Chapter 20
Kirill
“Nu i chto tut u nas? Chortovo russkoye otreb’ye.”
Well, what do we have here? Fucking Russian scum.
The man’s laugh rolled through me, the dark tone echoing. I took a deep breath, offering the woman seated across from me a quiet, but pointed look.
Arina’s lower lip quivered, her eyes darted back and forth from the man holding the gun behind me and my face.
I took the time to cut another bite of steak, enjoying the sight of the blood oozing from the bright red meat. As I took a bite, the entire restaurant was instantly silenced, but they refused to look toward our table, as if by not doing so nothing bad would happen.
As a child would do when approached by monsters.
The meat was succulent and delicious with the perfect amount of spice.
“Kirill,” Arina whispered, hoping to grab my attention.
She was very well aware of my lifestyle as hers was similar, a woman of Russian royalty who’d somehow found herself attracted to me.
The only woman I’d spent more than a few hours with.
There’d been discussions of marriage, an alliance that would create a steel bond between two of the most powerful families in Russia.
And there were those who’d prefer that the marriage not take place, willing to take my life to ensure that didn’t occur.
I enjoyed the bite, chewing several times before swallowing. The tension was rising, the motherfucker behind me growing impatient.
“Aristov. YA obrashchayus’ k tebe.”
Aristov. I’m talking to you.
“A ya ne slushayu.”
And I’m not listening.
I shoved the plate away and grabbed my napkin, wiping my mouth. By the time I stood, whipping around to face him, I had the steak knife in position, driving the blade against his carotid artery. “YA sovetuyu vam uyti pryamo seychas, inache vy stolknotes’ s posledstviyami.”
I suggest you leave now or face the consequences.
I’d grinned as I’d made the suggestion, noticing the offending asshole only had one soldier with him. The man was an idiot and, in my mind, he deserved to die for that alone. But my suit was new, meant to impress my date and I wasn’t interested in having it dry cleaned.
He held up his hands, gritting his teeth.
I cocked my head, nodding as if offering a chance to live.
When I pulled the knife away, I remained where I was. He threw Arina a look then backed away, spitting when he did.
What a pig.
While he headed through the crowd toward the door, I didn’t move, watching until he’d disappeared. Fuck the asshole.
Exhaling, I finally sat back down, annoyed as hell.
“Why do they keep doing that?” she asked.
“Because we are a formidable couple.”
“You are my weakness,” Arina teased.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re mine.”
She blushed a beautiful shade of rose and I had to admit, I was growing very fond of her. I picked up my napkin, settling it into my lap.
When a single shot rang out, I reacted instantly, yanking out my weapon and jerking to a standing position, knocking the chair over in the process. The customers went crazy, scampering to get away while I searched the crowd.
“Kirill,” Arina whispered.
“It’s okay. Just a warning shot.”
“Ki-rill…”
Hearing the terror in her voice, I spun around to face her. Her face was ashen, her eyes open wide.
And the beautiful light pink dress she’d chosen to wear was now stained with red.
“No. No. No!”
“No!”
Jerking up, I ripped at whatever was holding me down, struggling to find my weapon.
“Kirill. Calm down. Just calm down.”
Still fighting, I finally opened my eyes as the lilting voice created a recognizable vacuum. My fingers had a firm grip on something. What was going on? What had happened?
“That’s it. I’m right here. Just breathe. You’re fine. You’re going to be just fine.”
After blinking several times, my vision slowly began to clear. “Vivian.”
“Yes, I’m right here. You scared me for a little while.” Her smile was guarded and she continually glanced at something over my head.
When I moved, it felt as if I was tied down. I slowly lowered my gaze, taking a few seconds before I realized why I’d felt suffocated. I was lying in bed. “Where… am I?”
“The hospital and before you become angry, I had no choice but to bring you here. You were burning up with a fever. Your organs were shutting down.”
Very slowly, everything began to slide into perspective. The hospital room. The sound of machines.
Several images that I’d rather forget.
Vivian standing over me wearing the same kind of scrubs she’d worn before. “What happened?” The dream I’d had was vivid, one that hadn’t bothered me for years. I had no clue why it had been the reason that I’d awakened other than as a premonition.
“The knife the assailant used had traces of ricin, which caused the infection, a fever and would have eventually killed you. You’re lucky to be alive.”
