Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five
Sephie
We were still laughing when we were wheeled into the room with Andrei. Everyone turned to look at us. Misha’s wide smile across this face. “Ivan, you’re the only one I know that would be laughing after coming out of that long of a surgery.”
He sat up farther and the nurse adjusted the bed to support him. “It’s not me. It’s her. She’s evil in the best way possible.”
Adrik looked at me sternly, his hands on his hips. “Persephone, what have you done now.” He cracked a smile, opening his arms for me. I hopped off the bed and went to him, laughing.
“I did nothing except save their lives. They should be thanking me.
Ivan laughed. “She’s not kidding there. I traumatized that one doctor, I’m sure of it. But then she showed up and started cracking jokes. Those two nurses in the recovery room didn’t know what to think.”
“It’s a gift,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. I walked to Andrei, who didn’t look too bad considering he was shot earlier. I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “How you doin’, Bubba?”
“I’ve had worse. This wasn’t so bad. They just had to dig the bullet out,” he said.
I made a motion like I was going to vomit. “It sounds so pleasant when you say it like that.”
He chuckled. “Don’t pu ke on the guy that got shot trying to run to save you.” He laughed, then added, “although it turns out I didn’t need to. You took care of it like a boss, spider monkey.”
“I took care of it like the go ddamn princess,” I said, laughing.
Everyone laughed and for a moment, we had all forgotten what had happened that day. I knew it was going to hit us all later, but for now, we were alive, we were together, and I was grateful for each one of them.
The doctor came in later to check on the patients. He told them both he saw no reason why they couldn’t go home the next morning. He wanted to monitor both of them through the night, but as long as everything went well overnight, then they could go home in the morning. He asked to speak to me in the hallway once he was satisfied with both Ivan and Andrei.
Adrik looked concerned and got up to come with me, but I motioned for him to stay, I said, “I’ll be okay,” quietly as I followed the doctor into the hallway.
“Young lady, I don’t know what kind of special powers you have over that man, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’ve never had a patient that resistant to heavy sedatives before. We gave him enough to sedate a horse and it barely touched him. But you walked in, whispered something to him and he
as perfectly still. I don’t understand it, but I’m in awe of it. I was just about to call It and let him bleed to death on the table when you walked in. I wasn’t going to let him ki ll one of my nurses or me.”
“Oh, he would’ve killed all of you,” I said, sincerely.
I believe you.” He offered me his hand. “Thank you. For helping me save his life today and for saving mine and those of my
hand
at him. “He’s not a monster, but doctors are the reason he is like he is, so he’s not exactly a fais of
e had an experience with a doctor that he can store in the good column for once,
He looked surprised at my words, the gravity of the situation fully hitting him. Without thinking, I hugged him. He needed it.
“What’s your name?” I asked him, as I stepped back from him.
“Charlie. Charlie Williams.”
“If we’re ever in this situation again, and there’s a solid chance we will be, Dr. Williams, can I have them call you in to take care of him? It’ll help him to know who’s working on him.”
He smiled nervously at me. “As long as you’re there, of course.”
“As long as I’m alive, I will always be there for him. He’s the reason I’m standing here right now.” I smiled sweetly at him, trying to hold it together until we finished this little chat.
“Deal,” he said.
“Thank you, Doctor.” I said, still smiling through the pain I knew was about to come gushing out.
“No, thank you,” he said as he turned to leave. I checked the hallway. It was empty, the floor was mostly quiet. I exhaled loudly, putting my hands on my hips as I walked across the hall and leaned against the wall. I just needed a minute before going back in. I put my hands over my eyes, my head leaned back against the wall. The tears started to come. I couldn’t stop them.
I felt warm hands around my waist, pulling me to him. He didn’t say anything, he just held me close as his hands ran up and down my back. I was fighting to get control as I lost the battle and sobbed against his chest.
“It’s okay, solnishko. Let it out.” I cried for a few minutes, but finally regained control enough that I could look at him. “Was it the doctor? What happened?” he asked, concern on his face.
1 shook my head no. “No, the doctor thanked me for saving his life today. They had Ivan strapped to the bed and he was still managing to get up to go after them,” I su cked in a breath as I thought of the sight of Ivan strapped to the bed. I could only imagine how many times in his life he’d been strapped to a medical bed. “As soon as I touched him and talked to him, he didn’t move anymore.” I smiled, remembering how they all jumped away. “Well, not exactly. He grabbed my hand and they all jumped away from the table at once.” I laughed, feeling more tears coming. I looked up at Adrik, tears streaming down my face. “He almost died today. Because of me. Andrei got shot today. Because of me.”
He looked at me, a flood of emotions coming over his face at once. He pulled me to him, resting his chin on top of my head. “No, Sephie. Not because of you. You did nothing, you hear me? None of this is your fault.” He put his hands on my shoulders, pushing me back enough that he could look me in the eyes again. “None of this is your fault.”
“I opened my big mo uth and told Massimo I know where he hides the bodies. I’m sure it was his men that came after us today. I heard them yelling. They wanted me alive.”
He pulled me back to him, sighing. “It doesn’t matter who it was that came after you today. They’re going to pay. I’m tired of being nice. They’re all going to fear me after today.” He was running his hands up and down my back the way he did when he was trying to keep himself calm. I wrapped my arms around his waist, holding onto him tightly. Part of me didn’t want what 1 knew was about to happen. The other part of me, wanted to unleash He ll. At that moment, I wasn’t sure which part would win