Page 90 of Viktor

The scuffle behind him didn’t register. He searched her face for any signs of pain or distress. “Did you get hit?”

Her face paled, and she touched his shoulder. “No, but you did.”

He looked. Bullet nicked him. “It’s a flesh wound, baby. Nothing serious.”

“What do you want me to do with this asshole?”

Dylan had Roger in a choke hold. The gun lay several feet away. Viktor stood and helped Sara to her feet. “It’s up to you, Sara Jane. Do you want us to beat the shit out of him or not?”

She considered it. He saw it in her face, but then she shook her head. “No. I don’t want him to be able to press charges against any of us. It’ll give him back some of his power, and I want him to know what it’s like to feel trapped and helpless.”

Viktor hoped she’d say to beat his ass, but he understood where she was coming from. Roger had taken so much from her already. He wouldn’t take anything else. Instead of plowing a fist into his face, he texted his Uncle Pete to send in the police to arrest him.

“This was easier than I thought it would be.” He noticed the blood dripping down his arm. He pulled his shirt off and used it to hold pressure on the wound.

“Don’t you think we deserve a little easy, though?” Sara took the shirt from him and pressed down. “After everything he’s put me and my family through, it would have been cruel for this not to have been easy. Luck was on our side. Don’t question it.”

His lips tilted. She was right. He was a Marine, and he expected the worst and planned for shit to go sideways. For this to be easy boggled his mind, but he sent up a prayer of thanks and took the easy win.

“You’re right, baby. I need to stop borrowing trouble.”

The state police took over the crime scene, for which Viktor was grateful. They also took possession of Roger. His buddies hadn’t even handcuffed the fucker. Once the state boys arrived, all his special privileges went out the window.

While Viktor was getting seen to in the ER, he introduced Sara to Dylan, another member of his squad from the Marines. She seemed nervous, not that he blamed her. Dylan was imposing and gave off a cold vibe. The man had a right to lock down his emotions, though. He’d lost his wife and child to a drunk driver. Viktor hoped one day he’d meet another woman who could peel back all those layers and find the man he knew beneath that cold exterior. He wanted his “brother” to be as happy as he was.

Conner found him in the ER. There was panic on his face until he found Viktor, who noticed Conner was clutching his arm. Twin thing. Each of them always knew when something was wrong with the other, and they usually felt it too. He grinned at his brother, who looked ready to murder him.

“What the fuck?”

“Bastard is in cuffs on his way to the county lockup.”

“And you couldn’t text me?”

“It’s a flesh wound. Not even important.”

Conner grunted and leaned over to inspect the wound the nurse was cleaning. Her hand started to shake, and Viktor laughed. His brother inspired either fear or lust, or sometimes both. He was affecting the poor girl. “Delia still asleep?”

“No. Kade and Angel are with her. I came to find your sorry ass and haul you back.”

“They’re here already?”

“It’s not a long flight,brat.” Conner finally leaned away and checked Sara over. “You didn’t get hurt,sestra?”

“No.” Sara ducked her head against Viktor, and Conner rolled his eyes. The nurse might be thinking lustful thoughts, but Sara’s were too raw after what happened.

When they finally released him, the three of them went back up to pediatrics. Kade and Angel were at the door to Delia’s room, listening. When they saw him, they put a finger to their lips. Curious, he stepped closer. The kids were talking.

“Yourpadredo this?”

The sound of his nephew’s voice almost crippled him. It was a sound he thought he’d never get to hear. Kade grasped his arm, the same emotion mirrored in his brother’s expression.

“Uh huh. He’s mean. Viktor and Conner said I don’t have to see him again.”

“TioConner will make it so.”

The surety in the child’s voice pulled a chuckle out of Viktor, but the feral look that flashed in Conner’s eyes killed his laughter. He had a feeling Mateo and Conner had an understanding about something. He’d dig into that later.

“He scares me.”

---