Page 17 of Day Shift

It hit me like a punch to the gut. Anastasia really was the woman in the crash. How had she ended up here? I needed answers, and I needed them now. Whatever it took, I was going to find out what happened and make sure she was safe.

I slammed my laptop shut, frustrated. I told the guy from the firm to head on out and see to it that everyone else had left, giving him fifteen minutes before I set the alarm system.

I needed to be at the hospital with Anastasia, making sure she was all right, but that was exactly what I couldn’t do. Being linked to her now, with the shitstorm surrounding the Volkovi Notchi, would only drag her deeper into the sleaze I was trying to keep her out of.

Fury and worry bubbled inside me. I couldn’t risk tying her to our father’s criminal empire. With no other choice, I dialed my father in Russia.

The familiar yet always foreboding ringback tone echoed in the quiet room as I waited for him to pick up. When he finally answered, his voice was gruff and detached. “Nikolai, what is it?”

“It’s Anastasia,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite my simmering rage. “She’s been in an accident here in Tacoma and has been hospitalized. She’s in critical condition.”

There was a pause, then, “Sit tight. I’ll send some men. Do not go to her. It’s too risky. My men will handle the situation discreetly. They can ensure her safety and manage the fallout without tying her—or you—directly to the Volkovi Notchi.”

I hated how he always treated me like some idiot. “And what am I supposed to do? Just wait?” I snapped. The idea of being passive while others took action grated on my every nerve.

“Yes, Nikolai, you will wait and keep things under control on your end. We can’t afford any more surprises. And don’t forget you have a job to do. Reestablish the trades and routes we discussed before.” His voice was now a dangerous growl, putting me on edge. There was no hint of concern for my sister. God, how I fucking hated this bastard!

“What about Aunt Elena, Luca, and her friends back in New York? Should I contact them and let them know?” I asked.

“No. I’ll call Elena. She’ll ensure no one comes around looking for your sister. We can’t risk the wedding getting postponed, or worse, called off. Your job is to get that girl to the church on time, keeping the situation under wraps. You got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

The phone went dead.

As much as I loathed my father, I couldn’t let him down. If I didn’t follow his orders, not only would he question my loyalty, he might also go sniffing around my personal affairs—discover my ownership of DarkMatter. Viktor would kill me without hesitation if he thought I was a threat to him or the business ventures of the Volkovi Notchi.

With a mind full of worry, I prepared a late-night snack and retreated to my bedroom. Thoughts of Anastasia intertwined with concerns over the mafia families she was tangled up with—the Volkov, Genovese, and Moretti. How could I save her from this life? And how could I take out the Thorin brothers without jeopardizing everything I’d built?

My thoughts raced as I tried to find the answers to questions that seemed impossible to solve. I needed solutions, and fast. The stakes were too high, the game too dangerous. But for Anastasia, I’d risk it all.

5/29

I tossed and turned all night. In the early morning, I blinked away the remnants of a poor night’s sleep, cursing the restless night that had refused to grant me any peace. With a groan, I rolled out of bed. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to see Anastasia, even if just a glimpse, to confirm she was alive and still fighting. The thought of her lying there unconscious gnawed at me.

Throwing on my clothes, I rushed out the door, heading for the hospital.

When I arrived, it was still early, so the hallways were quiet, a hushed sanctuary of pale walls and antiseptic smells. Following the signage, I made my way to the ICU, but a nurse stopped me cold. “Only immediate family beyond this point,” she said firmly before badging through the door.

I lingered there, my frustration mounting. If I claimed to be her brother, I’d risk exposing her—and me—to all sorts of unwanted attention. Dammit, she was just beyond those doors, and there was nothing I could do.

A dark thought crossed my mind. Were the Thorin brothers around? The desire for retribution seared through me. I was in Tacoma because of them, and indirectly, so was she. It was their fault we’d been forced into this situation, their fault my sister suffered. I considered finding Dr. Atticus Thorin and ending him. That would check a box off my father’s list. But the risks were too high. It would only draw more attention to Anastasia.

With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the ICU and left the hospital, my mind made up. I would work with my father, reestablish our presence here in Tacoma, and keep my cover.

I swore to myself that I would never let Anastasia down again. Whatever it took, I would be there for her, protect her, and ensure her safety. And if the Thorin brothers dared to cross my path, they’d learn firsthand the wrath of a Volkov.

Chapter eight

My shift at St. John’s hadn’t even started, but I was already strolling through the quiet hallways of the hospital on my way to the ICU. I’d gotten here early today. I needed to see for myself how she—my Jane Doe—was doing.

When I reached the ICU, Emily Everett, one of the night shift nurses, was updating a chart at the nurses’ station just outside of Jane Doe’s room. She glanced up and smiled.

“Morning, Conan. You’re here early,” she said, keeping her voice at a whisper to not disturb the quiet of the ICU.

I moved to stand in the open doorway of Jane Doe’s room.

“Just wanted to check on our mystery guest from last night. How’s she doing?” I asked, my gaze drifting over to the bed where she lay. She was all cleaned up and tucked in. Her dark chestnut hair fanned out over the crisp white pillow that cradled her head, framing her face in a silky halo. God, how I wanted to run my fingers through her hair and prove to myself she was real, but I knew better than to cross that line.

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