We lift into the air moments later, the world shrinking beneath us. And all I can do is pray he makes it.
The ride to the hospital is a blur. Viktor fades in and out of consciousness. He’s surrounded by blood-soaked gauze, and his pulse is weak.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper over and over again, like the repetition might help him.
A team of doctors meets us on the helipad on the hospital roof, rushing out toward us as soon as we land.
Grigory barks orders at them. Nikolai and Matvey haul Viktor onto the trolley while I hover at the side, arms wrapped tightly around myself as I refuse to take my eyes off Viktor.
We all follow as the doctors run inside with the gurney wheeling between them. Until we reach the door of the operating room and can go no further. Then all we can do is wait. And pray.
The adrenaline is wearing off now. My limbs feel heavy, and my mind is too loud.
The images from earlier keep replaying in my mind.
The sickening thud as my car hit Gennady.
Gennady’s twisted face.
His sneer.
“Avelina?”
I blink, snapping back into the room. “Huh?”
The men look at me with curious glances before Matvey speaks again. “Can I get you anything? A drink?”
I shake my head.
I should be sorry, shouldn’t I, for taking a life? For killing someone.
But this man threatened my daughter. Shot Viktor. Nearly wrecked my whole world.
So, I’m not sorry. And maybe that makes me a terrible person. But I’d do it again and again if it came down to protecting the people I love.Sofia. Leon. And Viktor.
I don’t know how much time passes. It’s all a blur as we wait for an update.
Eventually, the doctor informs us that the bullet missed anything vital. There’s damage but no serious organ trauma. Viktor needs rest, antibiotics, and time.
“Is it…over now?” I ask Grigory as the doctor goes back to Viktor.
Grigory doesn’t answer right away. The pause makes me look up at him. “The Russian government won’t dare touch Viktor.”
I nod, chewing my lip. “They’ll still come looking, won’t they? For me.”
Grigory stands there, arms crossed over his broad chest, studying me for a long moment. “They’ll poke around, ask some questions. But if they value the weapons routes and supplies we give them, they’ll keep their mouths shut. Nothing will happen to you or the children. You have my word on that.”
Soon, I’m allowed in to see Viktor. His breathing is soft, steadier now. I reach out, brushing my fingers over his knuckles.
His hand twitches under mine. Then his voice, low and gravelly, breaks the silence. “I wanted to protect you. Didn’t want to let you down.”
I shift closer. “You didn’t, Viktor. You’re a protector. You’remyprotector.”
His eyes open, heavily lidded. “I do a lot of bad things, Avelina.”
“And you do a lot of good things too. Cradling a little girl while she cried over her cat. Getting her a stuffed animal to soothe her. Buying her and her little brother so many gifts and toys. Letting a stranger stay in your room while she recovered.”
He lets out a breath that’s half a laugh. “You make it sound so simple.”
