Her lips had swelled, her tongue thick in her mouth as she choked on her own breath. The doctors had rushed to stabilize her, but soon after, she had slipped into a coma.
The door creaks open, and I snap my head up, my bloodshot eyes locking onto another doctor, who steps inside. He’s wearing a crisp white coat, his expression carefully neutral, but I can see the weight of the situation in his gaze.
"Mr. Vasilios," he says, his tone measured. "I am sure Dr. Colton has told you what we found. We will immediately start administering polyvalent immune fab. It is an Ovine anti-venom that should begin to neutralize the effect of the snake venom at once. We’ll monitor your wife closely, and include other treatment plans as we progress."
At his words, my body starts to vibrate with barely contained fury. "What the hell does that mean? Will she survive this?" My voice is low, lethal, laced with the threat of violence should he say something I don’t want to hear.
The doctor exhales slowly. "Yes, we believe so. We caught it in time, and her body is responding to the treatment. But rattlesnake venom is a complex toxin, and its effects don’t just fade instantly."
I clench my fists, my breathing harsh. "Explain."
He nods, stepping closer, his gaze steady despite the tension radiating off me. "When venom enters the body, it immediately begins to disrupt the blood’s ability to clot. This is why Mrs. Vasilios experienced excessive bleeding—internally and externally. The venom contains hemotoxins, which destroy blood cells and tissues, causing hemorrhaging and necrosis. That’s why she was vomiting blood and experiencing hematuria. The venom also triggered a severe drop in her blood pressure, which, combined with swelling in her throat and airway, made breathing difficult. The pain she felt was from the venom breaking down muscle tissue, leading to systemic toxicity."
I stare at him, my body rigid. The words slash through me, each syllable carving a deeper sense of helplessness into my bones.
"So what now?" My voice is quieter, but no less dangerous.
He motions towards Dr. Colton, who is already setting up IV lines. "We’re administering fluids to stabilize her blood pressureand prevent shock," the doctor continues. "The anti-venom is neutralizing the toxins, but the damage takes time to heal. She’s had hematological abnormalities, meaning her blood’s ability to clot has been severely impaired, but we will manage that with plasma infusions. The swelling in her throat will soon start subsiding, but the next twenty-four hours are critical. We need to ensure there’s no long-term organ damage."
I exhale sharply, my jaw ticking. "You said she’ll make a full recovery?"
The doctor nods. "We are optimistic, Mr. Vasilios. She is being treated in time, and her vitals are now stable. However, she will be weak for several days, and we’ll need to monitor her closely."
I rake a hand through my hair, pacing the small space beside her bed. "And the pain?"
"We're handling it," he reassures me. "She’s will remain sedated for now, but when she wakes up, she’ll likely experience muscle cramping and some residual pain. The venom attacks nerve endings, so some discomfort is to be expected. But the worst is over."
The worst is over.
I let out a slow breath, my eyes drifting to Yelena’s peaceful face. She doesn’t look peaceful to me. She looks fragile.
Weak.
The image of her lying on the cold, marble floor of that bathroom, the time her body started convulsing, her lips turning blue, flashes through my mind.
No.
My wife is not weak. She is a warrior, fierce and untamed. And someone dared to try to take her from me.
That is a mistake they won’t live long enough to regret.
I turn to the doctor. "Make sure she gets everything she needs. I don’t care what it costs. I do not want her to so much as wince in pain."
He nods. "Understood, sir."
As soon as the door closes behind them, I sink back into the chair beside Yelena’s bed. My fingers brush over her delicate hand, her skin cool to the touch.
"I swear to you,agapi mou," I murmur, my voice raw, "whoever did this will pay in blood."
My mind is already racing, piecing together the puzzle. The timing, the method, the execution—it was well calculated and deliberate. This wasn’t just a message as I earlier thought; it was meant to finish her off.
I intend to respond with a loud clap back. Whoever tried to take my wife away from me just signed their death warrant.
The tension in the air is thick enough to choke on. My father has had the entire premises combed, but the attacker has vanished like smoke. How the hell did someone get past all our security? My jaw tightens as I listen to the report—nothing. No trace. No leads. Just a fucking ghost who nearly took my wife from me.
Leon stands beside me, scrolling through the CCTV footage on a handheld device. I watch his face harden with every passing second. The footage shows no one going in or out of the bathroom while Yelena was inside. Impossible. We both know that’s bullshit. Someone got to her, and now they’re gone.
Leon rewinds, fast-forwards, studies every frame. Then, suddenly, he freezes the screen. His eyes narrow. "The vent," he mutters, pointing at the ceiling panel just visible in the footage.