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Viktor
It’s been hours, and I’m still waiting for an update. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t lose Ava like this. I feel useless sitting here waiting, hoping she doesn’t die. If I could trade places with her, I’d do so in a heartbeat. My guard was down, and now Ava is paying the price for the name I carry. This isn’t about the Clan anymore—this is about my family. A line has been crossed, and I won’t stand for it. Women and children have always been off-limits.
My incessant pacing is interrupted by Oliver handing me a cup of coffee and a sandwich. “Here. You haven’t eaten all day.”
“Do you think I fucking care? I want to know why they haven’t updated me on Ava’s status.”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “No news is good news. We have to trust that the doctors are doing their job.”
“Trust? I don’t fucking trust anyone. Ava is in fucking surgery because I trusted she’d be safe. I should have never agreed to a wedding at the hotel. There were too many fucking variables.” I stand from my chair and pace again. “This is my fault.”
“Where are you going?” Oliver asks when my pacing directs me to the door of the waiting room.
“To get a fucking update.”
Before I can leave the room, a man and a woman in scrubs enter. Their expressions don’t give me any confidence that Ava is alive.
“Mr. Manarch—” the man starts.
“How is my wife?” I interrupt impatiently.
“My name is Dr. Jones,” the man advises, “I operated on your wife. She’s out of surgery and in the ICU. The bullet penetrated her stomach. We successfully removed the bullet, and no other major organs were harmed, although she lost a lot of blood. She’ll be in hospital for a few days, but we expect her to make a full recovery.”
“I want to see her,” I demand, his words not enough to loosen the knot in my stomach.
“Of course,” the doctor agrees with a slight nod.
I face Oliver, ready to bark out another set of orders, but he beats me to the punch line. “I’ll update everyone. Call me if you need anything.”
Nodding, I follow the doctor to the ICU in silence. Entering the room, I’m struck by the sterile smell and the eerie silence, which is only interrupted by the beeping of machines. The thought that it should have been me and not Ava goes around and around in my brain. Ava is still, hooked up to machines and tubes. I hardly recognize her.
I crank my neck to the right when Dr. Jones speaks. “The next twenty-four hours are crucial. She’s heavily sedated, so it will be a few hours before she wakes. For now, she needs rest.” He spins to leave. “Please let the nurse know if you need anything.”
I nod before moving to stand by her bed. Seeing her like this kills me.
“I’m so sorry, baby girl.” I push a few strands of hair away from her face. “I’ll find who did this and make them pay.”The streets will run red until everyone pays.
After pulling up a chair, I sit beside her and hold her hand. I need her to open her eyes. I need to see for myself that she’s fine, to hear her smart mouth telling me the many things I do wrong. I’ll take our fights over her laying still, unmoving and lifeless.
“Ava, please open your eyes. We need you.” I softly kiss her head, aware I’m nothing without her. She is the reason I breathe. “Ineed you.”
* * *
Many hours later, someone greets me, “Hello.”
I gaze up when a nurse enters the room. She isn’t the first I’ve seen, but she is the first who hasn’t ignored my presence. “Hi.”
“I need to check her vitals,” she shares, inching closer.
“Okay.” I wait for her to check the machines and Ava’s chart before asking, “How is my wife doing?”
“She has strong vitals, always a good sign. But it will still be a while before she wakes.” She shifts her focus to me. “You should get some rest.”
With a smirk, I brushed off her concern. “I’m fine.”
“Okay. I’m Nurse Peyton. Let me know if you need anything.” She takes in my nod for half a second before she smiles and leaves the room.
I check the time. It’s almost 9p.m. Time has gone both slow and fast while I have waited next to Ava’s bed. I need to call Oliver to check on the kids, but with everything going on, I’ve been distracted.
