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“That man in there,” he nods at the surgery room, “did you see the tattoos on his body?” When I say yes, he adds, “Do you know what they stand for?”
I shake my head but a dip forms in my stomach at the tone in his voice.
“They stand for the underworld. For ice and shadows.” A small gulp punches in his throat. “They stand for the Nordic Mafia.”
Gasping, I stare as confusion swims in me. “I’ve heard of them,” I whisper but I have never come in contact with them before. Never read anything about them in the news and only heard a few vague rumors until I almost believed it was just an urban legend. I’ve seen their symbols all over town though, an N with an upside down M intertwined. “Are you saying you think Viper is a member?”
“Didn’t say he’s a member.” Pause. “I think he’s their leader.”
Rubbing my temples, I try to control the emotions that overwhelm me. What the security guard is saying does make sense. The barbershop, the alley, the drop off...the shooting. Of course, it had mafia written all over it. Looking through the window again, I watch Viper being operated on and I hold down a choke.
“Shit...that look on your face. You’re not falling for him are you?”
Just for the sake of it, I shake my head. “I know what you’re thinking. You think he’s a bad man but to me he’s never been anything but good. And I’m not afraid of him. I trust him.”
“Dammit, don’t encourage this, Tamsin. You don’t want a man like that to corrupt a sweet little girl like you.”
“What I do and don’t do is my own business. But I appreciate the concern...”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t come crying to me when you end up dead in a ditch.”
My veins fill with ice but temper just as quickly. He has no idea what he’s talking about. Being entangled with the Nordic Mafia isn’t something I ever thought would happen to me but Viper and I share a bond. I can feel it even now, boiling in me. He calls me his woman, his angel. The way he screamed for me made me feel so special and I have never been that crucial to another human. I know I shouldn’t indulge his cravings but I can’t help it. We’re meant to be. I know it and Viper definitely knows it and I feel overwhelmed again.
How did I even end up in this situation? I’m just a young nurse without any special credentials and now I’m the object of affection for Viper Roz. He’s the mafia king and he’s going to need a queen.
I gulp because as much as I want him, I don’t know how I’ll be able to step up to the task.
****
The surgery takes a couple of hours and once it’s over, I take a break from work to visit Viper. He drifts in and out of consciousness, his eyes warming whenever they land on my face. He murmurs incoherent words to me but they sound like promises. When it’s eight o’clock in the morning and I’m done for the day or should I say night, I check on Viper before leaving. His eyes are closed, his chest heaving and when nobody is looking I give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
I leave him peacefully sleeping, grateful that it turned out I was right and his injuries didn’t hit any important nerves or muscles. Back home in my apartment, I make myself something to eat, grab a quick shower and take a nap on the couch. Flinching when my phone rings, I groggily reach out with my hand and answer.
“Yes?”
“Tamsin, It’s Shea.” She’s one of my nurse colleagues. “Do you think you can come in earlier today by any chance?”
It’s nine o’clock. Three hours before I usually start.
“I suppose so,” I yawn and drag a hand through my messy hair. “Why?”
“Uh...that crazy ass Viking patient is throwing a fit again.”
“Oh no,” I gulp, sharply sitting up and I can already imagine the bedlam he’s causing. “I’m already on my way.”
“Thanks,” Shea mutters in relief and we finish the call. Blinking, I stumble into the bathroom, splash cold water in my face and I don’t walk to work this time but grab an Uber. Running through the hospital entrance, I can already hear him and the staff glance at me anxiously. I try to give them reassuring smiles but only catch disapproval in their eyes.
“Whoa, whoa...” I cry, running into Viper’s room, still in my outerwear. “What is going on?” Security is in here yet again and there’s a tray of untouched food in front of Viper. “You don’t like the food? I don’t blame you,” I joke in an attempt to cut through the tension.
Viper is the only one who chuckles but his eyes are anything but amused. They follow my every move and I hide a gasp when he sucks me in. I feel his essence plastering itself all over me, possessing me even while I’m several feet apart. His eyes are sexy, penetrating. They pin me down wherever I am and I love how they feel on me. People may think and say all kinds of things about him but I don’t care.
“It’s okay, I’ll take over from now,” I quickly tell the others and they leave the room so fast that wind hits me in the face. My eyes turn to Viper who doesn’t look even a little bit guilty. “Have you been bad?” I breathe.
“Would have been as docile as a kitten had you been here when I woke up,” he grits between his teeth. “Where were you, angel?”
“Home. Had to sleep, shower, eat...”
The agitation in him melts somewhat and now there’s a flash of guilt on his face. “I understand. You must take care of yourself first and foremost.”
