Chapter Seven
Viktor
Vadim had called on every contact he had in the area, even those outside the Bratva.
Everyone available was searching for Cerys, but I worried it would be too late when we found her.
If Artur had harmed her in any way, he’d pay the ultimate price.
Nothing would stop me from exacting vengeance, and I knew that Vadim would let me have it.
Artur needed to be stopped. I’d known he was power hungry.
It was the only reason he’d want his daughter matched with me.
I’d been less than friendly with him over the years, and couldn’t remember a time I’d said more than two words to his daughter.
A clean-up crew had been brought in to handle the dead bodies, and Ilya had been taken away for medical attention. I was thankful someone else had handled because all I could think about was Cerys.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and frowned at the number on the display. It was local but not one I recognized.
I answered the call and put the phone on speaker, in case it was Artur. If the man was going to confess to his crime, then I wanted Vadim to hear it firsthand.
“Who is this?” I asked.
“Ian MacKenzie from the Southside Clinic.”
My gaze locked with Vadim’s. I couldn’t think of a reason for the man to be calling unless he knew something about Cerys. Our connection was too new for anyone to know she was my wife, unless she’d told them. Did the doctor have my wife at his clinic? And if so, how bad off was she?
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Your wife needs you. Get here. Fast.”
The call ended and I stared at Vadim. He gave a slight nod of his head and I was moving, through the door, bypassing the slow-as-fuck elevator, and practically running down the stairs. I rushed to my car and barely paused long enough for Vadim to slide into the seat next to me.
“I’m getting older, but I’m not dead,” Vadim said. “But next time, take the elevator.”
I snorted and put the car in gear, taking off so fast my tires squealed on the pavement and I left smoke in my wake.
I took the corners too fast, nearly losing control, but I didn’t let up.
Pushing the pedal harder, the car shot forward again.
Blowing through stop signs, lights, and nearly taking out a few pedestrians, I reached the Southside Clinic in fifteen minutes.
I slammed on the brakes outside the front of the building, threw the car into park, and ran inside, not even stopping to shut off the car.
No one in this area was dumb enough to steal my ride.
The sound of gunshots made my body go cold.
I pulled my gun and noticed that Vadim was again beside me, his gun already at the ready.
We moved farther into the clinic, peering around an open doorway.
I didn’t see Cerys, but the doctor lay on the floor with a spreading pool of blood under him.
His back rose and fell, even though it was slight. He was alive for the moment.
Artur hadn’t noticed my presence and stalked around the table in the center of the room. As he pointed his gun at the floor, I knew in that moment my wife was there, and this fucker was about to kill her.
“Artur!” I yelled out.
He swung his gun my way and I shot him through the shoulder.
It was enough to make him drop the weapon.
I advanced on him, not daring to look at where I suspected Cerys lay.
If I saw her, saw what he’d done to her, I’d stop focusing on Artur and we could all die.
It would only take a moment of distraction for him to get the upper hand.
I slammed my fist into his temple, pulled back and hit him again across the jaw.
I didn’t stop, landing blow after blow. I made him bleed, made him beg, and still I went after him.
His face was an unrecognizable mess, his bones broken, skin swollen and covered in blood.
But it wasn’t enough. He’d touched what was mine! Taken my wife!
“Viktor.” Vadim’s voice, firm and commanding, made me glance his way. “Your wife needs a hospital. And I believe the doc does as well.”
I snarled at Artur and hit him again.
“Viktor!” Vadim said in a more biting tone. “I’ll handle Artur.”
I grabbed a white towel off a stack on a nearby table and wiped off my hands, then knelt beside Cerys. Her face was battered and bruised. I didn’t take the time to check her over, just lifted her into my arms and carried her from the room. I didn’t want her anywhere near Artur for a second more.
“Viktor,” she said softly. “You came for me.”
“Of course, myshka . I will always come for you.”
She smiled a little, then winced. Her lip was bleeding freely, as were a few other places that I could see.
