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“Tellme I’m your favorite brother.”
Jude dropped into the plastic chair next to me, and I elbowed him away. “Why?”
“Because I took care of Mikhail.”
I looked up from the documents I’d been staring at for the past three hours. Vanna was coming home today, and I’d been warring between elation and dread.
She was still apprehensive about staying with me. And I was a bastard for not letting her go anywhere else. But I didn’t feel bad enough to change my mind. I needed her close, and I needed to know she was okay.
Cleo had been a mess all day, calling me every hour, asking me questions and telling me about the places in the house she’d cleaned and all the furniture she’d rearranged. She’d also been baking. So far, she’d made a strawberry shortcake and chocolate chip cookies and was currently whipping the cream for a caramel sponge. She’d also washed poor Daisy twice today.
“I thought he was in Russia?”
Jude grinned, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. “He was.”
“How the fuck did you get to him?”
“A gentleman never shoots and tells.”
I dropped my pen, knowing I wouldn’t get any more work done today. “You’re not a gentleman, and you love to gossip.”
He slapped my thigh hard enough that I had to grit my teeth to stop a wince from escaping. That would have only encouraged my brother to do it again. “I also love my sister-in-law. Just so happens that Quinn’s restaurant manager is the third Volkov brother. And he was surprisingly happy to share Mikhail’s whereabouts.” He stood up. “Now, while I love talking to you, there are a few things I need to take care of. But first I’ll make sure Vanna hasn’t changed her mind about staying with me.”
My teeth hurt from my jaw tightening. “She’s not staying anywhere butourhouse.”
“Mom and Dad’s place is her house now too. And Freya offered her and Gunner’s apartment. Not to mention Caspar dropped in to offer his place as well. He looked ready to carry her out if only she said the word.”
If she stayed with anyone else, I’d be there too. Even if it was at the little prick’s place. He’d shown up twice and stayed for a few hours each time. Despite not wanting to leave them by themselves, someone had always herded me out.
I guess it saved his life since I’d been ready to tear him apart every time he touched Vanna.
“It’s the best place for her to recover. She has Cleo to help her, and I’ll work from home for a few days. And she’d want to see Daisy.”
Jude shook his head. “Whatever you say, big brother.”
He walked off down the hall and disappeared into Vanna’s hospital room. I’d been by her side every moment since she’d been brought in, but I could no longer ignore all the business I hadn’t attended to since we found her. My brothers had taken up most of the slack, but there were a few things that needed my attention.
I’d gone into the office this morning but left again after only an hour. I’d gotten nothing done and felt so restless that eventually I gave up and drove back. Now I’d set up a makeshift office in the hospital's hallway. Despite every fiber of my body telling me to get back to Vanna, I stayed out here, staring at her closed door instead of working.
My driver texted to let me know he was downstairs. At least now I had a reason to go back into the room.
After packing up all the documents I’d set on the chairs and floor and stuffing them in a briefcase on top of my laptop, I headed back down the hall.
Freya had left a little while ago, so it would only be Jude in there. Jealousy flared at the thought of him being alone with Vanna. I immediately chastised myself for not trusting my brother. I really was losing my mind, which Freya liked to point out daily.
I knocked on the door before entering, my eyes immediately finding Vanna. She was smiling at Jude, who was sitting on the edge of the mattress. Her eyes were bright, her body relaxed against the mattress. My chest squeezed at the sight. She’d been tense around me, barely speaking. Yet here she was, joking around with my brother.
And as soon as she noticed it was me who’d just walked into the room, her smile dropped, and she sat up straighter, wincing at the movement.
“Gotta run.” Jude leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Think about what I said.”
She nodded, and my brother finally walked out, shooting me a grin. “You’re welcome.”
He finally left, leaving us in awkward silence. I shifted from foot to foot, feeling unsure of myself for the first time in years.
“Do you want to sit down?”
“How are you feeling?”
