Page 149 of Fractured Ties

His eyes cracked open, but barely. Just enough of a slit to see a black-haired, blue-eyed angel above him. The bare lightbulb above her created a hazing halo around Maya. The second she realized he was looking at her, and responding, she let out an aching sob.

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled.

God, for what?

This wasn’t her.

“He’s alive,” she called out through tears and tremors. “Konstantin, he’s alive!”

Kolya blacked out again.

20.

A WEEK could do a lot for a person. It could change a lot. Maya knew that better than anyone. But even a week after dragging Kolya out of that fucking awful cement room, she wasn’t sure if he was getting better … or making things worse.

“Take the IV out,” Kolya growled.

“No,” the doctor replied simply.

The man moved around the bedroom and prepped a syringe of pain medication. Maya was getting used to the different vials littering the beautiful vanity Kolya had said would match the bed she picked out.

“I can take pills instead of this goddamn IV. It keeps me in bed all day. Do I need to be in bed all day? I think not.”

“I cannot pump your body full of antibiotics through pills,” the doctor replied dryly. “Because, as I have explained to you far more than once, Kolya, it is the quickest way to shut down your kidneys and liver.”

“And the IV won’t do—”

“Different antibiotic. You also need the fluids.”

“Just take the fucking IV out.”

“No, and if you do it, that sweet girl over in the corner who’s currently glaring at you is going to call me right away and let me know. Do you know how bad that infection was, Kolya? Into your arms. You are lucky you didn’t lose one.”

That quieted Kolya.

Mostly.

He grunted unhappily under his breath and scowled at the wall. This was Kolya in a nutshell. Never mind the way he bitched every single time those bandages on his chest needed changed. What he really fucking needed was a goddamn skin graft for the size of the burn—a permanent stay in the hospital until he was fully healed.

Here they were.

In their house.

Their bed.

A doctor on call.

Maya was trying really hard not to be pissed off, but it was getting difficult. Kolya was making it difficult. He needed to get better, but his way of doing that did not align with the medical care he needed.

That was the problem.

“Last orders for today,” the doctor said, turning to give Maya a kind smile. The man was quite nice, all things considered. “Make sure the nurse soaks the burns and removes any dead skin again today. IV stays in.”

Kolya grunted under his breath again, but this time, it sounded more like a curse. Maya figured, at least he stayed quiet once he finished. That was something.

“No … strenuous activity,” the doctor told Maya, “regardless of what he tries to say or do. Don’t let him. Rest is best.”

Maya nodded. “I’m on it.”