Page 70 of Sins He Taught Me (Bratva Crime Syndicate 3)

He strides up to the desk, and a different nurse behind the counter looks him over. “Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see a patient by the name of Nikolas Morozov.”

She taps away at her computer, then says, “Right now, we’re only accepting family members.”

“I’m his uncle. Matvei.”

Her eyes fall on me. “And her?”

Matvei grabs my hand and laces our fingers together. “This is my wife.”

I try not to let his statement affect me, but I feel warm almost instantaneously. I never thought I’d hear the day he called me something like that. Not that I’d ever want it. It just … it sounds nice. Even if he’s lying.

“Are there any other questions you’d like to ask us,” he growls, “or can we go see my nephew?”

The nurse gives a reluctant jerk of her head. “He’s in the first room on the right. He’s with the doctor right now.”

When we step into the room, the doctor is taking good care of Nikolas. She has a thermometer in his mouth and is examining his ears. They must have given him some kind of medicine because he already looks better. A sense of relief washes over me. Injuries to me or Dad pale in comparison to anything bad happening to Nikolas.

Out of anyone in this whole debacle, he’s by far the most innocent.

After thirty more minutes and a prescription for medicine written up for us, Nikolas slides off the bed and we’re able to take him home.

The ride to the pharmacy is quiet except for the radio playing. I steal glances at Matvei the whole way home.

“What are you looking at?” he asks me, eyes facing front.

“Nothing.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

I sigh. “I was just thinking about what you said in the hospital.”

“And that was?”

“‘My wife.’” I repeat his words and instantly there’s a blush on my face, cheeks growing pinker.

Matvei rolls his eyes and says, “It’s because I wanted you to be there for Niko. Nothing more than that.”

He says it so matter-of-factly that it feels like a slap in the face. I nod and look out of my window, dejected. “Right. Of course. I know.”

Matvei glances at me but says nothing else. I don’t think I’d want him to, either. He’s said more than enough. There was nothing between us. He’s indifferent to it all, and the only reason he wanted me there with him is because it’s my job to look after Nikolas. I try not to let it hurt too badly, but I don’t say another word the entire ride home.

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