Page 63 of Delicious Prey

After she puts in the last stitch, she sighs and says, “Maybe one day.”

“They’re great dogs,” I agree, “and I hated leaving Peanut alone when I worked long shifts, but he’s a lot older and quickly learned that I’d always come back home to him. I’m guessing your shifts are a little longer than eight hours.”

She laughs. “Yeah, sometimes way longer. The pay is pretty damn good, though.”

“I bet.” She’s probably making way more than she would at a regular hospital, but I’m not about to ask for details.

“Okay, you’re all set.” She puts a bandage over my stitches and gives me some basic instructions and promises to come check on it tomorrow.

“Thanks, Jenny.”

“Do you want me to leave you with something that’ll help you sleep.” She looks out at the sky that’s just starting to lighten. “I’m guessing you’ve been up all night. A nap might help.”

“No,” I quickly say. “I want to be awake when he gets out of surgery.”

“I thought you might say that.” She holds up a small package of pills. “I’m leaving these anyway.” She wags the package in Vadim’s direction. “She can take these at any time. They’ll help her sleep. I’m also leaving some mild pain pills.”

“Okay, just leave them on the nightstand. I’ll make sure she takes them if she needs it.”

Setting the pills down, Jenny packs up her stuff and turns back to me. “I’ll check on you tomorrow, and I really hope you get some good news about Kirill very soon.”

“Thanks,” I say, scooting up and getting off the bed. I feel nothing but a very mild sting from the stitches, but I’m guessing it’ll get worse as the shots wear off. I don’t want to take the pain pills. I want to be fully alert in case Kirill needs me. I walk Jenny to the door and thank her again before she leaves.

“Do you want me to order you something to eat?” Vadim asks, scanning the menu he found in one of the kitchen drawers. “Maybe some breakfast?”

“No, thanks.”

“Lydia, you haven’t eaten for hours. You need to keep your strength up. I don’t see Twizzlers on the menu, but surely we can find something to substitute them with.”

I smile, knowing how hard he’s trying to keep me positive. I also know that agreeing to this will help him. He’s just as scared as I am, and if making sure I’m getting food is helping him stay sane, then I’m not about to take that from him.

He looks so damn relieved when I say, “Maybe I should eat. Do they have anything light? Maybe a fruit salad and some toast?”

Running his finger down the menu, he gives me a big grin and goes over to the phone. He orders me the fruit salad, toast, and orange juice and gets himself the biscuits and gravy. The thought of food makes me feel nauseous, but I know I need to eat something to keep my strength up, and I know Kirill would be upset if I didn’t. That alone is enough to get me to nibble at the food once it comes. Grabbing a piece of toast, I start to pace the floor. The sun’s already risen, and I’m not sure how much more waiting I can take. I’m leaning against the balcony doors, watching the forest that stretches out as far as I can see when the phone rings. I jump at the loud noise and look over at Vadim.

“I can’t do it,” I tell him.

He nods and runs over to it without a second thought. I watch him, hugging my arms tightly across my chest while I bite my thumbnail. Kirill’s cologne is faint but still clinging to the sweatshirt, and my heart physically aches at the reminder of him. When Vadim looks over and gives me a smile and a thumbs up, I let out a gasp and fall to my knees. I sob in pure gratitude as Peanut runs over to make sure I’m okay. Vadim hangs up and comes over to me, lifting me up and pulling me into a hug.

“He’s okay.” He rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “He’s going to make it. They’re going to bring him up soon.”

I have so many questions, but all I can do is nod and cling to him. He’s alive. That’s all I need to know right now. It feels like forever before there’s finally a knock at the door. I throw it open, stepping aside as two men wheel Kirill into the room with two nurses pulling along machines and an IV. He’s on a gurney, and as soon as I see him, I start crying again. He’s still unconscious, and he looks like a man who’s been to hell and back. He’s paler than I’ve ever seen him, and for the first time, he doesn’t look invincible. I very nearly lost him. My big, strong hitman is human after all, and he’s in for one hell of a rude awakening when he opens his eyes, because I’m never allowing him to put himself in danger again.

It takes both men plus Vadim to transition Kirill’s body to the hospital bed. The machines they’ve brought with him are beeping and showing a heart beat that’s reassuringly steady. His entire chest is wrapped up, and as soon as the nurses step aside, I rush over to him and take his hand, kissing it and keeping it pressed against my cheek.

I barely register the people around us leaving, but when a man introduces himself as Dr. West, I quickly turn my head to see him. He’s wearing dark blue scrubs and looks exhausted. His hair is mostly grey, but he’s lean and fit and doesn’t look a day past forty.

“How is he?” I ask. “When will he wake up?”

He walks over and eyes the monitor, checking Kirill’s vitals and making sure everything is as it should be before he offers me his hand.

“You must be Lydia. When he was first brought here, that’s all he kept saying, your name over and over again.”

I nod but don’t say anything, just squeeze Kirill’s hand even tighter, letting his presence calm me as only he can.

“The surgery was a tough one, and I wasn’t sure he was going to make it, but he’s strong, and he wanted to live.” He meets my eyes and says, “He fought damn hard to live, but his recovery is going to be slow. I want to keep him sedated for a few days. We’ll watch him closely for infection, and he needs to rest as much as possible. This will allow him to do that.”

“Okay.” I look back at Kirill. “Is there anything I can do for him?”

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