Page 11 of Lethal Hearts

He made his way to Harper and her father.

“Are you hurt?” Mikhail asked, looking her over. He didn’t see any blood. Relief filled him. If she died, then all this would be for nothing.

Harper shook her head.“The gunshot caught me by surprise. That’s all. My father needs medical attention and so do you. You shouldn’t be walking when you’re shot.”

The worry in her voice made him smile. It had been a long time since someone was genuinely concerned about Mikhail’s well-being. It admittedly felt nice.

Mikhail bent down and did a quick study of Alfonso Valenti. Despite his appearance, the old man was surprisingly alive. Unconscious but miraculously still breathing. He didn’t think much of Harper’s father.

Alfonso Valenti was a failure as a don and a parent but since his future bride cared about his well-being, then Mikhail would do whatever it took to ensure Alfonso’s heart remained ticking.

“It’s just a shoulder wound. We’ll get your father to the hospital right away,” he said.

Mikhail winced as he stood back up. He took out his phone and made the necessary calls. They both could hear the distant wail of police sirens in the distance. Someone probably heard the gunshot and reported it.

“What about the cops? They’ll come in, won’t they?” she asked.“How do we explain … everything?”

“Don’t worry about the coppers. I’m a major shareholder in the hospital we’re heading to. They won’t say a thing.”

****

“He looks so helpless lying there,” Harper whispered.

She stared at the motionless figure of her father lying on the hospital bed. He looked awful, pale, bruised, and wearing a hospital gown. She had to reassure herself by the rise and fall of his chest that he was still alive.

Sure, they didn’t have the best father-daughter relationship in the world but he was still her dad. Harper still loved him, no matter what happened.He’s alive, we both are, she reassured herself. That was all that mattered.

Strong hands gave her shoulders a squeeze. She looked up into Mikhail’s tried face. Just hours ago, she’d insisted on being in the same room as him. Harper watched a talented nurse extract the bullet from his shoulder and sew him up. At that very moment, a strange uncertainty filled her.

Harper thought she had to learn how to do that someday. Some basic first aid in case her future husband or one of his men got hurt, she needed to be handy with a needle and thread. Should she start calling him her fiancé now?

This entire situation felt so strange. Harper had gone from being a disposable pawn, to being the future Mrs. Konstantin. Their bargain had to be made of brutal practicality but Harper believed their arrangement might work.

What was happiness anyway? From a young age, she knew the responsibilities that came along with being her father’s daughter. She would never have a normal life or future, so Harper had to roll with the cards fate handed her.

True, Mikhail might have a few loose screws in his head. The only reason he wanted to marry her was because she came close to killing him. He was a strange man, but she couldn’t deny her physical attraction to him. She would also never forget the fact that he, a complete stranger, was there for her in her greatest moment of need.

“The doctor assured us he would wake up soon,” Mikhail said.

He started stroking her back and Harper found she didn’t mind his comforting touch.“What if he never does?” She had to ask.

“He will. If he’s anything like you, then he’ll fight to live,” Mikhail said. He stayed by her side for the next few moments. Finally, Mikhail said,“We’ve had a long day. It’s time we head back. You can visit him tomorrow morning.”

“You’re right,” she finally said.

Harper initially wondered if she should stay overnight at the hospital but she felt every tired bone in her body. A soft bed sounded tempting. Besides, if she insisted on staying in the hospital, Mikhail would probably assign more men to her, and he already promised her father would be watched so nothing would happen to him. Harper didn’t want to be an additional burden.

Harper allowed Mikhail to lead her out of her father’s room.

“He’ll be here tomorrow,” Mikhail said.

Harper could only nod. The walk to the hospital parking lot tired her. She fell asleep during the drive back to her apartment. When Mikhail gently shook her an hour later, she realized the car had stopped. They had arrived at the multi-complex parking lot attached to Mikhail’s building. He opened the door for her. Harper stumbled out and would have fallen flat on her face if Mikhail hadn’t gripped her arm.

“Steady,” he said softly.“You’re worn out.”

“You’re probably exhausted as I am,” she said.

They entered his private elevator and a weight lifted off her chest. No one would dare attack them while they were in Mikhail’s stronghold. By now, Don Juan probably knew what had happened.

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