry. It was a long night.”
“You look tired, Sofia,” Colm said abruptly. “You should go home to bed.”
“I will be soon.”
Would you like to join me?
No.
Bad Sofia.
“We’ll walk you out to your car,” Colm said abruptly. “I’m sure Oleg can handle anything that needs doing to close up.”
Shit.
She was certain that Oleg couldn’t handle closing up. But how did she say that?
“Right, Oleg?” Colm challenged.
“Of course,” Oleg replied. “You go, Kulkolka .”
She wondered if Miller and Colm could hear the note of anger in the other man’s voice.
Sofia knew he wouldn’t be happy about having to close, but at least he couldn’t access the safe. She’d already taken care of all the cash.
Surely he couldn’t fuck things up too badly?
“All right. Thanks.” Sofia forced herself to turn and give him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving her office. When Oleg didn’t follow, some of the tension escaped her.
“Are you sure you’re all right, Sofia?” Miller asked. “You’re moving stiffly.”
“Is it your back?” Colm asked sharply.
Shoot.
She had to do a better job at guarding her thoughts and reactions.
“Uh, yes,” she said as she tapped out a message to her driver.
Arseni had been her driver for years. Thankfully, she didn’t have to bring a bodyguard with her to work. Solynshko was pretty safe with Sacha’s men in and out all night—including Sacha himself.
Still, she knew Arseni was close by because she’d seen him in the back of the restaurant eating dinner about an hour ago.
“What did you do to it?” Colm demanded. “Do you take medication? Are you seeing someone for it? What makes it worse?”
Sofia paused and gaped up at him. “Um. Uh.” There were so many questions that her brain couldn’t sort through them all. What should she tell him?
Well, obviously, not the whole truth.
“I had an... an accident. It’s really fine. I just can’t stand for too long or lift anything too heavy.”
Colm grunted as they reached the front door. He reached out and touched her arm, making her jump.
“Where is your jacket?”
“Uh, I didn’t bring one.” It wasn’t that cold out and she’d left home in a hurry.
“You should have a jacket,” he stated.
“But I don’t. And I don’t have that far to walk.”
He grumbled something to himself as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It dwarfed her much smaller frame. She immediately grabbed hold of it, trying to take it off.
“I couldn’t?—”
“You can,” he countered.
“I couldn’t take it. You need it.” She lifted it off her shoulders, and he let out a low warning noise that made her freeze. Grabbing hold of it, he resettled it on her shoulders.
“Leave it on,” he ordered.
Sofia narrowed her eyes at him. She didn’t have to walk that far before she’d reach the car. What was the point of wearing his jacket?
“Please,” Miller whispered, making Sofia jump.
Shit. She’d totally forgotten that the other woman was even there.
“You should say please,” Miller told Colm.
Colm glared at Miller, then at Sofia. “Leave the jacket on. Let’s go.”
Jeez.
So bossy.
“Please,” he muttered as he opened the door to the outside.
She had to hide her smile as they walked out. It was colder than she’d expected. Although she wasn’t going to admit that to him.
“There’s Arseni.” She pointed to a dark car. It was the same one he always drove her around in. She knew it would be more modified and safer than the President’s vehicle.
Colm nodded and gestured for the two of them to walk ahead of him. As they reached the car, Arseni stepped out to get the door.
He eyed Colm coldly.
“Uh, Arseni, this is Colm. Colm, Arseni. My driver.”
“I know Colm. Climb in, Sofia. The Pakhan wants you home.”
Lord. That made it sound like she lived with Sacha. Sure, she lived on the estate but in her own house. And he didn’t monitor when she came and left.
Well, she didn’t think he did.
She eyed Arseni. No, she was pretty sure that was all just posturing. Wanting to make sure Colm knew who she was and who protected her.
As if anyone could forget. Least of all her.
“Come, I’ll help you in,” Colm said, guiding her to the backseat.
Help her in?
Why did she need help getting into the car she’d been using for years?
But his hand was on her lower back as she climbed in and then he actually grabbed the seatbelt, pulling it over her.
“What are you doing?” Arseni asked aggressively, moving closer to Colm. He looked like he wanted to push the large Scot out of the way. She sucked in a breath, her nerves making her feel ill.
“It’s okay, Arseni,” she said quickly.
Arseni grunted and didn’t step away, but he didn’t try to attack Colm either.
So she took that as a win.
“Aren’t you supposed to be guarding Miller?” she asked quietly as he buckled her in.
This was all so strange that she didn’t know what to think about it.
“I am guarding her,” he retorted as he actually tested the seatbelt.
Did he really think that she’d be in a car without working seatbelts?
“Go straight to bed when you get home. Get some heat on your back and rest tomorrow.”
Then he shut the door.
Seriously. Was this guy for real?
Colm strode over to his car and opened the front passenger door for Miller. After he had climbed in and started the car, she turned to him. “Sooo... Sofia.”
He grunted. There was no way he was talking to Miller about Sofia.
“The two of you seem . . . close.”
“We’re not.”
“No?” she queried.
“No.” Why was he even answering her?
“You’re friends?”
“Acquaintances,” he muttered.
“Uh-huh. You’ve never done up my seatbelt or tested it.”
He shot a look at her. “Boss would kill me.”
“Oh, so that’s the only reason you’re holding back?”
Jesus. What had he done to deserve this sort of torture? Obviously, it must have been something terrible.
“You know, if you want to get her attention?—”
“I don’t. Conversation over.”
“Right. Sorry. I just... I don’t think that Oleg guy is good enough for her. Sofia seems lovely, but he seems...”
Like a right prick.
Agreed.
But he was Sofia’s choice.
Even if it was the wrong one.