As my conscience battled against familial obligation, something deep within me brought forth an idea. Although it wasn’t what I wanted, I exhaled harshly. “What would you have me t-to d-do?”
At Aleks’s relieved exhale, Dedushka’s eyes lit up. “First thing we work on is your stutter.”
A humorless laugh echoed through me. “After all t-these years, what part of incurable wasn’t clear t-to you?”
“Strategies have changed since Faina tried therapy for you.” At my continued scoffing, he pinned me with a hard look. “What cannot be curedcanbe corrected.”
“You want me t-to g-go to speech t-therapy as a grown ass man?”
“You’re damn right.” When my lip curled in disgust, Dedushka rolled his eyes. “I’ve already compiled a list of the ten best ones on the East Coast. There’s two here in the city that I would start with.”
Shifting his cigar to his left hand, he dug his phone out of his pocket. His gnarled fingers scrolled along the screen. “They’re in the same practice–Dr. Miles Stanton and Dr. Sarah Whitfield.”
After shoving his phone at me, I reluctantly took it. My lip curled as I stared down a pompous-looking jackass. There was no way in hell I could ever be vulnerable in front of him.
My gaze dropped to the other doctor he had suggested. “Trakhni menya,”I murmured under my breath.
A stunning woman with porcelain skin smiled up at me. Her chestnut colored hair fell in waves over her shoulders while her warm brown eyes were framed by black frames.
Fuck. Those slutty little glasses.
Aleks whistled, causing me to jump. “What a stunner,” he remarked with a wink.
Dedushka rolled his eyes. “Her looks have nothing to do with her ability to help Maksim.”
“They sure as hell d-on’t hurt,” I said before I could stop myself.
Aleks clapped me on the back. “That’s right, brat. Get the healing you need.”
I smiled. “I certainly will.
***
After leaving Dedushka and Aleks, I still had unfinished business to take care of. I took the elevator downstairs to the hospital bay. When I peeked in Dima’s room, he was reclined back against the pillows staring up at the ceiling. “Hey,” I said softly.
Without looking at me, he growled, “Leave me alone.”
As I pushed inside the room, he jerked his gaze from the ceiling to glare at me. “Are you fucking deaf?”
“We need t-to t-talk.”
“I swear to God if you start some positive pep-talk bullshit, I’ll call one of my bodyguards to throw you out of here since my crippled ass can’t!” he bellowed.
Ignoring his vitriol, I eased the door closed. Without taking my eyes off of his, I crossed the room. When I started to come around the side of the bed, Dima bared his teeth. “I fucking mean it,brat!”
As I started to lean over the bed, his blue eyes bulged wide. “Are you going to take pity on me and put a pillow over my head?”
“Shut t-the fuck up,” I growled before bringing my lips to his ear. I had no idea if the room was bugged. But I wasn't going to take any chances.
As he started to thrash and protest, I brought my hand over his mouth. “Listen to me well,brat, and know that I swear on your mother’s grave it’s the truth,” I hissed.
When I pulled back to survey his expression, his blue eyes stared questioningly up at me. At his nod, I continued. “Our father is in the process of replacing you with Aleks.”
Dima’s body stiffened with my declaration. I couldn’t begin to imagine the hurt and anger that had to be coursing through his body at that moment. But at the same time, I did know that feeling. I’d experienced it as an eighteen-year-old kid.
“Mudak,” he grunted.
“Da,” I agreed.
