With the pliers he tentatively digs in my wound. I squirm in my seat and bite down harshly on my tongue. What feels like hours but is only under a minute he retrieves the bullet andplaces it on the steel tray. Working efficiently he cleans the blood with the cloth, dips the needle in the vodka and begins to stitch me up.
“You never did answer me.”
He does another stitch. I take a chance at looking at the wound. It’s not horrible. While his stitch work could be better I’m still appreciative he’s helping me.
“I had a sister,” he says somberly. “You remind me of her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She was a real pain in my ass but she had heart. Just like you.”
I softly inquire, “You miss her?”
“Everyday,” he admits. “Grief has a funny way of reminding you no matter how strong you are you’re still broken. The best parts of me died with her.” As if he’s shared too much he remains silent as he finishes stitching me up.
Maybe Kirill isn’t the monster the world paints him as. Maybe he is. But I know differently. He’s as human as the rest of us. Just as flawed. Just as broken.
“Thank you for helping me.”
He nods his head. “You still owe me precious information, princess.”
“And you’ll have it,” I promise.
“He’s lucky to have you.” He tips his head towards my husband. “You realize what you’ve done for him, yes?”
Betrayed his Famiglia. Killed my own pa and his soldiers. Saved him from death.
“I do. And I would do it all over again if I had to.”
“Pure heart,” he comments but instead of saying it like an insult he says it like a compliment. “We’ll be landing soon. I hope your Famiglia understands. For your sake of course.”
“The infamous boogeyman has a soft spot for me?”
He rolls his eyes. “You flatter yourself.” But from the easy smile on his face I know I’ve found an unlikely friendship in the tyrannical ruler of the Bratva.
CHAPTER 46
Imogen
Two pairs of intense eyes stare me down.
Understandable I suppose. It’s not every day you bring the famiglia’s enemy to your Don and Donna’s door with your half dead husband on his shoulders along with your ma in tow and demand entry.
They had let us in, of course. For Rico’s sake.
Constantine kept a watchful and harsh eye on Kirill as Carina led us to a room to lay him down in.
She then called upon the doctor under Famiglia's oath to take care of his severe injuries.
Now, here we are hours later. My husband is all bandaged and stitched up with an IV attached for fluids. He’ll take months to heal, the doctor has said but he’ll make a full recovery.
I’ve never known such sweeter relief.
At least if I die today I know I saved him.
“You’ve brought an enemy to our door and in our home,” Constantine says lowly. A chill runs down my spine. His eyes are scathing. I have half the mind to tuck my tail and make a dash for it. But I jut my chin and stare him down.
“For good reason, I assure you,” I tell him, my voice strong despite how I’m shaking like a leaf in the wind on the inside.
