Page 64 of Delicious Prey

Dr. West looks at me and smiles. “Just be here for him. Talk to him, let him know you’re here.” He gives me a friendly wink. “There’s a reason we make sure the beds are big enough for two. Even the most badass of men heal faster when they have the woman they love next to them. Just be careful of his wound and the IV.”

He sees Peanut and laughs. “Well, this is a first.”

“Is it okay if he stays?” I ask.

“Yeah, it’ll be fine.” He bends down and pets the overexcited Yorkie at his feet. “Just don’t let him chew on the bandages or anything.”

I kiss Kirill’s hand before setting it down and walking over to the doctor. “Luckily, Peanut is past the puppy chewing stage.” When Dr. West stands back up, I hold out my hand to him. “Thank you so much for saving him.” He takes my hand in both of his and gives a soft nod. “I really can’t thank you enough.”

“I’m glad he’s going to be okay. I don’t often get bullet wounds of such a noble nature,” he says with a small grin playing at his lips. “It’s nice to treat one and see it end happy.” He turns and shakes the hand Vadim offers, and then tells us both he’ll be back to check on Kirill later today.

After he’s gone, I give Vadim a hug, feeling the tension slowly leave my body and then turn all my attention back to Kirill. I don’t waste any time, I climb into the large bed, pulling the blanket up over both of us, and being careful to avoid all the tubes coming out of him, I rest my head on his pillow and put my hand in his.

“I’m going to go get some sleep and get a few things from the house for you and Peanut,” Vadim says before walking to stand on the other side of the bed. He leans close to Kirill and whispers something in Russian, then he gives his shoulder a very soft pat. He pulls a cell phone from his back pocket and puts it on the nightstand. “Text me if you think of anything you want me to bring.”

“Thanks, Vadim.” It’s such a simple thing to say, but I hope he can hear how much I mean it, how very aware I am that I could not have survived this night without his help.

“Anytime, Lydia, but I do hope this was a one-time thing.”

“Oh god, you and me both.”

He smiles and lifts Peanut onto the bed before quietly leaving the room. I snuggle in closer to Kirill and whisper into his ear. I talk until my voice is hoarse. I tell him how sorry I am for what I said, how much I love and need him, and how he better not ever put himself in danger again because my heart can’t take it. I fall asleep at some point, barely registering the nurses that come and go over the next few hours. None of that matters. All that matters is the feel of Kirill’s body next to mine and the constant, steady heartbeat that keeps softly beeping on the machine behind me.

Chapter 17

Kirill

“Can you hear me, Mr. Chernikov?”

The voice is unfamiliar and sounds like it’s a hell of a long way off. My brain struggles to make sense of what’s going on, but then I hear the voice that every part of my being responds to.

“Kirill, come back to me. Open your eyes, baby. Please wake up.”

God, that begging gets me every damn time. I push through the hazy mush that’s become my brain and struggle to open my eyes. I feel her small hand in mine, and when I give it a weak squeeze, I hear the relieved laugh she gives.

“He just squeezed my hand.” She kisses my cheek and whispers. “Open your eyes, baby. I miss you.”

“Miss you too,” I say, but my voice is barely more than a croak. I blink my eyes open, and the first thing I see is her beautiful face. I was convinced I’d never see it again. After I’d been shot, I knew I was dying. I could feel my body shutting down, and the only thing that had kept me fighting was her. I didn’t want to leave her. It’s as simple as that.

Tears run down her cheeks as she cups my face and kisses me. It’s whisper soft because she’s scared of hurting me, but it’s heaven all the same. “I love you so much,” she says, crying even harder.

“Love you too, little bunny.”

She gives me a big smile and pulls back to take the glass of water from Vadim’s hand. She puts the straw to my lips as Vadim says, “Good to see you awake, man.”

I take a drink, closing my eyes at how damn good it tastes. I want to drink the whole damn cup, but the man whose voice I hadn’t recognized pulls it away.

“Easy. Don’t chug it.” Now that I see him, it’s obvious he’s a doctor, most likely the man who saved my life. “I’m Dr. West,” he says.

“Thanks for saving my life, Doc.”

“I’m glad you made it through. You had me worried there for a second.” He listens to my heart and looks in my eyes and then checks the bandages on my chest. The wound is starting to really throb. Noticing the way my jaw clenches, he holds up a button that’s attached to a cord. “Press this for a dose of morphine. You still need to rest as much as possible, but we’ll no longer need to keep you sedated.”

“How long have I been here?”

“Close to a week.”

“Holy shit,” I say, looking at Lydia. God, she must’ve been scared to death. “I’m sorry,” I tell her. She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “For making you worry,” I clarify. I want to also say for killing your father and for the way we left things, but I figure I’ll hold off on that until we’re alone.

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