Page 42 of Cruel Bet

“Wait. Not yet, tell me what happened first.”

“The man who attacked you, we think he was paid off by your father to betray me. To hurt you. We don’t know if his goal was to kill you or capture you. Most likely to kill, since there’s no way he’d have gotten you out of there alone and survived. The stupid bastard didn’t realize it was a suicide mission,” the muscle in Nikolai’s jaw ticks as he says this, the barely concealed fury flashing behind his eyes.

“What happened to him? How did I survive?”

I wonder how Nikolai knew I was in trouble and saved me.

“Lev, one of my men, noticed that Ivan wasn’t at his post and went looking for him. When he heard you cry out over the comms he guessed what must have happened and ran to your room. He shot Ivan just in time. If he hadn’t gotten there sooner…” Nikolai breaks off, looking in pain at the thought of how close to death I came. I’m touched by his concern.

“The man, he’s dead?” I ask, calmly.

Despite being the one in the hospital bed, I sense it is Nikolai who needs soothing words of comfort right now. I’m just grateful to be alive. I don’t think my situation has fully sunk in yet.

“Yes,” Nikolai says, no doubt pissed off that he wasn’t the one to kill him.

“Good,” I reply vehemently, surprised at how happy I am that a man is dead. “How long have I been here?”

“You’ve been here for almost six days. You were in a coma for three of them, you’ve been in and out of consciousness since,” he informs me.

I’m shocked at how long it’s been. I thought perhaps it had only been a few hours, a night at most. No wonder Nikolai seems beside himself with worry for my well-being. I’ve lost six whole days. Before I can ask any more questions, the doctor returns, bustling in with a chart in hand.

“Mr. Brown, I’m going to have to ask you to leave and give me a minute alone with my patient,” she says.

“Anything you have to say to my wife you can say in front of me,” Nikolai replies coolly.

An involuntary flush of pleasure rises in my cheeks at hearing Nikolai call him my wife. I have to remind myself that it’s a ruse put in place to allow him to visit and know more about my condition, nothing more. I mustn’t get ahead of myself here.

“Mr. Brown. That was not a request,” she snips, standing her ground and staring him down, not in the least bit afraid.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone speak to Nikolai like that before. To tell him what to do. I let out a giggle at the sheer balls of the woman. I like her. Nikolai looks at me, about to argue.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him.

He reluctantly leaves, giving me one last look.

“I’ll go and get the others, they’re dying to see you.”

Once he’s out of earshot the doctor looks at me.

“Mrs. Brown. I’m sorry but I have to ask in circumstances like this. Did your husband do this to you?”

I’m taken aback by her question, she thinks Nikolai did this?

“No, he would never hurt me,” I reply truthfully. I believe it.

She fixes me with that steely glare of hers, “That’s what they all say.”

“Really. It wasn’t him.”

She nods, seeming unconvinced but continues. “Now, I’m sure you’re worried and wondering about the baby, but rest assured, everything is fine.”

It takes a moment for me to realize what she’s just said, I’m so surprised.

“I’m sorry, did you say baby?” I ask, flabbergasted.

It’s her turn to look surprised as she realizes. “You didn’t know. I thought perhaps you were hiding it from your husband, or that perhaps it’s why he might have harmed you…”

“No. No, I had no idea. He doesn’t either. How long?” I ask.

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