48. Doc
R ecovering is boring. In the six weeks since Nikolai Petrov tried to kill me, I’ve read a lot of books. My Tbr has never been so empty, but even reading my favorite books can only hold my attention for so long.
Yesterday, Murry said I was making good progress, but he still wanted me to take things easy for a few more weeks. Jayden has also done his own evaluation, and gave me some simple exercises to do after talking to Murry.
All that means is Soren’s been taking care of me, and normally, having my Daddy’s undivided attention would be a good thing, but I’m restless. I want to be loved and fucked and spanked, and that’s not going to happen until I get the okay from Murry. It’s a humbling thing, to know I’m not infallible. It’s not a good feeling. I much prefer saving lives than being the one who needed to be saved.
I’m sitting in the family room, contemplating getting up and finding whatever trouble I can get into, when one of the triplets enters the room. Unlike Daddy, I can’t tell them apart. You’d think it’d be easy since Donovan has a cochlear implant, but that’s not a hard and fast rule, because I’ve learned there’s about a thirty-seventy chance of him wearing it that day. Which would be fine, except Dominic and Dmitri are both in the habit of acting like they’re also deaf, so all three of them default to either ASL or RSL, or a weird combination of both languages.
I’ve never spent much time around multiples, so it’s been a crash course in how…interesting they can be. Though Daddy says the triplets take it beyond just having close bonds. His theory is that they’re really one person spread across three bodies. Sometimes, it seems like it...
The last few weeks, they’ve been staying with us, because they obviously can’t go home, and even though they’d been staying at Soren’s condo off and on over the last few months, Daddy’s wanted to keep them close. It’s not as though we don’t have the room. It’s not a problem to have a few extra bodies in the house.
“Is the Boss always so…scary?” he asks, taking a seat in one of the recliners near the sofa I’m laying on.
I laugh and manage not to wince as my wound twinges. “Yes. Yes, he is. I’m assuming the meeting went well?”
He nods and smiles. “Yep. He said I could start training with the rest of the guards as early as next week, if I pass my medical check up that is.”
“I won’t lie for you,” I tell Dmitri. “But it should be fine.”
He rolls his eyes. “I would never expect you to. But will you be back to work by then?”
“Yes, don’t worry about me. Murry gave me the all-clear to do light work, and a simple physical won’t be so strenuous.”
“Only if you’re sure. I can get an appointment with the Bratva doctor if I need to. He might not approve of me and my brothers, but he’s loyal to the Pakhan first and foremost. David will make sure he doesn’t give me any issues.”
“It’s fine. I know you’re worried about Soren hovering, but I have to go back to work at some point. I’m so bored .”
He laughs. “I’m sure you are. I wouldn’t be able to be sidelined for so long.”
“Which is why I’m looking forward to our appointment.” I study him for a moment before asking, “How are you three settling in? Do you need anything? I’m sure Soren has been taking care of you, but I feel like a shitty host.”
Dmitri rolls his eyes. “You’ve been recovering from a bullet wound, you’re far from a bad host. We’re fine, thanks. Dominic is enjoying getting to work with Jayden, so thanks for putting in a good word for him. And Donovan is looking forward to working with you, if Dr. Murry doesn’t kill him first, but even that internship is going pretty well, as far as I can tell.”
“You’ll teach me RSL, right?”
He grins. “Of course, we already discussed it and are happy to teach you. Though, Sory says you know ASL, which is enough. Plus, Vonny wears his implants when he’s working.”
“Yes, but I want to learn. I’m trying to get Soren to learn Italian. I don’t speak it much, but Cristian taught me when I lived with him. He thought it’d be useful, and of course, he was right. I think it’s something Soren should learn as well.”
Dmitri laughs. “Good luck with that. He knows ASL and RSL because he’s not an asshole, and knew he needed to learn if he wanted to communicate with Vonny, but his parents never prioritized Russian, and he has no interest in learning now as an adult. If you can get him to learn Italian, I’ll buy all your books for a year.”
I grin. “Deal.”
Soren will kill us both if he finds out what just happened, but it’s fine, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, and he’ll get to learn a new language on top of it. Unfortunately for Dmitri, I don’t think he understands just how much I read. Ah well, too late now, choices were made.
Before more trouble can be had, Daddy walks into the room and I sit up, too fast if the spinning in my head is any indication. “I’m scared to ask what you two were talking about,” he says, crossing the room and lifting my legs so he can sit.
“I’m offended you would think so little of us, Daddy,” I say, trying to sound indignant.
Daddy rolls his eyes. “Like I believe that.”
“I’m on my very best behavior, thank you,” Dmitri replies with a sniff.
“Sure you are,” Daddy replies.