I put her in my car and on the drive to the hospital I called for an ambulance to assist the doctor.
My priority was my wife. I owed the doc for telling me where to find her, and for obviously trying to help her, but Cerys came first. She would always come first. The moment I’d discovered she was missing, had seen the blood in my penthouse, I’d known that she meant more to me than I’d admitted even to myself.
She moaned as I came to a stop in front of the Emergency Room.
“Easy, myshka . You’ll be feeling better soon.”
I got out and lifted my wife into my arms again, this time not putting her down until a nurse was ready to take her back. I refused to leave her side. The last time I’d walked out on her, she’d nearly died. This time, I wouldn’t leave unless she was leaving with me.
“Mr. Petrov, we need to remove her clothes,” the nurse said, fear flashing in her eyes as she looked at me. I knew my reputation preceded me, but I’d do whatever it took for my Cerys to be well again.
“Do it. Whatever she needs, see that she gets it, but I’m not leaving.”
The nurse cast a glance behind me and I turned to see a doctor.
His gaze locked with mine before turning to my wife.
The way his features tightened, I knew he thought I was responsible for her wounds.
I didn’t care what they thought of me, but I wouldn’t have them thinking Cerys was the type to stay in an abusive situation.
She’d endured it with her father because she’d had no other options. He’d made sure of that.
“My wife was kidnapped,” I said. “She hasn’t spoken much since I found her. I don’t know what…”
My throat grew tight. When I’d found her, her clothes had been torn, but were mostly in place.
I didn’t think she’d been violated, but I couldn’t be certain.
The thought of Artur doing that to her tore me up inside.
My Cerys was sweet, and despite everything, had an innocence about her that I hoped she never lost.
I fastened my gaze on hers, even though she didn’t know I was looking at her, and she lifted her hand, reaching for me. I went to her side and took her smaller hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“He didn’t hurt me that way, Viktor. He and his daughter hit me and kicked me.”
There was a flicker in her eyes and I knew she was holding something back.
He hadn’t violated her, but something had happened, more than just hitting and kicking.
I’d find out what, if not from her, then from Artur himself.
I’d do whatever it took to make an example of him, ensure that no one came for my wife ever again, not if they wanted to live.
“Before we get started, is there any chance you’re pregnant, Mrs. Petrov?” the doctor asked.
Cerys brow furrowed.
“We’ve only been married two days, but yes, it’s possible she could be pregnant. We didn’t use protection,” I said.
The doctor hummed and made a note on the tablet in his hands. “Too early to tell then, but we’ll take the proper precautions. Mrs. Petrov, we need to get you into a hospital gown. The police will also want documentation of your wounds.”
“Documentation?” she asked.
“Photos,” said the nurse, “but I’ll take them.”
Cerys paled and I could tell she didn’t like the thought of someone taking pictures of her.
She wouldn’t be able to see what they were doing, and while she wouldn’t admit it, I knew it made her feel vulnerable.
These were medical professionals and were here to help her, but she couldn’t see the kindness and worry in the nurse’s eyes, or the glares the doctor had cast my way when he’d thought I was responsible for her current state.
“My wife is blind,” I said. “You’ll have to give her verbal instructions for anything you need. She won’t see your gestures.”
Sympathy crossed the nurse’s face, as well as the doctor’s, but I knew Cerys would hate that. If I’d learned anything about my wife, it was that she hated feeling like a burden. She didn’t want pity. She just wanted to be considered normal.
“I’m not leaving her side,” I said. “I left her earlier and she was taken from our home. A place she should have been safe. I’m not taking that chance again.”
“The police will want to speak with you both,” the doctor said.
I snorted. Not likely. Once the police knew who the victim was, they’d back off and let me handle this my way.
Artur was already safely tucked away, waiting for his punishment.
The police would never find him, not that they ever looked very hard at that part of town.
They knew that side of town belonged to the Bratva.
Nothing happened there without our permission, and if someone did cross that line, they were dealt with.