“It almost looks like you know what you’re doing,” I muse, watching her slip a pair of gloves on and pick up the disinfectant.
“I did a first aid course, I know how quickly these things can get infected, and I know thatthatis a lot of blood to lose,” she huffs, scowling at me. “You should have gone to a doctor.”
“But you’re practically a nurse. You just need the cute outfit,” I tease, wincing as she lifts the fabric of my shirt away from the wound. Blood has soaked through it and dried against my skin. It’s painful when she pulls it away, but she has no choice.
“You got shot!?” she says in horror, “Was this during today’s delivery?”
“Yes, someone came after us. Five different cars tried to take us down.”
“And your brothers? Is everyone else okay?”
“Everyone’s okay, the product is being stored somewhere else until we can figure out what’s going on…” My voice trails off in pain as she splashes disinfectant onto the small hole in my side.
“I need to make sure it came out the other side,” she explains, pulling my top higher, then tugging it over my head. “If the bullet is still in there, you are definitely going to a hospital.”
“I can’t go, Kat, they ask too many questions.”
“Well, you can’t leave a bullet in,” she huffs.
“That’s what those long, tongue-looking things are for,” I gesture to the med kit.
“Ugh,” she snaps, “I’ll do that if I have to, but just to make sure you don’t get shot again, I’m not going to be gentle.”
She’s scared. I can see it in her face. Scared that I won’t be okay. Scared because I got shot. And even though she’sthreatening to hurt me more to teach me a lesson, her hands are as gentle as silk as she checks my wounds and tends to them.
“It came out the back,” she sighs in relief. “A small caliber, through and through.”
“Do you know how to do stitches?” I ask. “Spray that stuff on first; it’ll numb the area a bit.” She takes the spray from the kit and generously sprays it all over the wounds.
“I’ll need to stitch you up in the back and the front. I’ve never actually done stitches before on a real person, but it can’t be too hard, right? Seriously, Yulian, you could have died today,” she chokes, swallowing hard, trying to control the surge of emotions that hit her as she says it.
“Hey, kitten,” I pull her into my arms so that she’s kneeling between my legs, the sterile gauze held in her gloved hand. “I’m okay, I would never leave you. You’re stuck with me, okay? You aren’t going to get rid of me that easily,” I say.
I smile, trying to show her I’m fine, but the tenderness and care in her eyes wipe the smile off my face. Damn, she’s beautiful. I cup my hand beneath her chin and kiss her.
Katerina accidentally leans against my side, and I wince as she melts into me with the kiss. She jumps back. “Oh my word, I’m so sorry,” she stammers.
I chuckle, and she scolds me, “Stop distracting me. I’m trying to stop you from bleeding to death.”
I chuckle again, and a small smile creeps onto her lips.
“Sit still before I poke you wrong with this needle,” she warns me, still smiling.
Half an hour later, she’s helped me change my clothes, wash the blood away, and has me sitting on the sofa with my legsup. I took a few painkillers and already I’m almost feeling like myself again, apart from being a bit tired.
“I’ve ordered us a nice steak for dinner tonight. You need protein and iron and a good, healthy meal to help you heal,” she says, sitting on the sofa next to me with her legs curled up beneath her. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and she snuggles into me.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispers.
Katerina falls asleep in my arms while I watch a show, waiting for our food delivery to arrive. The guards will bring it in for us, so I don’t have to worry about getting up. I love having her in my arms.
My phone buzzes on the sofa next to me, and I check the message from my brother.
Niko: The plates are linked to the Krolik family. They weren’t fake. I guess they weren’t even trying to hide that it was them. Must be angry about Katerina. Unless someone is trying to frame them.
Me: Let’s keep this quiet for now. I don’t want to stress her out about it. Until we know for sure, I don’t want to say anything to her.
Setting my phone down, my head is filled with worry. Her brother might be messing with us now. Dangerously. I don’t want to retaliate and end up killing the guy, but how can I just ignore a blatant attack? One in which I got shot?
