Chapter 9 - Avit
“Congratulations on your marriage,” Artyom said, extending his hand.
It wasn’t surprising they’d already heard, considering the family dinner we had a few nights ago.
“Thanks.” I shook it firmly.
We had just wrapped up our monthly meeting with the Rykov faction at Safin headquarters.
The final paperwork on Don Giovanni’s remaining smuggling routes had been signed.
When the Los Sangre Cartel took him out, wiping out most of his inner circle, with a few rats slipping overseas, they seized his businesses.
Under the terms of our peace treaty, the Rykovs and Safins inherited the smuggling routes.
A treaty that only existed because Lev married Katya instead of Vera, the match he’d originally requested to unite our factions. That caused Artyom to declare war on us.
Funny how things worked out. If that mess hadn’t happened, Artyom wouldn’t have ended up tied to Los Sangre at all.
“Looks like you’re the last Safin man on the market,” Zahkar said to Pyotr.
Pyotr smirked. “And I intend to stay that way. No interest in being tied to one woman when I can have all of them.”
“You have no interest,” Marten drawled, “or the one you want doesn’t want you?”
Pyotr scoffed. “I’ve never met a woman who couldn't resist my charm.”
“I can’t wait for her to show up,” Jaroslav said. “With how you treat women like disposable napkins, I’m shocked none of them have tried to kidnap you to cut off your dick.”
“Or showed up on his doorstep with a baby,” Lev added.
“I always use protection, and as for them kidnapping me, I tell them the truth,” Pyotr shot back smugly. “I promise a night of pleasure, not a future.”
“And you think that works on every woman?” Yegor asked, brow raised.
“It has so far. And…”
Just then, my phone rang, and Pyotr’s voice faded as I pulled it out and saw Wexler's name on the screen.
“Wexler, what’s wrong?” I stepped out of the room, already making my way down the hallway.
“It’s Mrs. Safin,” he said quickly. “We were about to leave for campus when she passed out. She’s in her room, she’s got a fever, sir.”
“Call Dr. Decker. I’m on my way.” I hung up.
Ria Decker was one of the best doctors in our clinics. Jaroslav had personally hired her during Vera's difficult pregnancy. Not only had she handled Vera’s pregnancy with exceptional care, but most importantly, she could be trusted.
“Everything okay with Sienna?” Marten asked behind me.
For a big guy, Marten had mastered the art of sneaking up on others.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, turning to face him. “She’s been down with the flu these past few days.”
“You think it's just the flu, or could it be more?”
“We haven't even…” I began to blurt out, then stopped.
Marten's expression was still unreadable.
“I'm sure it's just the flu.”
Marten nodded. “Keep me updated.”
“I will.”
I jogged to my car, hopped in, and sped out of the parking lot.
Buildings blurred past as I raced home. This was my fault.
I knew she wasn’t feeling well, yet instead of getting her a damn doctor, I kept avoiding her because I felt like an idiot for sharing so much of myself after my family had left our house that night.
I’d been raw, and I’d let my vulnerability show.
I couldn’t afford for that to happen, not around Sienna.
Not after what I did to her. Vulnerability in our world usually comes with a cost: death.
Ten minutes later, I was taking the stairs two at a time to her room. Wexler stood outside, her door open, as Sienna lay still on her bed.
“Has she woken up since?” I asked.
“No, sir.”
Shit.
“And Dr. Decker?”
“She’ll be here soon.”
“Go look out for her. As soon as she arrives, bring her up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wexler headed downstairs, and I went straight to Sienna’s side. When I sat on the edge of the bed, she didn’t even stir. I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and felt the heat radiating off her skin, despite the cranked-up AC unit.
“What are you doing to me, Sienna,” I whispered.
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Avit…” she breathed softly.
My name on her lips like that rattled something loose in me. The fact that she was out cold, yet knew I was there. Did it mean her feelings towards me were changing?
A knock on the door shoved my thoughts aside. I turned to see Dr. Decker standing there. I rose to my feet.
“Dr. Decker. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“Mr. Safin, not a problem. I’m just doing my job. Wexler told me what happened. Can you tell me if you noticed any other symptoms?” she asked as she approached the bed.
I ran a hand through my hair. “Honestly? I don’t know. She said everyone on campus has the flu. A few days ago, she got some medication, and she’s been using that.”
“I’m sure it’s just the flu. Add studying on top of it, and she’s probably exhausted.”