“The gunman wanted me to suffer.”
“Yes.”
I sank further into the pillow. “Just like what happened with Kazimir. His brother wanted him to suffer.” While the memories were sketchy, I remembered some of what had occurred. “How long have I been out?”
“Three days. You were in a coma and I was beginning to worry. Kazimir’s cousin was here a couple times and there are men stationed everywhere.”
My mind continued to process the events. “What did I do to you?”
“Why would you think you did anything?”
“Because your throat is bruised and I remember hurting you.”
Immediately, she snapped her hand around her neck, her fingers caressing her skin. “You were delirious and didn’t know what you were doing.”
When I reached for her hand, she bristled, which allowed me to know whatever actions I’d taken had terrified her. “I won’t hurt you. Again.”
She sighed, nodding while finally allowing me to take her fingers into mine. “I know you won’t. You really weren’t yourself. Not at all.”
“I’m very sorry.” Fuck. What in the hell had I done?
“It’s not your fault, Kirill. Ricin is terrible and I’m shocked your system remained stable that long. I was very worried.”
“Three days. I need to get out of here.” When I started to sit up, she yanked her hand away to push me down by the shoulders. As usual, her perfume settled into my system, causing an instant reaction. Misplaced desire.
Memories were returning, including what I’d discovered about the woman who’d likely saved my life not once but twice.
“You’re not going anywhere. You’ve been in a coma for three days and I’m your doctor, so you are staying.” Her authoritative voice was stimulating, but I wasn’t used to being in this position.
“Who is outside that door?”
“What?”
“I assume you didn’t drag me to this hospital yourself.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. “No. I did need help since you collapsed on me. That was after you destroyed that office.” She pulled away, enough that I sensed she was uncertain what to do.
This time my grasp of her arm was more forceful.
“You’re hurting me.”
I pulled her closer, close enough her lovely face was only inches away. “Is there anything you need to tell me, Vivian? Anything at all?”
The faster beeping on a machine drew her attention and meant my blood pressure was rising. “You remember what happened.”
“I remember enough to know you weren’t truthful with me.”
“I think you know why. But I was as truthful about my life as I’ve been with anyone. I want no part of my uncle’s world.”
“So you’re admitting your uncle is with the Irish mob.”
She tried very hard to pull her arm away. “He is the Irish mob and my father might as well claim the same position as you’ve done with your Pakhan. Now, let me go. You need your rest. I won’t tell you again.”
Her glare was likely the same as mine. A few seconds passed with neither one of us wanting to budge.
Finally, I gave in, releasing my fingers one at a time.
How was it possible that even in my tender state I was still so aroused?
When she jerked her arm away, she noticed, huffing as soon as she did.
While she busied herself checking the monitors, I scanned the hospital room. There was nothing to indicate anyone had come to visit or where my clothes were.
“Don’t worry. Your things are in the closet, but as you might imagine, I kept your gun so security wouldn’t find it.
And your wallet. You’re listed as a John Doe but your anonymity won’t last for long.
” As soon as she shot me a wistful look, I sensed she was still hiding something from me.
“Your gun came in handy when I went to talk to my uncle.”
That was it. I sat straight up in bed, ripping at the monitors attached to my chest. “You did what?”
“You don’t understand. My family’s corporation is a benefactor of this hospital. It wasn’t as if I could bring you into the hospital in secret.”
Fucking Christ. What in the hell had I stepped into?
She tried once again to get me to lie down. “Just rest.”
“We need to talk.”
Her lower lip quivered and there were dark circles under her eyes. “I know we do but you really do need your rest. I was worried about you.” As her expression softened, all I could think about was pulling her into my arms.
“Have you been here the entire time?”
A single nod brought a growl from my throat. “I couldn’t leave you. It really was touch and go for a little while. Even now, I’m not certain you won’t have lasting effects of kidney damage.”
“Answer my question. Who is outside that door?”
“Um. Dante and Cormac, I think?”
At least I could breathe. “Sit down. If you want me to stay here for any longer, then we will talk.”
As she pulled the chair closer, I tried to figure out what to say to her. This was an experience that I could never have imagined.
“You were dreaming just before you woke up. I could tell you were upset. I tried to wake you.”
There was such anxiety in her voice that I was taken aback. I had no idea how I should feel about her, but I knew what I did feel and what I wanted.
Her.
“Something from my past.”