Chapter 18 #3
I took another sip of coffee, wishing the conversation hadn’t started. “You know there are a few aspects about my life that you don’t need to know about. Right?”
Emily tutted me as if I was making a joke. “I know you’re mafia royalty, bestie. I’m no fool. I watch the news and I’d overheard the conversations you’ve had with your father. I am also well aware that your family owns people in this town.”
We were having a discussion about my family’s unscrupulous acts of corruption while lingering in the hospital room of my Russian Bratva lover. Had this been under different circumstances, I might have laughed. “What are you trying to say to me?”
“That you can tell me anything. Plus, I don’t think anyone in the hospital believes you brought in a John Doe. For once you weren’t creative. Okay?”
She cracked up first, which caused me to do so as well.
“Maybe not but I can’t divulge his real name.
Not without his okay.” I had no idea how to handle the situation other than realizing I was being watched.
At first, it was only a feeling, the pricklies that I’d always gotten when one of my father’s or uncle’s men had been assigned to keep me safe.
I’d even taken his wallet, hiding it in my purse in case someone snooped in his things. That someone had been me, finding nothing other than his legitimate identification. At least I knew he hadn’t lied to me. Like he’d accused me of doing. Was keeping my full identity akin to lying?
Someone was watching. Even I felt it.
While this wasn’t a place of business for the Irish mob, that didn’t mean my uncle didn’t keep a close eye on every business where he’d spent cold, hard cash.
“Then answer me this. Who is he to you?” Her questions wouldn’t stop, not until I gave her something, but I didn’t know what to say.
“He saved my life. Now, I did the same for him. He’s just someone I met.” Technically, he very well could have saved my life. If he’d been truthful in leaving the other two men alive, they’d caught a good look at me.
While my best friend knew all about me, given we didn’t keep secrets from each other, that didn’t mean everyone in the city was knowledgeable about my family and who I was in relation.
The assassins could have easily passed me off as another hospital worker who’d seen too much.
What kept me unnerved was Kirill’s insinuations that maybe the wild goose chase he’d been led on was in part due to my identity.
I’d thought more than once about how the ticket had been changed at the last minute at my brother-in-law’s insistence.
Was it possible someone had wanted us to meet? Even if that was the case, there’d been no way of ensuring that we’d get along let alone form a relationship.
A relationship. Was that what I was involved in? Wasn’t there some rule of thumb about dating for longer than a couple of days before either party was allowed to call it anything but a tryst? A sexual encounter?
“Earth to Vivian. What happened, girl? Like I said, you can talk to me.”
“No, Emily. I can’t. Not this time.” I took his hand into mine, hating how cold his skin was to the touch. That worried me was much as the wait to learn if I was correct about the poison. I couldn’t think clearly, constantly shifting my mind to when he’d insisted on us getting married.
The entire situation was out of control.
“You don’t trust me.”
“I trust you more than I do most of my own family, but the more you learn, the more dangerous it could potentially be for you. But I do need your help keeping an eye on him. I plan on staying at the hospital, but in case I get called away, I need to trust you’ll watch out for him.”
She shook her head out of concern. I’d seen the look before. “I’ll do what I can, but the doctors are already asking questions.”
“I’ll handle them when I need to. Just promise me you’ll care for him.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” With his heartrate still strong and his blood pressure starting to level out, I was convinced he would make it. If he came out of the coma.
“You like him.”
I squeezed his hand, hopeful he’d squeeze back.
He didn’t.
“I do.”
“So you met him here?”
“You’re not going to let this go. Are you?” As usual, her look was one of mischief.
“Not a chance. You need to tell me something.”
“Remember when I said I had an interesting flight?”
“You’re kidding me,” she gasped.
“Not even a little.”
“Oh, now you must tell me the details. I know. Later. When this is all over.”
When I looked at my watch, I grimaced. “Can I ask a huge favor right now?”
“Sure.”
“Can you stay for about an hour? I need to meet someone. The meeting is close so I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
I offered a smile to try to appease her nerves while mine remained rattled. “Absolutely. Just an errand.”
“Okay. I won’t leave. I promise. Just be careful. I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I.”
I hadn’t realized how much time had gone by. Almost twelve full hours had passed since I’d brought him in. At some point, I would need to get some rest, but not yet.
Not until my uncle was handled and I found out what in the hell was going on.
The edges of my nerves sharpened like a blade, I stood over Kirill, squeezing his hand as I lightly brushed the tips of my fingers down his cheek.
“I’ll be back. Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.
” The moment I kissed him on the forehead, he stirred and I was relieved while experiencing the same pull, an even more intense connection than before.
Backing away, I realized this was my chance to escape, to turn him into the authorities or force him to suffer a worse fate by allowing access by my uncle.
The thought was tempting yet instead of feeling gleeful at knowing I could get my life back, an even heavier weight was crushing every bone in my chest.
As well as digging nicks into my heart.
I’d been clever in my actions, more so than a single soldier working for him had suspected.
As I grabbed my purse, which hadn’t managed to make it to my locker, I checked inside while heading for the door.
With a deep breath, I wrapped my fingers around the only security blanket that would matter in dealing with my uncle.
Kirill’s gun.
And I knew how to use it.
Even more, I knew in my heart that if push came to shove and I was asked by my uncle to choose, the decision was easy, which prickled at every synapse in my brain.
I’d choose Kirill.
The man I was falling in love with.