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“So?” I asked. My throat was dry, and I was desperate for a glass of water. Everything ached, and I was surprised that neither a nurse or a doctor had come in to check on me now that I was awake. “I’m sure there are plenty of Bratva members who aren’t happy about my marriage.”
My mother’s lips thinned, and I immediately knew that I was right. It was unheard of to marry the daughter of the Pakhan out of the Bratva.
“If Dominic is dead, the mafia will fall. We’d be able to come in and take their territory and ensure that the Bratva is the only family in New York.” There was a greed in my mother’s voice that gave me pause. She sounded manic, even more so than she had when we sat down for lunch.
“I almost died,” I reminded her. “Because I got caught in the crossfire of someone trying to kill Dom.”
“You wouldn’t have been caught in the crossfire if you would have done it yourself.”
I felt ill as I thought about killing anyone, but especially Dom. It wasn’t that I had any sort of feelings for him, but more because I couldn’t fathom harming anyone.
Before I could say anything else to my mother, the door of the room opened, and Dom walked into the room. I instantly breathed a sigh of relief to see him. From the way my mother stiffened, she wasn’t happy to see my husband.
“You’re awake,” Dom said. I wasn’t sure if I imagined the relief in his voice, or if I simply wanted him to be glad that I was still alive. “Katarina.”
If possible, my mother looked even angrier at Dom’s presence. She was standing there, clutching her purse, looking as though she was carved out of stone.
“Think about what I’ve said,” my mother told me. She didn’t reach down to kiss me or leave me with any parting comfort. She scooted past Dom and out the door. I suspected that she would go back to my father and report that I was fine. He hadn’t shown up at the hospital, and I suspected it was because he didn’t want to run into my husband.
The Bratva would always be more important than anything else in his life.
“She’s a delight,” Dom said. He took a seat in the place that my mother had vacated.
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised that she would come here. She’s not a big fan.”
Dom snorted. I knew what he was thinking, which was that my mother wasn’t the only person who wasn’t a fan of the other.
Looking at Dom, I was surprised at how fresh he appeared. He was dressed in jeans and a dark t-shirt. It was the first time I had seen him in something so casual.
“How long have I been out?” I asked. I tried to sit up once more, but the feeling of my abdomen stretching made me whimper in pain.
Dom immediately jumped from his seat. “Lay down,” he ordered. This was one order that I was actually glad to adhere to. “Has a nurse come to check on you?” Dom didn’t stop to wait for my answer. He began fidgeting around looking for the call button.
“I didn’t wake too long ago,” I said. I had a desire to ease the obvious concern on his face. “And my mother was here.”
Dom tapped the call button. “A nurse should check you out. You’ve been out for over twenty-four hours.”
I was shocked. I could barely remember anything. After I realized who Anastasia was, shots started firing. I hadn’t even realized I’d been hit until Dom was dragging me to cover, and hot, sticky blood was slipping down my abdomen.
I shivered as I recalled the fear I felt realizing that I was likely going to die.
“You are pale,” Dom said. He reached out to pour water from the plastic pitcher next to my hospital bed. I inwardly rolled my eyes as I realized that my mother had been so close to water but hadn’t offered me any.
“I’m fine,” I said. I lifted my arm slightly. “I’m pretty sure that this IV has morphine in it.” I don’t know why I was trying my best to make Dom feel better when I’m the one with a bullet in my gut, but I was. I couldn't forget the panic in his eyes as he held me. I was surprised to see it, and it comforted me.
“Someone should still check on you,” Dom said.
“How bad was the damage?” I was in pain, but I felt mostly like myself. My memories were intact, and I seemed to be able to move, so I wasn’t paralyzed, which was good. Overall, I should feel lucky. I had attended plenty of funerals for people who hadn’t been as lucky as I was.
“The bullet nicked your kidney,” Dom said. “You were in surgery for a while, but they were able to repair the damage.”
Dom’s words overwhelmed me slightly. “But everything’s okay?” My voice sounded small in my own ears.
He reached out and moved a piece of hair away from my forehead. His fingers brushed against my skin, and I couldn’t stop the shiver that went down my back. Whenever Dom touched me, my body immediately reacted.
“Everything is going to be fine,” he said.
Before I could say anything else, a nurse walked in and Dom pulled away from him. I missed his presence already.
