Page 51 of Bound to the Bratva
Her father might have been able to get away with this before, but he won’t ever again.
Seventeen
Aria
I tap my crimson red nails impatiently against the mahogany desk, my heels clicking on the cold, bland floor. “I need a PET scan scheduled for my patient, Corey Wilkinson, in two weeks,” I tell my patient coordinator, Alicia.
Alicia pulls up her tablet and scrolls through it. “Of course, Aria. His mother is eager for the results. She’s really worried about her little boy.”
I nod, my jaw tightening. “I understand. See if you can get it scheduled early in the day. I might get the results from it sooner and be able to relay the news.”
She nods frantically, tapping away. “It’s all set. I’ll make sure his mother knows it’s scheduled and relay any other information.”
I flash her a genuine smile. “Thanks, Alicia. I really appreciate it.”
Alicia shoots me a soft smile before our conversation turns somber. “I’m so sorry to hear about Haley. I know you did all you could for her.”
Haley Larson, a little girl I’ve been trying to save for the last year. Over the night she passed away. I would eat myself alive in my early years, but now I know I can’t save them all…even if I want to.
Turning on my heel, I stride over to my office and head inside. I check my emails, send a few last minute messages and father up all my things. Still, the weight of my patients’ fragile health battles always remain heavy on my conscience. At the end of the day, I know I’m their last hope and that’s a heavy weight to bear. I just want to do all I can to make sure they make it as far as they can.
My phone buzzes, and I glance down to see a text from Maxim.
Dinner at 8?
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. Just seeing his name pop up on my phone sends a thrill through me.
I chuckle to myself and type him back.
Sorry, can’t. Have dinner with mom tonight in a bit.
He doesn’t waste any time texting me back.
Fuck, I forgot about that. Have fun and I’ll see you when you get home.
I reply back as I throw my purse over my shoulder.
Sounds good, see you later.
I quickly change into a simple black dress before I get ready to leave. Stepping out of my office, I offer a final wave to Alicia before making my way down the long hallway, the overhead fluorescent lights casting an eerie pallor over the polished hospital floors.
At the end of the corridor, I push open the heavy exit door, leaving behind the sharp scent of disinfectant for the crisp evening air.
Andrei is waiting for me in a sleek black town car, its windows tinted so dark that it’s impossible to see inside. He steps out as he spots me, his suit impeccably tailored to his muscular form. His jaw is sharply chiseled, his eyes as cold as ice. The perfect picture of a mafia bodyguard.
“Aria,” he greets, holding open the car door for me as I approach. His tone is respectful but impersonal, a reflection of our strictly professional relationship. He’s Maxim’s right-hand man, the one he trusts most in this world to keep me safe, and I’m no fool to realize that he’s been spending a lot of time watching over me since the shooting.
Sometimes, he’s even sitting outside of my office on the chairs in the hallway. It was working fine at first, but eventually some of the hospital administrators began asking questions about who he was. I couldn’t tell them the truth for obvious reasons, so I explained he’s a security guard that works for my husband. All they know is that my husband is well off and has some enemies because of his business.
I was basically told he could be on the property, but he can’t be posted outside of my office every single day. So, Andrei came up with a random schedule on where he’d be and when, and I check in every half an hour with him if he doesn’t have eyes on me. It’s a win-win for the both of us.
I slide into the backseat, my heels sinking into plush carpeting. The interior smells like a mix of old-fashioned cigars and Maxim’s pungent cologne.
The mere scent immediately makes me think about him. Our relationship has been tumultuous, to say the least, but there’s an undeniable magnetism between us.
I tap my nails against the door handle, knowing I’ll see him in a couple of hours. But first, I have dinner with my mother and I can’t wait to see her. We haven’t had a night out in a bit and it’s long overdue.
The drive to the restaurant is a blur, my anticipation growing with every block we pass. When the car finally pulls up to the valet, I step out, my black dress glued to me like a second skin. The hostess greets me with a warm smile, leading me deeper into the dimly lit restaurant.
