Page 84 of Bratva Butcher

Decor aside, it was actually a pretty impressive vessel. I’d never seen a submarine before, let alone been inside one. Despite how fucking awesome the whole thing was, it made me incredibly wary. What kind of connections did these guys have to be able to call in a fuckingsubmarinelike they were calling a goddamn uber?

We were all sitting in the galley—a space usually reserved for cooking meals and eating them, but it had been reconfigured as a makeshift infirmary. Based on what I’d observed on my way through the vessel, I suspected it was because it was the biggest space available on the submarine. Several doctors were tending to the injuries some of the soldiers had sustained during the rescue. Stitching up open wounds, strapping broken bones, etcetera, etcetera.

Across from me, one of said doctors snapped off his pair of latex gloves and threw them into the trash. “That’s all we can do for now.”

Nikolai apparently didn’t like that answer. He jumped to his feet, and if it wasn’t for the fact that Dimitri stepped into his path, I was sure he would have tackled that doctor to the ground and beaten him to death. “What the fuck do you mean ’that’s all you can do’? She’s still unconscious!”

“And I suspect she will be for quite some time.”

Nikolai growled.

The doctor licked his lips nervously. “Mr Volkov, please understand. She’s sustained quite a significant head injury. I’ve done all I can for her here, but she needs a CT scan to rule out any brain damage or internal bleeding.”

Nikolai looked at Tatiana, clutching his chest. He swayed slightly, almost like it was all too much for him and he was going to pass out, but his father was right there, helping to keep him standing.

“So do the scan,” Nikolai demanded.

“I can’t.” Fear flashed in the doctor’s eyes, but he kept going. “We don’t have that kind of equipment on board. We’re a trauma team. We assess, triage, and for the really severe cases, we try to keep the patients alive until we can get them to hospital.”

All the colour drained from Nikolai’s face. “Is-is—”

“Is she going to die, Doc?” Dimitri asked in place of his son.

The doctor hesitated briefly. “I’m not sure. Look, her vitals are good. She’s breathing on her own. The only thing I’m concerned about at the moment is whether the blow to the head has caused a brain bleed. For right now, we monitor her. Keep an eye on her, and if there are any changes, come get me immediately.”

Nikolai took those instructions like they were the gospel. The man didn’t move from her side the entire time. He held her hand. Placed his ear on her chest to hear her heartbeat. Heldhis hand in front of her nose and mouth to ensure she was still breathing. He took a wet rag and cleaned her face and arms.

I’d asked Dimitri before what love felt like. He’d described it, but that… That was the best representation. I could see the love Nikolai had for that woman as clear as a bright blue sky. It was in everything he did. The way he cared for her. The way he looked at her. The way he didn’t give a shit about anything else going on around him, only focusing on her.

Even when others tried to talk to him—urge him to eat something, shower, or sleep—he refused, staying right by her side.

And athisside was Dimitri, watching over his son. It was quite strange. When I first met him, I’d pegged him as a ruthless, emotionless robot who didn’t give a shit about anyone or anything. And while the ruthless part was still true, I’d come to realise how wrong I actually was in my original assessment.

Dimitri hid his emotions behind a thick, impenetrable wall, and he only allowed those he cared about to get through. And even then, they only saw glimpses of the man behind it. Never the whole being.

Sitting back, observing him being there for his son, taking care of him, doing everything he could to try and ease the pain he knew Nikolai was going through, made me see him in a different light. See that whole different side to him I was sure not a lot of other people saw. That incredibly caring, loving side.

I wonder—

“Hello.”

“Jesus, fuck,” I hissed, startled, a hand flying to my chest. I looked up to see Lukyan standing over me, a boyish smile on his face. “Uh. Hello?”

“I’m Lukyan.” He offered me his hand.

I know?“Autumn,” I said instead. I glanced at his hand and then up at him. He didn’t lower it, waiting. With a sigh, I shook his hand. He took that as an offer to sit down next to me.

“You’re Australian, right?”

How did he—

“I heard you speak a few times. I have an ear for accents. Took me a while to place yours, but I eventually got it.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure what else to really say.Why is he talking to me?The rest of the Volkovs were making a point to ignore me. In fact, everyone on the vessel was. Not that I minded. I much preferred to be on my own, anyway.

“Do you know Margot Robbie?” Lukyan asked.

I frowned. “The actress? Uh, no.”

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