“I had to give her a fairly heavy dose to get her to rest long enough for us to examine her and run the necessary tests,” Mother says. "It could be a while."
“I need to question her,” I say, folding my arms. “We have to find out who did this to her because there's something off about the whole thing."
“What do you mean?" Mother asks.
"The set up of that apartment,” I say thoughtfully, eyes narrowed. “Roman sent me a report and the whole system looks too professional, like it was built from a template."
"Like it's been done before?" My mother's brows draw together. "You don’t think this is an isolated incident. You think this could be a new trafficking ring."
"It's too good,” I admit. “The way everything was laid out, the isolation…” Roman's team conducted some inquiries around the building, and nobody seemed to know anything about the girl. Our tech team already pulled surveillance from the apartment complex before their cyber security tried to shut it down. I have to know who was in that apartment with her."
Pulling out her penlight, Mother gently lifts one of Ava's eyelids, checking her pupil response. "Well, when you do,” she says, “make him regret it won't you?"
Though Dr. Ella Morozova may be dedicated to saving lives, my mother has a vindictive streak wider than the Hudson River. It's one of the things my father loves about her the most.
My phone buzzes angrily and seeing the name on the screen, I groan silently, taking the call. “Adam. Something-”
“Came up?” he asks sardonically. “I’m Facetiming you so you can see the fun we’re all having without you, mybestman.” Behind him, the party is in full swing in the VIP lounge I'd reserved for him at Bambarra, one of our most popular nightclubs. Several of the groomsmen had requested we hold the bachelor party at our sex club. Since Adam is one of the few men I know that would not cheat on his bride that seemed like a bad idea.
The sleek suede couches are filled with halfway past tipsy and careening toward dead drunk groomsmen, and giggling girls in silver lame dresses that have been hired to work the event tonight.
Not as prostitutes. We don't do that.
“Have you tried the food yet?” I ask. “I had them fly in those oysters from British Columbia that you like, you pretentious fuck.”
“They’re amazing,” Adam chuckles. “Along with the Australian spiny lobster and the sixteen top-shelf brands of vodka. The only thing we seem to be missing is the best man. Hell, you even dug Ilya out of his apartment and I did not think you could pull that off.”
Ilya chooses that moment to stagger past him and I'm impressed with his ability to be that drunk that quickly. What he witnessed in the hallway at The McManus didn’t seem to have disturbed his party spirit.
“Adam…” I rub my forehead and his face falls.
“Oh fuck. This is one of those ‘mysterious and serious and shit’s on fire’ things, isn't it?” he says sadly. “Are you going to make it at all tonight?”
I look up and my mother is nodding at me, mouthing,‘Go!’
My gaze darts over to a sleeping Ava, her pale face is bruised and fragile.
“I…” Mother folds her arms, arching a pointed brow at me and I nod. “I'll be there. Of course I will. I'm your best man.”
A grin split his face as he let out a whoop. “Dmitri is on his way!” he shouts and the rest of the group cheers.
“I had no idea I was so popular,” I say dryly.
“You aren't,” he says. “They just want to make sure you're picking up the tab for this.”
“Well then. I should be on my way before you break into the McCallan 40 Year Reserve. See you soon.”
I glance down at my bloody shirt and jacket. “Hmmm.”
My mother smiles, pulling me out into the hallway. “I believe the ever-efficient Kir has already sent for a new suit and shirt foryou. Go change in my office so you don't look like a serial killer who's only halfway through his night.”
“Thank you, Mother,” I say. “Your honesty is always so refreshing.”
“Yes, well,” she smiles modestly. “While I have seen you positively dripping with gore in the past, it’s not the right look for a bachelor party.” Despite myself, I look back at Ava's room. “Go,” Mother says, patting my arm. “This is serious and it hurts my heart, too. But there's always going to be one disaster after another, my dear son. Your father has dodged minefields nearly every day of his life asPakhanand you, unfortunately, will no doubt do the same. You need to grab these moments of happiness when you can. So, go. I’ll keep an eye on her, I promise.”
Kir,moy Vtoroy,my Second, shows up as if summoned with a garment bag and I change in Mother's office, making sure there's no blood in my hair and scrubbing my hands before heading back out to the front of the clinic. It’s a beautiful townhouse on a quiet, tree-lined street. No one looking at it would ever think it was a high-end acute-care clinic packed with sophisticated medical equipment.
“Let's go,” I say to Kir and Demid with all the enthusiasm of a man heading towards an IRS audit. “We've got a bachelor party to get through. I mean, getto.”
