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Her husband did this to her.
The bastard must’ve pushed her down the stairs, poor thing.
She’s too scared to ask for help.
I focus on the TV, and the local news plays on a loop. Of course, there’s no mention of what happened at the estate. I would not have been surprised to see our pictures flash across the screen. My appetite is turned off by the grayish oatmeal on the tray, but my stomach growls when I push it away. I eat a bite, frowning as it sticks to the roof of my mouth.
What am I going to do?
The sound of approaching footsteps rouses me, but I don’t recognize the man who enters the room. He holds a ridiculously large bouquet that conceals his face. But I can tell by the expensive designer suit that he’s Bratva.
Oh God. Is a gun concealed in the flowers? Where’s Andrei?The perspiration on my skin turns into a layer of frost as he stops by the bed. Frantically, I search for the buzzer as he lowers the bouquet.
“Paige Geraldovna, dear, how are you feeling?” the man greets me. He looks familiar, and it takes me a second before I recognize Valeri Kozlov—the man who was with Talia at the time Andrei and I returned to the same restaurant where she once accosted me.
Valeri places the bouquet down on the bedside table. An over-the-top arrangement of vivid red and orange roses in a Winston Flowers vase. “We were worried about you after we heard the news.”
I focus on his ridiculously cocky smile. “How did you find out?” I sit up straighter in the bed.
Valeri reaches for the controls and politely raises the head of the bed. “People will talk, even when they shouldn’t. Speaking of which …” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an iPhone in metallic rose. It’s Emma’s phone. “Someone would like to talk to you.” No sooner than he hands it to me, Talia’s name lights up the screen.
I hiss, “You like pretending to be a gentleman when you’re really an asshole in a Gucci suit.” I glare at the tricky prick.
He smirks but says nothing as he reaches over to swipe the screen.
“Hello, Paige. How are you and the baby?” Talia purrs into the phone as if she didn’t hope I was dead.
“You aren’t interested in either,” I snap at her.
“I am,” she replies firmly. “And my offer still stands … a Reyes for a Reyes.”
My hostility rages, and I don’t give a damn if I sound like a bitch. “I was there, Talia, and you never showed up.”
“Please. Do I look as dumb as you?” She laughs. “Your husband thinks I do. I wasn’t about to let him shoot me in the head too.”
“There is no deal unless you can prove Emma isalive.” It takes everything in me to say that word, but I refuse to show fear. The screen turns black, and then an image appears of Emma sitting on a kitchen chair with her hands bound with zip ties. She looks tired and still has on the same clothes from the diner, but she’s alive.
“Would you like to say anything to your sister?” I’m not sure who Talia is speaking to, but Emma’s eyes widen in horror. Too late, I realize she doesn’t know I’m in the hospital.
“Emma, don’t worry,” I speak quickly. “I’m okay. I’m coming to get you.”
She tries to get up, but a large hand grips her shoulder and forces her back down.
“So, it’s a deal?” Talia grins with pleasure into the phone. “At this point, you’d both be safer with me.”
“You have to let her go this time.”
“I’m a woman of my word, Paige.” Talia smiles at my whiny threat. “And you’ll come, because you’re a good sister.”
The call ends, and Valeri slips the phone out of my hand. “Shall I wait for you to get dressed?” he asks.
I give him a dirty look and move stiffly toward the edge of the bed. He reaches out to help me up, and I don’t pull away from his touch. My body is still screaming in pain from the fall. I need his help until I’m on my feet. I grab the back of my gown, keeping it closed tight as I shuffle over to the closet.
“Close your eyes,” I order.“And turn around.”
Grinning, his eyes rake over my body. “No longer the mouse, Paige Geraldovna. I like powerful women.”
“Don’t you already have one at home?” I snap.
