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We all looked at Ivan, somewhat puzzled. “Doctors are all the same. As soon as they find something that can’t be explained with their science, they want to study it. I’ll die before I let that happen to her,” he said, clearly bristled. “I’ve seen that look way too many times before.”
“Let’s hope she continues to make improvements quickly, so we can get her out of here,” Andrei said. “I’d also rather get my own food than rely on what he sends up.”
“Fair point. I’ll tell the doctor it’s not needed,” Viktor said. We could hear the edge to his voice as he stood to leave the room. I smiled, as I kissed the top of Sephie’s head. Viktor rarely got angry, but when it came to her he would destroy whatever he perceived to be a threat, no questions asked.
Viktor had Chris bring us food. We were trying to keep our location as quiet as possible, so Chris knew to be as discreet as possible. Now that Armando was at the building in a room, it was less likely anyone would pay attention to him. He also made regular trips to the hospital for his mom, so this wouldn’t seem out of character for him.
“How is she?” he asked when he walked in.
“She’s going to be okay, but it’s going to take a few days,” Viktor said. “Armando beat the shit out of her.”
“Armando did this to her?”
“He was planning on selling her to the highest bidder, Chris,” Stephen said.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Not even in the slightest,” Stephen said. “Now you see why Armando looks the way he looks and is in a room.”
“Fuck. I didn’t think that guy had it in him. He’s such a moron most of the time,” Chris said, still completely taken aback.
“She got information out of him despite his beating. We think he’s being controlled. We think he’s always been controlled. Where’s Giana?” Ivan asked.
“She’s still at the building. A couple of Armando’s other guys are on her. She hasn’t asked where Armando is though. That’s weird,” Chris said.
“Make sure she stays there,” Ivan said.
“Yes, sir. Armando has been trying to talk his way out of the room. He’s been saying that you’ve lost it and put him in there for no reason. If I’d didn’t know better, he’d be quite convincing,” Chris said.
“Let him talk, but don’t respond. Don’t tell him you’ve seen Sephie either. Or you know anything else. The silent treatment will drive him mad,” Ivan said.
“On it,” Chris said as he got up to leave the room. “Let me know when you guys need more food.”
Chapter Ninety-Five
Sephie
I knew I was in a hospital by the smell. That’s a smell that you don’t find anywhere else. I could hear voices in and out. I knew the guys were with me. I felt Adrik’s hand in mine. I could hear Ivan telling them what happened. My body reacted when Ivan was going through the events while we were in that room. I heard Adrik talking to me, trying to calm me, but it wasn’t working. The shaking got worse. I could feel it, but it also felt like I didn’t have control over my own body. There was a disconnect between my brain and my body. I was trying to move, but I couldn’t.
I felt Andrei’s warmer than average hands under my shoulders and Stephen’s ice-cold hands on my legs, lifting me gently. I could feel the bed dip beside me as Adrik laid down next to me. I could smell him. I just wanted to be close to him. When Andrei gently eased me back toward the bed, I knew I wasn’t close enough to Adrik, but I couldn’t move right. I struggled to turn toward him, hoping they would see.
I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. But I could hear. And I could feel. Andrei and Stephen did notice my struggle and turned me, so I could be closer to Adrik. As soon as they put my head on his shoulder, my body relaxed and the shaking subsided. I wanted to be closer still, but this would have to do for now.
I was in and out of consciousness throughout the…day? Night? I had no idea what day it was. Or what night it was. It didn’t really matter, to be honest. My body stayed relaxed as long as I was close to Adrik.
I heard the doctor come in and tell Adrik that he wanted to check me. I felt Adrik shift underneath me and I knew I was going to start shaking again. I tried to tell him, but I still couldn’t speak. Whatever they sedated me with this time was taking longer to wear off. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t control my own body.
I felt the doctor’s hands checking me over. I felt Andrei and Misha move me. I felt the shaking start once I was apart from Adrik. I felt Andrei and Misha put me back against Adrik, but then I felt a very weird feeling. It was much the same as when Sal was staring at my boobs and Armando was looking at me half-naked. I didn’t like it. It didn’t last long, however. I couldn’t see and I couldn’t hear him, but I knew Ivan was standing over me. Since we were grabbed, I’d been able to feel him much the same way I could feel Adrik, just not as strongly. He had his own energy signature. I knew he was standing over me, protecting me. It was a different feeling with Ivan. With Adrik, it felt like he was standing with me, beside me, anytime he was being protective with me. With Ivan, it was like a protective bubble that he put me in, while he stood guard against whatever he perceived to be the threat. The weird, gross feeling went away almost immediately and I knew it was Ivan silently daring the doctor to continue whatever it was that was making me have this feeling. I finally felt the doctor leave the room.
I also heard Ivan’s voice talking to the guys, but it was hard to hear anything except Ivan for a few minutes. I knew Adrik was still with me, but the protective bubble that Ivan put me in blocked everything else out.
I woke up again, after sleeping for who knows how long. Adrik was still as close to me as possible, his arm holding me gently but firmly. I knew he was asleep because his hand was still. When he was awake, his hand would lightly run up and down my back. I tried to move my body to see if it would work yet. This time I could open my eyes. Everything was blurry for a moment, but the room started to come into focus. I knew I wouldn’t be able to move the arm that was in a sling and I was laying on my good arm. I tried to wiggle my toes. It actually worked this time, so I tried to move my foot, then my lower leg. Everything worked. Finally.
I stretched my legs and immediately regretted it. Shooting pain through my entire body caused me to let out something in between a scream, a yelp, and a cough. Adrik was jolted awake, as were the guys. Adrik was immediately concerned and we were quickly surrounded by each one of the guys.
“Sephie, what’s wrong?” Adrik asked. He was looking me over, trying to figure out what happened. He noticed my eyes were open and stopped to look at me, his wide smile stretching across his face. “I missed you,” he said quietly.
I tried to talk, but nothing came out. My throat felt horribly dry. I ended up coughing once, which made me wince in extreme pain.
