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"I don’t want to go." I beg, my hands burying into the front of his shirt. I loop them around his shoulders, gripping my own wrist, locking in. "I don’t want to lose you again."
"You must, malyshka." Gently, but firmly, he pries my arms off of him. There are tears in his eyes, but he's smiling. "I'll see you again, and when I do, I want to hear more about Arsen and all the wonderful things you've done together."
His face begins to glow. So bright that I have to squint. The pain I felt before returns, but it's dulled now. Swallowing, I try to call out for my dad. I manage a weak groan. The curtains swirl around us, and soon they fade into the light as well.
Along with Dad.
"Galina, you're awake!"
Turning slowly, I see Arsen watching me intently. His handsome face is a welcome sight, though his features are etched with worry.
"Where am I?"
"The hospital. How do you feel? Are you in pain, do you need anything? Let me get the doctor."
He starts to move, but I manage to grab his wrist. I see mine for the first time—the medical bracelet clipped into place.
"No, wait, stay. Just sit and stay. Please."
Hesitating a bit, he eventually sits back beside me. "I thought I'd lost you. You were hurt... bleeding... and it was me who put you in that situation. I'm so sorry, Galina. You should never have experienced any of that."
I shake my head. “You saved me."
Placing his other hand on top of mine, he hangs his chin, not responding.
"Oh, you're up!" a cheerful voice calls. A man in green scrubs with a cloth mask on has entered the room. He holds a clipboard, flipping the papers and reading them quickly.
"You should have told me immediately, Mr. Isakov." I try to shift his way and he shakes his head. "Don't move around, please, you're lucky to be alive."
That's right. The shoot out. Gazing down hurriedly at my belly, I cross my fingers on top. "My baby, is..."
"The baby is okay. You're okay," Arsen assures me. He's lifted his head, and for the first time since I've woken up, he's managed to smile.
"What about Mom and Ruslan?"
"Everyone is okay, Galina. Because of you."
I exhale through my nose, closing my eyes to calm myself down. My mind has cleared up, giving me the ability to remember everything that happened. The fear is smothered by relief with this news.
Looking at the doctor, I ask, "Can I have a moment alone with my husband?"
For a second, he seems to want to argue. After eyeing Arsen, then the chart again, he acquiesces. "Yes, yes, of course. Press the button if you need anything."
Once we're by ourselves, I make a desperate grab for Arsen. "Come here." He hugs me back, leaning over the hospital bed, making it hard for me to breathe. I don't care. I don't care at all. Against all the odds we made it out of this mess alive.
"I love you, I love you, I love you," he murmurs into my neck. My skin is damp, but I'm not the one crying.
With one hand on my belly, the other on his cheek, I sink into his warmth. "I love you, too."
46
ARSEN
"It's taken months, but I think we’re finally about to root out all of the corrupt cops on Yevgeniy's payroll," Josh says as he paces in front of his window. It's a new office, one that's on a higher floor and bigger than the last.
Whatever his complaints about me, our connection has helped lift him up in his career.
I nod as he finishes talking.
