Peering at me through eyes like slits, he seemed to be trying to figure out why exactly I was there.
“Should you really be drinking that?” I snapped when he remained silent.
The kingpin shrugged. “In the old country, this was the only medicine available when on some…special operations.”
“Fine, whatever.” I uncrossed and recrossed my legs. “What happened?”
“We took care of an infestation.” Ivan laughed roughly. The heavy laughter turned into a vicious cough.
I was tempted to rip the bottle from his fingers. But the way his arm was propped, he might jump up and hurt himself worse.
“I want the whole story,” I insisted.
Ivan took a swig. “You sure you can stomach it, princess?”
Princess.
Damn right, that was what he’d better call me. I was one, born the daughter of a don and now living with another boss with the full intention of marrying him and staying by his side.
If he lives….
He would. He had to.
But how many more nights would pass like this? What if we did grow our family, only for me to wake up and find it was Ivan battling for life, not one of his most trusted men? The thought was enough to have me digging my fingers into his thighs.
Ivan reluctantly passed it over and began the story. It came out in slurred, broken English. But I gathered enough information to paint a chilling scene, worse than anything on the silver screen, in my mind.
It was a wonder Ivan was alive.
By the time he finished, I was shaking. “Here,” he said gruffly, passing the bottle over.
My fingers slipped, and I almost didn’t catch it.
“Watch it!” he wheezed.
I gave him a grimace and tipped it back. Pure hellfire roared down my throat. That shit was vile. Disgusting! I choked.
And then took another pull.
“Your arm?” I forced myself to look at the bandage. The wrappings were stark white compared to the tanned flesh littered with ink on his bare chest.
“Just buck shot,” Ivan huffed. “One of the pellets hit a nerve. Doc thinks it will heal just fine.”
Thank the heavens.I let out a long breath.
Scooting onto the chair, I laid my head on his good shoulder, needing the skin-to-skin connection. Ivan shifted to tuck me under his arm. His fingers gently tangled in my hair, stroking and brushing it absently.
“You’re going to run,” he decided.
“No, I’m not.”I’m going to stay.
Ivan didn’t believe me. He sighed. “You want a world where this kind of thing doesn’t happen.”
The confession fell from my lips. “I want a world with you.”
“Tonight was a close call,” he argued.
I nodded. “It was. But if there’s a time where you leave us, I don’t want the days between now and then to be spent apart.”
