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Pavel’s hand tightens and I focus my anger on another outlet—a more deserving one.Zakhar. He got away tonight, not caring what he did or what happened to his own daughter.
He’s a traitor, not only to the Bratva but also to Eden.
There’s no reason for her to protect him anymore. And she will understand that before I go to gun him down.
“What’s the address?” I demand.
“Mountainside,” Dr. Belova replies. “I know someone there.”
I look at him questioning. “On the payroll?”
He nods, herding us with outstretched arms toward the open front door. “She’s discreet and is expecting you. Be foolish, and you’ll shut me down. And then where will you go?”
Antonand I drive ahead while Pavel drives the second SUV, keeping a safe distance from the ambulance. The pale moon is still in the sky, disappearing gradually as the sky in front of us turns a murky gray. Anton keeps looking over at me, his knuckles white as he grips the wheel too tightly. His nervous glances poke and prod at my barely restrained rage, making it hard not to lash out at him.
“What is it, Anton?” My voice comes out in a growl.
“She begged me to take her,” he replies quickly. “I didn’t want to, but she said your life was in danger. You wouldn’t answer your phone, Nikolai Gennadyevich.”
“You shouldn’t have listened to her.” My agitation slowly recedes as the hospital comes into view. “I would’ve been fine.” Staring at the flashing red light ahead of us, I picture the horrible scene again, every vivid detail as it happened. I’ll never unsee it. Eden crying out to Zakhar and then shielding me with her body. Her pleading expression as she told me another secret she’d kept hidden from me.
My little fool.
“She saved me,” I sigh. “And she could’ve gotten killed because of me.”
When we arrive, I immediately jump out of the SUV and follow the gurney carrying Eden despite Dr. Belova’s warnings at his house. Anxiously, I watch her hand lift slowly to her face and then fall down. I hurry my steps to keep up. After several long strides, I’m almost by her side until I’m stopped by themale EMT with a cold warning look. His gaze tells me that my behavior will draw both attention and questions.
“She’ll be admitted as Eve Warner, and you are Aaron Smith,” he whispers firmly. “Now, go take a seat in the waiting room.” When I don’t move, he begrudgingly adds, “Please.”
No one acknowledges me as she disappears down the hallway to the surgery. I sense a presence beside me and turn to see Anton watching the gurney disappear behind an automatic door.
His throat bobs up and down.
“It’s my fault,” he whispers. The pain in his heart is plainly on his face—his mouth twists and his forehead creases. I can imagine exactly what he’s thinking. “I shouldn’t have taken her out,” he continues. He looks at me with desperate eyes. “Nikolai Gennadyevich, I swear I didn’t know she was pregnant.”
I shake my head, staring down the corridor. “No one knew except her,” I whisper.
Anton lowers his head and covers his eyes with his hand. I misjudged how Eden’s presence has affected the people around me. I rarely see her with Anton, but somehow, she’s made a lasting impression on him. And though I’m in pain, I try to offer reassurance to him, but my own words will offer little comfort.
So, I cycle through my memory and try to recall what Larissa would have said to me at this moment.
Or what Eden might tell me.
“It’s not your fault, Anton Isaakevich.” My words echo down the now-empty corridor. “Zakhar is the only one to blame if either of our children dies.”
2
NIKOLAI
It’srare for me not to be in the city when the sun rises. I always wake up two hours before dawn, but not today. I haven’t been able to sleep at all. Pavel and I sit in the waiting room, mentally blocking out the irritating voice of the overenthusiastic morning host on a TV bolted to the wall.
My gaze is unfocused as I stare out the large windows at the morning light. Bands of orange accent the mauve sky as the sun peeks its top over the horizon. My toes tap the floor rapidly as I wait for an update on Eden’s condition. Anton stands outside the window, smoking all his cigarettes.
“Try to rest, Nikolai Gennadyevich.” Pavel frowns at me with concern and apprehension. “I will wake you when they call her name.”
I can’t sleep. I can’t even close my eyes. When I do, all I see is Eden collapsing to the floor of the vacant building. I see the flash of blinding light in front of us as she dashed to step in front of me. Her body jolting as the bullet struck her torso. I seeher falling to the floor, her eyes squeezed tightly in pain and her teeth gritted together.
I press the pads of my fingers into my eyes as if I could rub the horrifying image away.
