Chapter 44
ARTYOM
“Fucking finally,” Lily says as she bursts through the front door. “Hey Art, hey Nina.”
“Lily!” Ava screams, tearing forward to launch herself into a hug around Lily’s knees.
I might have been keeping Nina too much to myself lately. We’re still finding a balance between socializing and staying home, when it feels like every family in the Bratva wants to host the new leader of the Petrovs for a lengthy meal. It’s been at least a week since Lily came over.
Tonight is all about Nina. She can’t go to the people because of her head injury, so the people will come to her.
Lily is here to help us set up for a party for their friends from Middlefield, but she plops herself on the couch next to Ava with a bowl of popcorn, so it looks like I’m on party decoration duty.
“What movie can we watch to annoy your parents today, Ava?” Lily raises an eyebrow. “I want the one that has the most annoying, catchy songs, please.”
Ava happily selects a movie involving cartoon singing animals and drags Lily up to dance with her, while I get started on setting up for the group from Middlefield.
Daniel hasn’t been working there since I had his residency relocated out of the city.
Nina may be tough, but she shouldn’t have to deal with an asshole who tried to destroy her professional reputation.
If I have to be the bad guy, the jealous husband who doesn’t want a workplace crush to come near her, then it’s a role I’ll happily take on.
I set up the event while Nina and Lily watch movies with Ava, feeling glad to do something for Nina for once.
Her colleagues show up one by one with flowers and chocolates. They greet Nina warmly, but they’re a little cooler towards me. I wonder if they’re still holding a grudge about the changes I made at the hospital, or if there’s something else at play.
A nurse called Janet steadfastly refuses to pass me the salad, while the doctor seated on the other side of me won’t even make eye contact. I’ve never felt so awkward at a social event.
“You’re sure she’s recovering well?” Terry, one of the nurses from Middlefield, is digging into a salad across the table from me.
He has a shiny bald head, and must be in his fifties, but he’s clearly protective of Nina.
“Skull fractures are tough work, I’ve seen patients who needed years to get back to full energy. ”
“I make sure she gets enough rest and doesn’t overdo it. That’s what the doctors have told us is best.”
“Good. That one will work herself to death.”
“You don’t have to tell me. She’s going to be a damn good doctor.”
Terry nods approvingly. Then he narrows his eyes, looking me up and down. “We’ve been worried about her ever since she came in with that head injury. Must have been a nasty fall she took.” His tone drips with suspicion.
Of course.
That’s when it hits me that Nina’s colleagues think I’m the reason she ended up in the hospital. We couldn’t tell them about the kidnapping, or Polina or Vanya, so of course they’d be suspicious.
And in a way, they’re right on the money. If I hadn’t brought Nina into the mess that is my family, she never would have ended up with a skull fracture.
“An extremely nasty fall,” I say carefully, meeting Terry’s eyes.
I consider how to play this. “I was worried sick about her. You know, my line of work is dangerous, so I see a lot of injuries like that.” I gesture to my shoulder.
“I even ended up in Middlefield with a gunshot wound in my shoulder earlier this year.”
Terry relaxes a little, folding his hands across his stomach and leaning back. “I see.” He looks around the room, at the expansive dining room, the golden accents, the brocaded wallpaper, and the priceless works of art. “Must be an interesting line of work.”
“Interesting, but dangerous,” I emphasize. “I do my best to keep Nina and Ava away from it.”
He raises his eyebrows and leans forward. “I don’t care what you do, Petrov. But you keep those girls safe, okay? If she’s not back at work in a month, I think Middlefield will revolt. I would know, I’m the union representative.”
I nod, holding back a smile. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who would ride into battle for Nina. “I really appreciate the help from all of you.”
I try not to think about those days when Nina was in the hospital.
I went through the motions with Ava, playing with her, reading to her, but it felt like she was leaving me again for the time she stayed unconscious.
Twenty-four hours, which felt like an eternity.
Until, finally, Lily and I were at her bedside when she opened her eyes.
As the party guests filter out, Nikolai storms in.
Terry, who is grabbing his jacket from the coat rack, shoots me a look as if to say that Nikolai’s appearance has confirmed his suspicions about my line of work.
He does look the part of Bratva henchman with his thick muscles and neck and face tattoos.
“Lily’s here?” he asks me urgently.
“Was that a question?” I tease him.
He looks deeply serious. “Is she?”
I nod and point to where Nina and Ava are having an in-depth conversation in the living room.
He pulls Lily away, the two talk together frantically for a second, and then he leaves, looking disappointed by something. Lily flops back onto the couch beside Nina like she’s exhausted by something.
“What was that all about?” I ask Nina as we head to bed.
She laughs. “Oh, that boy is down bad for Lily. They slept together once, but he’s taking it way too seriously. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. Lily isn’t exactly a traditional-values kind of girl.”
I tut my tongue. I’d somehow missed that piece of gossip.
“You would’ve thought a friend of yours would think twice before getting involved with the Bratva. You’re like a walking advertisement for the dangers of organized crime.”
Nina scoffs at that. “Head injury aside, I could get used to this. Especially if my husband keeps letting me use his ridiculous family home for parties.”