“Yes, boss. I’m going in for surgery to patch up my arm.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you on my watch.”
“The police were here. I didn’t know what to say.”
“You can tell them whatever you want.”
He swallowed hard. “I don’t want to involve the police.”
I didn’t blame him. “Then tell the police you didn’t see who jumped you, and leave it at that. When you’re done in here, you have your pick of working here or back at home.”
He looked relieved. “Thanks, boss.”
I felt nothing but a healthy measure of guilt that this kid was thanking me after he nearly got ended because I couldn’t protect him.
A nurse bustled in, pausing when she saw me. “I need to prep our patient here for surgery. Would you please give us some privacy?”
I gently touched Arkady’s good shoulder. “We’re all here for you. Just a bit of surgery, and then you’ll be as good as new, okay?”
“Thanks for coming to see me, boss.”
He looked so young lying in that big hospital bed. “Someone will be here when you wake up.”
I was almost donewith the paperwork at the nursing station when I remembered Mila. I looked at the clock, stunned to see that it was after nine.
Fuck. I picked up my cell phone to call her when a nurse cleared her throat and pointed at a sign posted nearby:No cell phone use on the ward.
Guilt washed over me when I thought of Mila sitting at home, alone, waiting for me.
I finished the paperwork and checked on Arkady, but they had already taken him down to surgery. I walked out of the ward to call Mila.
I wasn’t even out the door when my phone rang. Maksim.
“What’s going on?”
“You need to get back here. Sergei got into a fistfight with three of our men.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Wish I were.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“A few black eyes, one broken nose.”
“Where is he now?”
“Handcuffed this time, and tied to a radiator.”
“I’m on my way back.” I walked out of the hospital and into my waiting car. “I’ll be there in ten minutes or less.”
“How’s Arkady doing?”
“Kid looks scared, and he doesn’t want to talk to the cops.”
“Don’t blame him.”
“Who does Arkady hang out with?”
