Page 91 of Toxic Salvation
“First of all, we don’t need to marry brothers to be sisters. Second, Kovan and I aren’t getting married.”
“Not yet. But it’s happening. I’m sure of it.”
“You’ve met Kovan. Does he seem like the marrying type?”
“He didn’t seem like the daddy type, either, but he does pretty well with Luka.”
She has a point. “That’s different?—”
“And he happens to be a totalzaddy, too. Sometimes, God really does give with both hands.”
I snort. “Kovan seems to have it all, but really, he’s just a hardworking guy who wants to protect his family at all costs.”
“I was talking about you, V.” She flicks me in the arm. “You’re the one God blessed. You’re a hot doctor who landed a sexy Bratva boss. It’s criminally unfair.”
“Have you been stealing drugs from the ambulance again?”
She laughs. “I know I’m right when you start making inappropriate jokes about my job.”
“The rewards are high, I’ll give you that.” I purse my lips. “But so are the risks. Kovan’s world is dangerous. If it were just me, that would be one thing. But I have this baby to think about.”
Charity gestures toward the bodyguard silhouettes visible through our doorway. “Do you really think Kovan would let anything happen to you or your son?”
I smile, trying not to be one of those people who refuses comfort.
But I’m a doctor. I’ve seen too much death, too much bad luck, too many horrible things happening to good people to believe I’m immune to tragedy.
If this past year has taught me anything, it’s that I’m far from perfect. And if bad things can happen to innocent people, what chance doIhave?
“Seriously, Pavel, this is getting ridiculous.”
Pavel glares at one of our bodyguards, who just hip-checked an elderly woman because he thought she was “too close” to me. “I’ll talk to him.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to do?”
“What do you want me to do?” Pavel shrugs. “He’s doing his job.”
“Assaulting senior citizens is part of his job?”
Pavel smirks. “He gave her a teensy little nudge. She’s fine—walked away and everything.”
“Only because her cane kept her upright!”
Pavel glances toward the water fountain where Charity and Luka are sitting. “Listen.” He lowers his tone. “The guys are on edge after the lecture Kovan gave them. They know if anything happens to you, Kovan will have their heads.”
“Great. Just great. No wonder they’ve been so overbearing today.”
“It’s temporary, Vesper.”
“I’m not throwing a fit because they’re here, Pavel. I knew what I signed up for. I’m upset because these idiots can’t tell the difference between a real threat and a little old lady with a walking stick.”
“The optics aren’t great, I’ll give you that.”
“Screw the optics—he could have broken her hip!”
“You’re a doctor, aren’t you?” Pavel flashes me that charming smile he must’ve learned from his brother. “You can fix it.”
“Don’t get cute with me.” I scowl at him. “This was supposed to be a fun day for Charity, Luka, and me. Your troll bodyguards are ruining everything.”
