Page 71 of Claimed By Desire

“I haven’t thought about it much, but it might be fun spoiling your little devil spawn.”

I’m about to tell him that’s all I could ever hope for, but the doctor appears in the kitchen. He’s an older man, graying hair, hooked nose. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, and he looks tired as he takes off his latex gloves.

I jump to my feet. “How’s he doing?” I ask.

The doctor nods his head. “Alex is going to be okay. He’s very, very lucky, but he didn’t lose as much blood as we thought, and most of his wounds are superficial. I have him on an I.V. transfusion right now with the nurses, and when that’s done, you can go see him.”

Relief floods me so hard I have to brace against the back of the couch. Lev’s there at my side suddenly, supporting me, and I lean into my brother. He’s thanking the doctor, and the doctor’s giving us more care instructions, but most of it washes right over me.

Alex is going to live. He’s going to be okay. All this time, I thought he was dead and we were fighting a losing battle, but I should know better.

Alex is a survivor.

He’s not going anywhere.

Chapter 28

Natalya

“Get back in bed you dumb asshole.” I try to steer my big, idiot husband away from the bathroom, but he gently waves me off.

“I need to piss. You gonna do that for me?”

“Sure, I’ll hold your dick.”

He rolls his eyes and flicks me away. “Give me a second, will you?”

I hover outside the bathroom door, nervous as hell. It’s been a day since he was shot and the doctor said he shouldn’t get out of bed for a while. But of course, Alex decided he knows better.

“Stop fussing. I’m fine.” He limps past me. I try to steer him toward the bed, but he does down to the kitchen instead.

“You’re not fine. You were shot, and now you’re being an idiot.”

He ignores me and starts making coffee. I stand there, glaring, not sure how I ever let myself start to feel something for this moron. When I thought he was dead, it was like my whole worldwas crashing down around me. How could I keep on going without him?

Now I’m starting to wonder if I’m not better off without this crazy person in my life.

At least him nearly dying brought me and Lev back together. I don’t know if my relationship with my brother will ever be perfect, but it was good talking to him and starting to move on a little bit.

“The bullet went straight through.” He gestures at the bandage on his leg. “If I hadn’t been running so hard, I wouldn’t have lost so much blood. Otherwise it’s barely a scratch.”

“What about all those other wounds, huh?”

“Shrapnel from the containers. They’re just scratches.” He rips off his shirt and shows me the cuts and bruises all across his torso. I stare at him, mouth hanging open. He’s right, they’re not that bad, but my god.

He somehow looks even sexier with all those injuries.

Which I know makes me sick.

“You still shouldn’t be putting weight on that leg.”

“I’m not lying in bed. I told you already. I’mfine.”

Frustration rolls through me. “Have you ever listened to anyone else in your life?”

“All the fucking time.”

“Yeah? Like when?”

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