Page 112 of Unspoken

CHAPTER 39

LOGAN

I sit on the hard hospital bed, my bruised torso aching as I reach for my T-shirt. The doctor just gave me the all-clear, stating that there’s nothing that a few painkillers, a Band-Aid, and some bed rest can’t treat, but the pain still lingers. It’s exhaustion, anxiety, fear for Sasha’s life. All rolled into one bundle of something profoundly sharp that I can’t seem to shake off. The worst is behind us, Sasha’s out of surgery, stable. The only loose end is his older brother’s final decision about us. About our future.

Across the room, Vlad leans against the wall, his bloody white shirt a grim reminder of the bloodshed we narrowly escaped. His hands are buried in his pants pockets, his expression an unreadable veil of seriousness.

I break the heavy silence. "I guess we are about to have the conversation you promised me."

Vlad nods slowly, pushing off the wall and taking a single step forward. "You are correct."

I take a breath, steeling myself. "I guess you're going to ask me what my intentions are when it comes to Sasha."

A flicker of something—amusement, perhaps—crosses Vlad's face. "You are very perceptive, McKenna. So, what are your intentions?"

I hesitate, the words caught in my lungs along with the air. Fear coils in my gut. Vlad holds my fate, and Sasha's, in his hands. One wrong move, one misstep, and it could all come crashing down.

But beneath the terror, a sense of relief appears. Sasha's safe. He's alive. And that's all that matters. If I can’t be there for him, I’ll take it. As long as he's alright.

"I care about him," I say simply, my voice steady despite the tremor in my pulse. "I'll keep protecting him...if you allow me."

Vlad’s brow pinches upward. He tilts his head ever so slightly.

I take it as a good sign. I’d say any reaction of Vlad Solovey not threatening you with bodily injury or putting a gun to your head is a good sign. That’s why I joke, "I won't even charge you for it. Please accept my resignation. Since with you being my employer and all, it seems inappropriate to be dating your brother."

The words are a confession and a plea, all in one. My heart pounds hard, my pulse a rapid beat in my ears. I've laid my cards on the table, risked everything for a chance at something real with Sasha. I’m ready to be punished for it if that’s Vlad’s plan. It's up to him to decide my fate.

His face remains impassive, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. It’s definitely a Solovey thing. Sasha’s gaze can be just intimidating. He just hasn't learned to use it in the way his older brother does.

The seconds stretch as Vlad continues to stare at me, as if he's trying to peel back the last layers of my soul and expose the truth beneath. I can feel the sweat beading on my forehead, the clammy coldness of my palms as I clench my fists at my sides. It never happens when I’m on the job, or when I was on the force. My mind is always clear, calculating. But when it comes to Sasha, my brain is all screwed up.

Finally, Vlad speaks. "Fine. You can keep seeing my brother." Instant relief floods through me, but it's short-lived. "But if you lie to me again," Vlad adds matter-of-factly, "Iwillkill you."

The sentence is spoken with a chilling calmness, a promise rather than a threat. In this instant, I have no doubt that Vlad means every word.

My mouth is suddenly dry as sandpaper.

But I know I have to face the consequences of my actions. I tip my chin slowly, meeting his gaze head-on. "It's fair," I say. "It wasn't my best moment, to do this to you, to deceive you."

Vlad's expression softens slightly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I get it. You lost your mother. Loss like that, it messes with your head, clouds your thinking." He pauses, his jaw clenching. "I forgive your poor judgment this once, but only because Sasha pleaded for you."

A chance at redemption. That’s what it feels like, and the knot in my chest loosens a bit. "Thank you," I manage, my voice thick with emotion. "I won't let you down."

Vlad nods curtly, turning to leave the room. "Sasha has asked for you," he says over his shoulder. "You should go check on him. He is just next door. "

I hesitate as I slide from the hospital bed, a question burning on the tip of my tongue. "Any news on Shtyk?"

Vlad shakes his head, his expression darkening. "The bastard is in the wind."

"What are you going to do?"

He sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I will probably have to ask the Arellanos for help tracking that pig down and eliminating Toro's men involved in this."

I’m surprised. "I thought you didn't want to owe the cartel a favor."

"I changed my mind," Vlad says simply. "I want peace of mind when it comes to Sasha's safety. With the Arellanos'protection, he can at least have some semblance of normalcy in his life. Toro will not be messing with my family, even on Shtyk’s orders, as long as the Arellanos are in the picture."

Vlad pulls the door open, halting on the threshold. "Take Sasha on a trip when he is better, somewhere far. Maybe Seattle or even Canada."

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