Amy’s eyes widened in fresh fear.
“That’s enough, Alexei. Nadia wasn’t here. Amy was, and she did a great job.”
Instantly, I fell silent. Eyeing the girl on the other side of the bed, such a small, petite-looking thing with wide eyes and a heart-shaped face.
“You’re right,” I said softly. “Forgive me.”
She gave me a weak smile, but didn’t answer, just continued to fuss over the blankets, with her shaking fingers. She was in shock. I realized, and I reached for her hands. Giving a cry, she stumbled backwards.
“I’m, I’m sorry. Nikolai, I am going to check on the others. I’m sure the police will be here soon.” Her eyes darted everywhere but towards me. “Will you be alright with your grandson for a few minutes?”
“Of course, Amy. Alexei will look after us both.” The old man chuckled and I shot him a look.
What the hell did he mean by both? One look at his face, and I could tell he was plotting something. Not that I had a chance to ask him, as a doctor with two uniformed police officers in tow, their weapons held at the sides, burst through the door.
One look at me, and their faces changed. They knew who I was, which wasn’t surprising. Every cop in the city, and probably the state, knew who I was.
Sighing, I turned to greet them, putting any thought of the pretty,petite nurse out of my brain as they began to bombard me with questions that I couldn’t answer.
The next hour was spent giving the same answer. I hadn’t been here when it had started. I’d come in at the end. No, I didn’t know who they were, but yes, I got a glimpse of their faces.
I gave them that description, knowing full well that my people would find the attackers first. Someone close to me had betrayed us. There were a handful of people who knew where Nikolai was, and all of them were in my trusted circle.
Well, not so trusted now.
The moment they left, I stood.
“I’m glad you are OK, but I—”
He shot me a look, the same look that had always made me sit down and shut up as a child, and I fell back into my seat.
“We need to talk, Alexei.”
“I will find them, they will be,” I glanced towards the door, “dead before—”
He cut me off. “That’s not what I mean. I know you will do what’s needed, son.”
He always called me that, even though, technically, I was his grandson.
“But these people came in here, into my home.”
My head shot up. His home? Had he seriously just said that?
“They shot at my neighbours and friends.”
My eyebrows disappeared into my hair. He had friends here? That was even more confusing to me.
“If it hadn’t been for Amy.”
“Who?” My eyes narrowed. “Oh, the nurse,” I sighed. “Talking about nurses. Where is the one I employed to guard you?”
In the bed, the old man shrugged. “No idea. I saw her yesterday, but I didn’t like her.” His blue eyes narrowed. “Amy, on the other hand,” he grinned with a knowing look in his lined eyes.
“What are you getting at, old man?” I asked with a chuckle. “Don’t tell me you have a crush on a nurse that’s young enough to be your granddaughter?”
Or maybe great-granddaughter, I added silently. The nurse had been young. At least ten years my junior, but perfectly curvy. Perfectly womanly. The sight of her round ass greeting me as I rushed through the door was seared into my retinas.
“She is beautiful, but no. I would have liked to have another daughter or a granddaughter, though.” Nikolai fell silent for several long seconds before he lifted his eyes to me. “But that wasn’t for us, so I will have to settle for a—”
