Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I took Sergei’s hand in mine and brought it up to my cheek. I just wanted to feel his warmth for a moment, but it felt cool against my skin. I didn’t let it go. Instead, I held onto it, hoping he knew that I was there with him. I was watching the slow rise and fall of his chest when Nikolai said, “You should go home and get some rest. Maybe take a shower and grab something to eat.”
“I’m not leaving. Not while he’s like this.” I turned to look at him as I said, “But you can go. I’m sure you could use some rest, too.”
“I’m staying.” I gave him a slight nod, then turned my attention back to Sergei. After a few moments, Nikolai grumbled, “But I can’t take just sitting here in the quiet. I need you to talk to me.”
Even though I wasn’t really up for talking, it was clear he was struggling with seeing his brother in this condition, so I nodded and asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything.” He sat up in his seat. “Tell me something about you and what you have going on.”
“You already know everything that’s been going on with me.”
“What about your writing? Are you still doing that?”
“Some.” I shrugged. “I don’t think it’s all that great, but it’s been therapeutic.”
“They’re good. A little dark, but good.”
“They are a little dark.”
“Sometimes dark is what people need.” He cocked his brow. “You should consider publishing them. Might help women who’ve been through shit like you have.”
“Maybe. It’s definitely something to think about.”
Before he could respond, the door swung open and Viktor walked back in. His eyes went straight to Sergei, and he sighed when he saw that he was still out. “Anything?”
“He hasn’t moved.”
“But remember what the doctor said,” Nikolai interjected. “He said the next few hours will tell us more of what we’re up against.”
“He’s still stable?”
“Yes. For now.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“This is it.” Nikola nodded toward me. “She’s not leaving, and neither am I.”
Viktor gave him a nod, then walked over and pulled up a chair next to me. And the three of us sat there, watching Sergei like our lives depended on it, and silently prayed that this wasn’t the end. After a while, Tabitha and Preacher returned. While Preacher found him a spot by the window, Tabitha wanted to be closer. She sat in the chair across from me, and there was no missing the concern in her eyes as she looked over at her son.
Viktor cleared his throat and shook his head. “Boy, he’s really milking this one.”
“He’s not milking anything,” Tabitha fussed. “Your brother is fighting for his life over here.”
“It’s a little stab wound,” Viktor scoffed. “He’s just looking for attention. He’s been doing this shit since we were kids. Always trying to play hero and scaring the hell out of us in the process.”
“He isn’t wrong,” Nikolai piped in. “He was always into something.”
“Yeah, remember that time we were all out at that abandoned train yard… the one out by Yuri’s old place?”
“You talking about those guys who were screwing around with that old, stray dog?”
“Yeah, they cornered it under one of the rail cars. It was a pitiful old thing.”
“I remember. He was struggling to get around, and those assholes were throwing rocks at it.”
“And you ran over and started yelling at them to stop.”
“Nah, I’m pretty sure it was Alina who was doing the yelling.”
“It was you. Hell, you weren’t but seven or eight at the time, but you were a mean, little sonofabitch.”
“Viktor,” Tabitha scolded.
“He was, and you know it.”
“I don’t know any such thing.”
I listened to them bicker, but my attention was still on Sergei. Being careful to avoid his IV, I curled my fingers tighter around his hand. His chest continued to rise and fall in shallow but steady breaths. My eyes were still trained on his chest when Nikolai grumbled, “I didn’t take shit off anyone. Still don’t.”
“See, Mother. A mean, little sonofabitch,” Viktor teased. “And he’s still your favorite.”
“I don’t have a favorite, Viktor.”
“Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that.”
Nikolai didn’t argue about being the favorite. He simply scratched the side of his head and said, “Any-way, I wasn’t going to let them hurt that dog. I didn’t care if he was stray or not.”
“And you almost got your ass kicked because of it.”
“I did no such thing. I could’ve taken them easy.”
“You are so full of shit.”
“Just stating facts, brother.”
“Those guys would have pummeled you if it hadn’t been for Sergei.”
“Whatever.” I thought that was going to be the end of it until Nikolai added, “He was just as pissed as I was that they were fucking with that dog.”
“He didn’t give a fuck about that dog. He was pissed that one of them shoved you.”