44. Nikolai
Nikolai
I stared at the hospital carpet. The room was eerily quiet. The only sound was the girls crying. Who were both sitting at opposite ends of the waiting room.
“It’s Damius,” Rome handed me his phone. I’d purposely fucking ignored mine. The old bastard had cost me enough time with my brother. He wasn’t taking the final hours.
But Rome wasn’t to know. I took the phone from him. “What?”
“My strongest Crow taken out by a truck. Is this true?”
He wouldn’t be calling if he didn’t know the answer.
“The Adams have claimed credit, retaliation for their heir, whose fault was that man’s death again, Nikolai?”
I kept my breathing calm, locked on the carpet. “I’ll handle it.”
“Laced drugs. Actions are always unaccounted for. Perhaps it is time to reconsider Villains leadership.”
Not even hours and he is already threatening to take what Vince, and I earned. Everything we sacrificed to control this fucking city.
“I said I will handle it. Anything else?”
“You are still my crow Nikolai. You and Vincent might have decided not to hold those so-called boys accountable. But I promise you. If my crow dies, because you two didn’t train yours, I’m holding them accountable.”
I got up, walking from the room. “Damius, you remember the deal. They aren’t yours.”
“Then I shall hold you responsible. My strongest Crow created three of the fucking weakest to carry the name.”
“You remember what Vince said? He created men, not crows.” I rubbed the center of my chest. That sharp pain back again.
“Weak men,” He clicked his tongue. “Vincent has carried your responsibilities for me long enough. You’ll step back in, understood?”
“Understood.”
“And Nikolai, the next debt you owe me. Will be repaid by returning me one of my granddaughters. So don’t insult your brother’s legacy by making all his sacrifices worthless.”
The call ended.
Holding my chest. I fought down the emotions. I can’t lose it right now. Later. I can lose it later.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. He won’t leave me. He can’t fucking leave me with this city, the kids. This fucking chest pain.
“Nik?”
I turned, fighting back for my control. Before walking back to them.
Sofia was standing at the waiting room door. A white rush of panic came through me. I couldn’t do this without him. He can’t fucking leave me with them.
“Zeke is on the phone about Maddy. He wants to talk to you.”
I nodded. “Can you give this phone back to Rome?” I exchanged phones with her. It would seem no one was fucking respecting my wish to not speak.
“Zeke.”
“Maddy missed her chartered flight. From what we know now, something happened during the meeting. It would seem a power take over; they were caught in the middle.”
My blood ran fucking cold. If she was dead. My brother was dead regardless, even if he survived that surgery.
“Given the terrain, it might take more time to get answers. We’re already organizing a recovery team to go in.”
Fuck .
How does this day keep getting fucking worse.
“Send the details to Marcel. We have contacts in that area.”
“I’m not contacting that bastard.”
“Do I need to remind you, Zeke, that Madeline is a Crow. Not a fucking Thorne.” I loosened my tie, “I hope for your family's sake, she isn’t hurt.”
I ended the call. Before the bastard could gloat by asking about Vince.
Even if he survived the surgery. A coma. My brother in a fucking coma. How long did I let that be until I gave him mercy?
He would do that for me. But... I wasn’t sure I had the strength to do the same.