Added to helping me track down whoever her father is supplying, moving in here, and me turning her whole damn world upside down, exhausted was probably an understatement.
After checking Sienna’s vitals, Dr. Decker looked at me. “I’d like to take a few blood samples, just to make sure I didn’t overlook anything.”
“Sure. No problem.”
She drew the blood, then took out medication from her bag and wrote instructions on the labels.
“Her lungs and chest are clear. Ensure she eats, takes her medication and gets plenty of rest. I’ll have the blood work results to you by this evening. And if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.”
“Thank you, Dr. Decker.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see myself out.”
I nodded. As Dr. Decker made her way out, I pulled out my phone and called Mariya.
“Hey, Avit. What do you need?” she answered immediately.
“Why do you think I need something?”
“Because if you wanted to check in and catch up, you’d be standing in front of me. And if you were running late, you’d text. So what do you need?”
“Sienna’s sick. Do you think you could come during the day and stay with her? At least for a few days?” I added quickly, “But if you’re busy or worried about catching the flu, I’ll understand.”
“Don’t be silly, Avit. I’m never too busy when my siblings need me. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Thanks, Mariya.”
“No problem.”
I ended the call. I needed Mariya’s help because Sienna was getting under my damn skin, and I couldn’t be around her more than necessary.
She was too young for me. She had her entire life ahead of her. A bright future where she could become anything she wanted. Why would she ever tie herself to a man like me—an asshole, a criminal, a Safin?
Instead of sitting beside her bed again, I stayed by the door and waited for Mariya.
My mind drifted back to when I found Sienna with Jasper.
I’d turned that moment over and over in my head.
Jasper was a manipulative bastard; there was no way Sienna would willingly talk to him, not when she knew it would piss me off, not when she still cared for her old man despite everything he’d put her through.
But even knowing that, I’d used it as an excuse.
An excuse to keep my distance from her. I couldn't help but feel guilty that her deteriorating health was my fault. I would’ve called Dr. Decker long before today if my head wasn't stuck up my ass.
One thing I knew was that I'd never let something like this happen again.
By the time Mariya arrived, I was outside Sienna’s room with Wexler, giving him a list of things to pick up: fruits, vegetables, anything Sienna might need.
It wasn’t until Mariya stopped in front of me that it hit me: my siblings thought I was happily married.
So how the hell was I going to explain why Sienna and I were sleeping in separate rooms?
I wrapped my arms around Mariya as Wexler stepped aside to leave.
“Thanks again for coming.”
“No problem.” She glanced toward Sienna’s room. “Did a doctor see her already?”
“Yeah, Dr. Decker examined her. She needs to rest, eat, and take her medication. But knowing her, she’ll want to study. Don’t let her overdo it.”
“I won’t,” she said softly.
I turned to walk away, then paused and looked back at her.
“Mariya, whatever you see or hear in this house…you’ll keep it to yourself.”
Mariya opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but then shut it again. She nodded.
I turned and headed for my car. By the time I slid into the driver’s seat to head to Drakon, I was already pulling my phone out to call Marten with an update on Sienna.
***
Over the next three days, Mariya came by as promised, taking care of Sienna and sending me updates—if she ate, if her fever returned, if she was taking her meds, if she needed anything.
As for her blood work, it didn't show any abnormalities, but Mariya did mention that Sienna seemed closed off, like she was in a trance, not like the woman she met the first time.
Today was her first day back on campus, and I stayed home from work because I wanted to see how she held up. If she pushed herself too soon, she’d land right back in bed.
Wexler texted saying they’d be home in ten minutes. He also mentioned Sienna had been zoning out all day…quiet, and distracted, even with Mandy.
Exactly ten minutes later, I opened the office door and came face-to-face with her.
Sienna looked pale. Her eyes were glazed over, like she might collapse at any second.
What the hell?
Before I could speak, she said, “There’s somewhere I need to go, and I’d like to go without Wexler or any of the others.”
I stepped back, stunned. “Sienna, you look like you’re about to topple over. I’m not letting you go anywhere alone.”
“And why not? All my things are here. I'll come back.”
“Sienna,” I said firmly, “as my wife, I’m not letting you go out alone, especially when you're sick.”
“Letting me?” she snapped, her eyes turning cold. “And I'm fine! I'm not a child, and I shouldn't need to ask anyone’s permission to go where I want to go!”
I held her gaze. “If you don’t want the others to go, I’ll go with you. Where do you want to go?”