“She was taken by Albanians,” Viktor explains.
Aunt Bella’s eyes are wild with rage and worry as she goes to stand in front of her husband. “Why did this happen?” She aims her anger at me. “Why wasn’t she protected?”
As Viktor steps forward, I grab his arm and shake my head. “This is on me.”
Everyone’s eyes turn to me as I say, “I take full responsibility. She should’ve had more guards.” I shake my head, the regret thick in my voice, “I failed to keep Mariya safe, and for that, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“I trained Ivan and Lev,” Uncle Alexei mutters. “They were good.”
I shake my head. “Mariya should’ve had an entire entourage of guards. This is on me.”
“Dear God,” Aunt Bella cries. “Can we not have a pissing contest right now.” She gestures at me, Viktor, and Uncle Alexei. “You all failed my little girl, and I swear on all that’s holy, if she doesn’t pull through, there will be four funerals.”
“Baby,” Uncle Alexei murmurs, trying to take hold of her arm.
Aunt Bella yanks away from him, her Latino temper flaring hotter. “Don’t baby me.”
She comes to stand in front of me, her eyes cold as ice. “I want the head of the man who did this to my daughter on a golden fucking platter.”
I nod, silently vowing to find and kill whoever’s involved with the attack on my wife’s life.
Her chin quivers, then she asks, “Did you at least make her happy the past three days?”
“I loved her with all that I am.”
Aunt Bella’s face crumbles, and she turns to Uncle Alexei for comfort.
Needing a moment alone, I step out of the waiting room and aimlessly walk down the hallway.
Not even three days in, and I already failed Mariya. She was mine to protect. I should’ve had an army guarding her every move.
It’s such a bitter pill to swallow I almost choke on it.
I stop in front of floor-to-ceiling windows and stare blankly into the night.
Please survive this.
I feel a hand on my back, then my parents come to stand on either side of me. Mom takes my hand while Dad gives me a sideways hug.
“What the fuck did I do?” I groan, the guilt becoming an insurmountable mountain in my chest. “How could I let this happen?”
Dad pulls me into a hug. “No one saw this coming.”
“I should’ve.” I yank away from my father, my guilt morphing into white-hot rage. “I was so fucking sure no one would have the guts to take us on. It’s because of my arrogance the woman I love was tortured.” I lock eyes with him. “She can die.”
“She won’t. Mariya is strong.”
The air rushes from my lungs, and I remember how hard she fought.
“Dio, Papà. You should’ve seen her fight. She was so fierce.”
If I weren’t consumed with fear, guilt, and anger, I’d take a moment to feel proud of Mariya.
Finding the strength in my parents, I nod. “She’ll pull through.”
“Of course.” Dad gives my shoulder a squeeze. “She has Koslov and Terrero blood in her veins, and neither is easy to kill.”
I turn my gaze back to the window and just soak in the support and comfort my parents are offering me because I’m going to need it to get through the next couple of hours.
I’ve lost count of the hours, and by the time a doctor comes into the waiting room, it feels like I’ve lost my mind.
I dart up from the chair, my muscles tense and my heart hammering in my chest.
Uncle Alexei gestures to me. “This is Mariya’s husband, Luca Cotroni.”
The elderly woman turns her attention to me. “I’m Dr. West. The surgery went well. Miss…” She glances between Uncle Alexei and me, “Mrs. Cotroni is in the intensive care unit. We’ve put her in an induced coma so her body will have time to heal before she wakes up. The pain would be too much for her to handle right now.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
“She’s suffered four broken ribs. Part of her femur shattered from the bullet's impact, and her right hand suffered great nerve and bone damage. There’s a long road of recovery ahead of her. With rehabilitation, she should regain full use of her leg, but I’m worried about her hand. With the nerve damage she suffered, we’ll be lucky if she regains fifty percent use.”
I can only stare at the doctor as her prognosis rips my heart to shreds.
In short, Mariya’s going to suffer a great deal still, and there’s nothing I can do to ease her pain.
“Can we see her?” Viktor asks, seeing as the rest of us are shocked into silence.
“Only two people at a time while she’s in the ICU,” Dr. West answers.
It feels like I’ve been thrown into an alternate universe where nothing makes sense anymore.
Uncle Alexei and Aunt Bella leave to see their daughter.