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Alina
Matvey’s giving me one of his sweet smiles again, and when I start walking faster, excited to see Roman, he gives a soft laugh, lengthening his stride and matching my eager footsteps. Dominic knocks on a door at the end of the hall, and when I hear my brother’s voice, I quickly duck under his arm and bust into the room.
I run to the bed, eyeing Roman’s bandaged chest and the pale tint to his skin. Emily’s lying next to him, snuggled up to the side of him that didn’t take a bullet. He has one arm wrapped around her and his hand is resting on her stomach like he’s willing his son to stay in there just a little bit longer.
“Roman,” I whisper before leaning down and hugging him as carefully as I can. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.” I swore to myself I wasn’t going to cry, but feeling my brother hug me back as he whispers in Russian how much he’s missed me has me crying like a damn baby.
When I pull back, he smiles up at me. “You’ve gotten older, and you’re way too thin.” He looks over at Matvey, who’s standing and waiting right behind me. “You need to make her eat.”
“Believe me, I’m trying. She listens to me as well as she used to.” He gives me a wink to let me know he’s joking and then looks over at Emily and switches to English. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing a lot better now that I know Roman’s going to be okay.” She looks at my brother, and the love I see in her eyes is mirrored in his when he squeezes her hand and then brings it to his mouth so he can kiss the back of it.
“I’m sorry I scared you,solnishka.”
“Just don’t ever do it again, or at least not until after I give birth. I don’t think I can put off labor a second time.”
Roman looks terrified at the idea of his son coming too early, but before he can worry too much about it, a man’s accented voice comes from behind us.
“I would agree with that. Another stressful event will most likely push you into labor.”
We all turn to the man standing in the doorway by Dominic. I recognize him from last night, and when he gives me a smile, I easily return it. There’s something I like about him, and it’s not just because he saved my brother’s life. Even though he works for the Alessi family and is obviously involved in crime, there’s something comforting about him. Maybe it’s the deep smile and laugh lines that are clearly etched into his face, or the easy relationship he seems to have with Dominic, or maybe it’s his calm nature that immediately puts me at ease. Whatever it is, it’s working, and I swear my blood pressure goes down a few numbers just by being in the same room as him.
He turns to me and smiles, holding a hand out for me to shake. “You must be Alina. I’m Dr. Bianchi.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I shake his hand and return his smile. “Thank you for saving my brother’s life and for taking care of Emily.”
He waves off my thanks as if it’s nothing. “It was an easy wound, and Emily calmed down quickly once she realized he’d be okay.”
While Dominic starts talking to Matvey, Dr. Bianchi steps closer. When he speaks, it’s in a low voice that’s meant only for me. “Mr.Alessi told me a little about what you’ve been through. I’d like to examine you, if you’re okay with that, just to make sure everything’s okay.”
My first reaction is to stiffen and look down. I’m just about to shake my head and tell him no when he says, “It’s important you get checked, Alina.”
I know he’s right, and I know it’s the responsible thing to do, but that doesn’t mean I have any desire to do it. Matvey’s been keeping an eye on me, and I’m not at all surprised when he walks closer and wraps a protective arm around me.
“Everything okay?”
I pat his hand and nod. “Yeah, Dr. Bianchi wants to examine me.”
“Baby, you don’t have to do that right now,” Matvey quickly says. “We can go somewhere else, or we can find you a female doctor if that makes you more comfortable.”
I think about what he’s said. A doctor’s office or hospital isn’t an option because of the questions it would bring up. Plus, the cold, sterile environment has me inwardly cringing. At least if I do it here, it’ll be private, and even though I’m not thrilled at the idea of Dr. Bianchi seeing me, I trust him, and that’s not something I take lightly.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell Matvey. “I’d rather do it here and get it over with.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
I look up at Matvey, wanting to keep him with me, but then I think about the things I’ll be asked, and I refuse to put him through that, so I smile and say, “No, I’ll be okay.” When he hesitates, I squeeze his hand. “I promise I’ll be fine.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but he bites back whatever he was going to say and instead pulls me in for a hug, bringing his mouth to my ear. “I’ll be right outside the room,malishka. Holler for me if you need me and I’ll be there.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“What are you doing,solnishka?”
I look over at the sound of my brother’s voice. He’s watching his wife scoot off the bed and come walking towards me. She gives me a smile and stands beside me before looking at Dr. Bianchi.
“We’re ready when you are,” she tells him.
