Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
The gunshots halt, but I don’t lift my head. I can’t.
“Rai!”
I meekly direct my gaze upward at the sound of my name. Sergei stands in front of me, frowning. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“No. I’m not leaving him.”
“We don’t know if there are other armed men. How are you going to help him if you’re hurt yourself?”
“I’m not leaving his side.”
Sergei shakes his head, but he orders his guards to form a circle around us even though there’s no more shooting.
“His pulse is weak and he’s lost so much blood.” My chin trembles. “What am I going to do?”
“There’s nothing you can do except press down and don’t release the cloth,” Sergei says. “Let Ruslan do it.”
“No.” The idea of leaving Kyle’s side, even for a moment, terrifies the fuck out of me. If I do, I will lose him, just like seven years ago—only this time, it will be for good.
This time, I won’t be able to hang on to the hope that he’ll come back.
I don’t know how long it takes for the doctor to come, but it’s long enough that Ruslan’s jacket is soaked in blood and Kyle’s pulse is almost non-existent.
I try to stay close by as Dr. Putin does his job, but Sergei forces me up to my shaky feet so I don’t get in the way.
My gaze keeps following the doctor’s movements with hawklike concentration. I’m vaguely aware of guards cleaning up the dining room and stern Russian commands from the elite group, especially Vlad. He orders two of Sergei’s guards to take Ana and the other women to another room.
Everything else is a blur. For a second, I’m not sure if this is a dream or reality. I can’t feel my own body or breaths.
It takes Dr. Putin a long time to get the bullet out of Kyle’s chest. I don’t look away from the gruesome scene, the needle cutting through Kyle’s skin and the blood that’s being transfused into his body.
I don’t even look away from the pool of blood surrounding him as if it’s his death bed.
Shaking my head internally, I continue watching the whole thing. It takes so long that Sergei grabs a chair and sits on it.
I don’t.
If I move even an inch, I’ll start hyperventilating.
Finally, Dr. Putin stands and addresses Sergei. “He lost a lot of blood, but he was lucky. If the gunshot was a little to the side, he wouldn’t have survived. He’s feverish, so it can be dangerous tonight. He needs constant monitoring until the fever disappears. I’ll prescribe antibiotics that he needs to take on time.”
Sergei thanks the doctor and tells one of his men to drive him back.
I snatch the prescription from the doctor’s hand and shove it into Katia’s. “Make it quick.”
“Yes, miss.” She nods and sprints out of the mansion.
Since the doctor told us how to safely move him, I order Ruslan and another of Sergei’s guards to place him on a tall coffee table then carry it upstairs.
I follow after, even though my feet are shaking. I stare at the blood on my hands, a deep, crimson red. His blood…Kyle’s.
As soon as I’m inside the room, I rush to the bathroom and yank the faucet on. I rub my trembling hands together over and over again and taste salt. That’s when I know tears are cascading down my cheeks.
I wipe them with the back of my hand, then wash my face before I come out of the bathroom with a wet towel.
Ruslan stays by the bed on which Kyle is lying. My husband is only in his pants after the doctor cut through his bloodied shirt. A bandage is wrapped around his chest and slung over his shoulder.
“Go help outside, Ruslan,” I manage to say. “And tell Katia to get in here as soon as she has the meds.”
“Yes, miss.”
With one last look at me, Ruslan leaves the room.
All the energy I used to remain standing abandons me. I fall to my knees at the side of the bed, then carefully wipe the blood that’s marring Kyle’s abs.
He shouldn’t be bleeding or hurt. He’s too professional and methodical for that.
And yet he is.
Because no matter how professional he is, Kyle is still human. Humans bleed and die.
Like he almost did today. His words from our wedding day rush back to me, the part where he told me not to wish to become a widow because that might come true sooner than expected.
I cup his jaw with my fingers and lean in to place a kiss on his lips, my shaking mouth lingering there for an extra second before I murmur, “You’re not allowed to leave again, asshole.”
28
Kyle
My ears buzz as I slowly open my eyes.
The first thing I see is a beautiful woman. Her hair cascades on either side of her face, the blonde strands camouflaging her expression.