Laying back down, but propping my head up on the armrest so I can watch Daddy, I ask, “How’d it go?”
He makes a face and sets a hand on my foot, wrapping his fingers around it as if he needs something to hold onto. “Could have been better, but all in all, we got what we wanted. There will be no retaliation from the Bratva because it was self-defense. Uncle Ivan agreed that the trips will be better served working for the Amatos, and the peace treaty was fine-tuned once more, to make sure both sides are getting a good deal.”
“Are you okay, Daddy?” I ask.
He gives me a small, sad smile. “Yeah, baby. I’m fine. It’s just…weird, knowing he’s gone. I spent so long waiting for the day someone would put him out of his misery, and now it’s… It’ll take time believing it’s real, I think.”
“That’s understandable,” I tell him softly. “Are you upset that I killed him?”
Daddy moves quickly, sliding out from underneath me to kneel at my side. He cups my face and forces me to look at him. “No, baby,” he says insistently. “I am upset you had to deal with it, and that you went through so much pain because of me. But I’m glad you were able to defend yourself against him.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “I love you, so fucking much, Ashby. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe with how much I feel for you. That it came down to you or him hurts me, but it’s poetic, almost. The person I love most in the world put an end to the one I hated so much.”
“He was your father,” I say softly. “Yeah, he was an ignorant piece of shit, but my father isn’t much better; I would still feel some type of way if he died.”
“True, but I highly doubt your father will try to kill me.”
I laugh a little. “Fair point. As long as you’re okay, then I am too.”
Before he can respond, we’re interrupted by one of the maids, who technically works for the Amatos, but is employed here because Cristian doesn’t trust me or my housekeeping skills. “Mr. Knightly, there’s someone here for you. She says she’s your mother.”
Daddy groans. “I’ll be right there.”
Dmitri speaks up. “Ilyona is here? I haven’t seen her in forever.”
“No,” Daddy says sardonically. “You fuckers only text one another.”
“Can you blame us?” Dmitri asks.
Daddy doesn’t respond, he just sighs and leaves the room. Sitting up, I pat my hair, trying to control the messiness. Considering I haven’t brushed it today, my efforts are in vain.
“You’ll like her,” Dmitri tells me. “Ilyona is great, nothing like her ex, and the best part is, she knows how to get under Sory’s skin.” He says the last part with a grin.
When Daddy comes back into the room, he's accompanied by a tall woman with long, pale blond hair, and delicate features.
Standing, I take Daddy’s hand when he reaches for me. “Ma,” he says. “This is Doc, my partner. Doc, this is my mother, Ilyona Knightly.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Knightly. Soren didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“Please, call me Ilyona, or Mama even. And Sory didn’t know, as he would have told me not to make the journey.”
“Doc’s still healing, Ma,” Soren tells her with an exasperated sigh.
“It’s fine, I’m okay. I’m happy to meet you.”
Ilyona smiles and steps forward, encasing me into a hug. “How could I stay away when I heard you were hurt? And by Nisha?” She pulls away and shakes her head. “I am so sorry you were treated like that, but know I am very happy for you and my son.”
It’s easy to look her in the eye as she’s the same height as me, which is a bit amusing, considering her son looks just like her, aside from the eyes and height.
Ilyona regards me with soft green eyes and I can’t help but smile back. “We’re happy to have you.”
She grins and looks over to Dmitri. “Are you sure? It’s my understanding you’re also hosting the trips, which makes me happy to see, but I can get a hotel. I don’t want to put you out. Or, Sory still has his apartment, doesn’t he? I can stay there.”
“No, no,” I insist. “There’s plenty of room for everyone. Someone will take your bags up and I can show you to your room, if you want to freshen up.”
“Maybe later, come sit with me. I want to get to know the man my son is so infatuated with.”
Soren groans. “Ma, don’t overwhelm him.”
“I know how to behave, Sory. Stop being such a worrywart.”
Laughing, I lead Ilyona to the sofa. “I like you,” I tell her.
“You’ll like me more once I tell you all the best stories Sory doesn’t want you to know.”
Daddy groans, but we both ignore him. Dmitri makes his way over to where we’re sitting and takes a seat on my other side. “Shall I get my brothers?” he asks. “You know we love your stories.”
“Of course! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you boys. I’m very much looking forward to catching up with you three, as much as I am excited to get to know my son-in-law here.”
Her words make my insides heat, and I grin before looking at Daddy. He’s shaking his head with an exasperated look on his face, but there’s a fondness in his bright blue eyes that shows he’s not really upset.
When he catches my eyes, he winks and I smile at him, glad he’s willing to let me further into his world.
It almost makes me feel bad for the plans I have for him. Almost…