Chapter 20
20
C olm stared at the bathroom door.
Every instinct he had was screaming at him to go back in there. That he made sure Sofia was all right.
But she’d locked him out. So, other than breaking down the door, there was no way he could get in there.
And he wasn’t going to scare her like that.
Fuck. She was scared of him!
What kind of arrogant fuckwit was he? He’d told her to trust him. He’d told her he would take care of her and that she could let go with him. Give him control.
And then he went and fucking scared her.
He hadn’t even taken the time to learn about what was going on between her and Oleg.
That fucker had been abusing her! Right under his nose and he hadn’t even known.
A noise like a wounded animal escaped him and he didn’t notice the door to the bedroom opening as he turned and let his temper explode out of him.
He smashed his hand into the wall as someone let out a cry.
“Colm! What are you doing?”
Turning, his knuckles throbbing, he saw Miller standing in the room. A pile of clothes lay on the floor where she’d obviously dropped them.
He just stared at her, trying to catch his breath.
“Colm?” Miller’s voice grew more cautious. “Are you all right?”
“I need to see Oleg.” He walked toward her. He couldn’t help Sofia. She didn’t need him around, terrifying her.
But he could make that bastard pay.
He could make him suffer.
For every bruise he’d left on Colm’s girl, Colm would repay that pain tenfold.
“Whoa, I don’t think you should go anywhere.” Miller daringly got between him and the open doorway. “Where is Sofia?”
“Showering.”
“All right. Good. Rogan wants to take her to the hospital in forty minutes. Do you think she’ll be ready, then?”
Why was she asking him?
“Go and ask her.”
“Did you fight with her?” Miller asked. “The two of you need to figure all of this out. Any idiot can see that you guys are meant to be together. So pull your head out of your ass and start doing something about that.”
“Doing something about that?” he rumbled.
She put her hands on her hips. “Yes. I mean... the whole bossy routine might be sexy in some circumstances, but you might want to be a bit less commanding and a little more romantic. Flowers wouldn’t hurt. Maybe ask her for dinner. Woo her, damn it.”
Colm could only shake his head at her. She had no idea what was going on.
“Sofia doesn’t need wooing.”
What she needed was for him to avenge her. For him to take Oleg apart, bit by bit.
“Every girl wants a bit of wooing, Colm. Even if it’s just a soft look, some kind words.”
“Miller...” he growled. “You need to stop now.”
“What’s going on? Why are the two of you in here?” Rogan stepped inside, his gaze curious.
And slightly hard.
“I was delivering some clothes for Sofia when I came in to find Colm trying to rearrange the walls.”
Rogan’s gaze went to the fist-sized hole in the wall. Then down to Colm’s hand, which was hanging at his side. He knew Rogan would have noticed all that as soon as he came into the room without Miller pointing it out.
There wasn’t much that got past Rogan MacGuire. Then, his gaze slid over to the closed bathroom door.
“Sofia all right?” Rogan asked carefully.
Colm couldn’t help but bristle at the question. Would he allow her to be anything but all right?
It’s a fair question.
You haven’t protected her up until now, have you?
Fuck.
“She’s showering. She should be out soon,” he said with his hands clenched into fists.
“What’s going on?” Rogan asked, drawing Miller back against him as she tried to bend down and pick up the clothes she’d dropped. “Leave them.”
“But I should pick them up and fold them for Sofia. So they’re not all crinkled.”
“ A thaisce , leave them,” Rogan replied firmly. “Colm will get them.”
Colm glared at Rogan.
“It’s his fault you dropped them.”
“Um, Rogan, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Colm is bleeding. I don’t want him bleeding on my clothes.”
“He’ll figure it out,” Rogan replied.
“He doesn’t really look like he wants to be folding clothes,” Miller whispered.
Colm knew that Rogan wasn’t happy about his obvious lapse in control.
That he’d let his hold on his temper go was bad enough. But to do it when Miller was around was the worst thing he could have done.
“I didn’t realize Miller was going to walk into the room.”
Rogan tilted his head, then nodded. “Sofia is close by though.”
Close, but not close enough.
“What happened?” Rogan asked.
Colm clenched his jaw. It wasn’t his story to tell.
“Something happened to Sofia?” Rogan guessed.
Colm nodded.
“He wants some time with Oleg,” Miller told Rogan.
She caught on quick.
“Fuck,” Rogan said.
“Tell me he’s still alive.”
“Yes, but I’m only keeping him alive for Anisimov. In case he has any questions for him.”
“I have questions for him,” Colm said.
“The way you look right now, I’m thinking he isn’t going to fare well during those questions,” Rogan stated.
Colm stepped forward, barely holding in his rage. “You care about his welfare?”
“Of course I don’t care about his welfare. But I’m keeping him alive long enough to answer any questions that Anisimov might have for him. Oleg worked in his restaurant. Dated his cousin. Aleksandr is going to have questions. But after that... if you wait, then I’ll let you have some time alone with him. All right?”
Colm ground his teeth together. He didn’t want to be reasonable about this. He didn’t want to wait.
But he knew that was the best offer he was going to get. So he nodded. “Fine. But I want my chance with him. I need it.”
“I can see that you do. Miller, maybe you’d wait for Sofia to come out and help her get ready. We’ll be waiting downstairs.”
Colm shot a look at the bathroom door. He wanted to be the one to help her. He didn’t really want anyone else around her.
However, he also knew that she likely didn’t want his help.
You scared her.
He’d never fucking forgive himself for that.
You’re going to have to slow down with her. The last thing she needs is you pushing her to do anything she’s not ready for.
Slow down.
Step back.
And wait.