Page 95 of Sweet Animosity

My arm stretched out as I gestured toward Vivian. “The hell I will! That’s my?—”

I was about to blurt out ‘wife.’

Once the idea had taken hold, it had quickly grown tangled roots.

The nurse shook her head as she made a note on her clipboard. “Sir, I have two deadbeat ex-husbands and three teenage boys. Flashing those baby blue eyes and shouting ain’t getting you nowhere with me. You’re just going to have to wait.”

My hand closed into a fist. “I’m not a patient man. If they are not doing everything humanly possible to save her—” My throat closed before I could even finish my threat.

The nurse looked up from her clipboard. “You’ll only be in the way and cause more harm than good. Is that what you want? Or do you want the doctor to focus on her patient?”

I glowered down at the woman. Her sensible question and solid reasoning was the last thing I wanted to hear. “Fine. But you tell them there will be hell to pay if she dies.”

The nurse tilted her head to the side as she gave me a soft smile. “I will. Now go wait over there before you make me use my mom voice.”

I should have known. If there was a single human being in all of the city who would not be intimidated by my appearance, threats, or reputation, it was a Chicago emergency room nurse.

There was no way I could sit.

I paced back and forth, running the length of the rows of chairs, all the while ignoring the nervous looks I was getting from the other people waiting for care or news of a loved one.

The whoosh of the emergency room doors opened, and Vaska and Mary ran in.

They went straight to the intake desk. “My friend brought a woman in here not too long ago.”

I raised my arm. “Vaska. Over here.”

Mary turned and ran straight into my arms, giving me a perfumed hug. “Oh, Varlaam. I’m so sorry.” She pulled back and looked up at me. “How is she?”

There was so much about Mary that reminded me of Vivian. They were both outspoken, vivacious, and intelligent. That there was a possibility they would not meet and become close friends was a stab to my heart.

I caught Vaska’s look over Mary’s head. He nodded behind her. “We were out to dinner when we got word. Thought we’d head over in case you needed anything.”

I nodded. I’d called Mac on my way to the hospital and told him what happened.

Vaska placed a hand on my shoulder. “Maxim and Ivan are already on their way to Vivian’s apartment to search for any signs of foul play.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “There were no visible signs of violence or injury on her body. I checked. Of course, this could be a hit made to look like an accident.”

He nodded. “That’s what we will find out.”

I placed my hands on his shoulders and leaned in. “If someone did this to her, I will rip their spine out through their mouth and beat them to death with it.”

There were several shocked gasps around us as one couple moved several rows away.

“We’ll learn the truth, my friend. Don’t worry.”

Just then, there was a disturbance down a nearby hallway. As we turned to look, Serg appeared, with Barb and Millie on each arm.

Barb looked up at him. “It’s so nice to have such a big, muscular man looking after us.”

Millie laid her head on his shoulder. “May I hold onto your arm a bit longer? I fear I’m so worried… I may faint.”

Serg’s eyes widened as he mouthed, Help me.

Vaska cleared his throat. “We sent Serg to take care of ceiling gir—I mean Vivian’s neighbors, like you asked.”

Barb and Millie rushed toward me, pulling Serg in their wake. “Any news?” they asked in unison.

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