Page 85 of Born into Sin

Pyotr scoots in and inspects her face before handing me some bandages to press to the ones that are still bleeding. I keep one against the biggest cut, the one that’s high up on her forehead near her scalp while he examines the rest of her. His touch is gentle, but she still hisses out a breath when he feels along her ribs.

“At least three cracked ribs,” he says, confirming what I’d already suspected. “I don’t think they’re broken, though.” He speaks in English so I can understand him, telling me that she’ll need stitches for a few cuts on her face. When he lifts her shirt to look at her stomach, I groan at the sight of the bruising that’s already started.

Lev walks over, eyeing his daughter’s beaten body like he’s searing the image into his brain. He won’t ever forgive himself for this, just like I’ll never forgive myself for it. We both love her, and we’ve both failed her. When he scrubs a hand over his face, I notice it’s covered in fresh blood, but I can tell it hasn’t calmed him in the slightest. No amount of revenge is going to make this situation okay.

“I don’t think she has any broken bones or internal bleeding,” Pyotr says, gently pushing down on her stomach, “but she should be seen by a doctor as quickly as possible to make sure.”

“I’m taking her to my house. I have a doctor who will be waiting and ready.”

Pyotr nods, but because he’s with the Bratva and doesn’t work for me, he looks to Lev for confirmation. Lev shoots me a look that makes it clear I’m still not his favorite person, but he nods his head at Pyotr because he knows my doctor will take damn good care of her.

The medic leaves, and I toss my keys to Vitaly. “I’m riding in here with her. Can you drive my car back for me?”

Vitaly catches them and Natalya surprises everyone by saying, “Don’t trust him. He drives like a maniac.”

Her voice is still barely more than a whisper and it’s laced with pain, but we all hear it. I see the relief that flashes in Lev’s eyes at hearing his daughter not only speak but crack a joke, and Vitaly gives her a big smile and reaches in to gently squeeze one of her legs.

“Why do you think Sveta drives the way she does? I taught her everything I know.”

Natalya reaches down and squeezes his hand, and I swear she’s about to make a bunch of hardened criminals cry if she keeps this up.

“I’ll bring her to see you as soon as the doctor says it’s okay,” he promises her.

“Thanks, Uncle Vitaly.”

He gives her hand another gentle squeeze and then steps aside so Val can lean in and give her a quick hug. His face isn’t revealing much, but his eyes are. He may be learning how to run a Bratva, but this is his first time seeing someone he cares about hurt, and I wish I could tell him it would be the last, but life’s too goddamn short for useless lies.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he whispers. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Nat.”

“I’ll do my best, Val,” she whispers back, and I can hear the exhaustion in her words. Her body is shutting down, trying like hell to heal itself.

He kisses her head and then leaves to join the others while Matvey gets in the driver’s seat and Lev walks around to the passenger side. I’m still squatting uncomfortably in front of Natalya, and when she reaches for me, I gladly pick her back up and sit where she’d just been laying, keeping her tucked up against my chest where she belongs.

The ride back is a quiet one. Natalya dozes off and on while Matvey and Lev hold a conversation. If their low voices didn’t make it clear that they don’t want me involved in it, then their insistence on keeping it purely in Russian would. I’m more than fine with not being included. All my focus is on Natalya, watching to make sure her chest keeps rising and falling, kissing her forehead when she whimpers in her sleep, and whispering how goddamn much I love her.

When we finally pull into my driveway and I carry her inside, Dr. Bianchi is ready and waiting with Tony, the med student he’s convinced is the man who will eventually take his place. Dario called ahead to fill them in on everything, and within minutes I’m carrying her into the room that would rival the city’s best hospital. I’ve spared absolutely no expense, letting Dr. Bianchi get whatever the hell he needed, and the result is a sort of mini hospital that can handle just about anything.

“Dominic,” Natalya moans, clutching at my hand.

“I’m right here, baby,” I tell her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes, you are,” Dr. Bianchi informs me. Ignoring the look I give him, he smiles down at Natalya. “I’m glad to see you back in our home, young lady, but this isn’t how I wanted to do it.” He points to the dark-haired man next to him. “This is Tony. I’m training him, and he’s going to help me take a look at you.”

Tony smiles down at her while his blue eyes take in her injuries from behind his dark glasses. “It’s nice to meet you, Natalya.”

She gives him a weak smile and clutches my hand tighter.

“I promise you can see Dominic in just a few minutes, but Tony and I need to run some tests and examine you, and it’ll go a lot quicker if Dominic isn’t here taking up space and glaring at us every time we touch you,” Dr. Bianchi tells her.

When she hesitates, he says, “He’ll be right outside those doors.”

She looks at the doors we just came in and then back at me. “You’ll come if I call?”

“Nothing could stop me, principessa,” I promise her.

When she nods, I kiss her, softly pressing my lips to hers. “I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you, too.”

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