Loosening his hold, he looked down at me. “What did those bastards do to you? Tell me so I can do it to them ten times worse.”
Unable to comprehend seeing my friend right now, I blinked at him, clearing my throat. “What are you doing here?”
“Someone had to help these idiots find you.”
“You’re the one who found me?”
“Well, not me exactly. One of Aleksándr’s men did.”
Struggling to follow, I frowned. “Who’s Aleksándr?”
Releasing me back into Liam’s arms once we were no longer able to ignore his growled commands to let me go, Vlad stepped back. “My brother. Who happens to be the head of the Bratva.”
“Bratva?”
My head was pounding, and I was ready to go to sleep right then and there.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Liam turned me back to the car. “She needs stitches and sleep. You can talk to her later.”
Too stunned and tired to care, I didn’t protest when Liam helped me into the back seat of the car. Vlad’s protests were drowned out once the door closed and I rested my head back.
Pushing in on my other side, Freya took my uninjured hand. “I’m coming with you.”
“Of course you are.” Liam sighed, then slid into the driver seat.
Freya sat half on my seat, ignoring her seat belt cutting into her. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
I rested my head on her shoulder. “I’m fine. It’s only my arm. At least the scar is going to make me look badass.”
My joke fell on flat ears, Freya bursting into tears again. “This is all my fault. If I’d never met you and dragged you into our mess, you’d still be in one piece.”
“Freya, stop it.” I nudged her with my elbow. “This is nobody’s fault but the maniac who took me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“If you don’t shut up, you’ll have to find someone else for yourTwilightmarathons.”
Freya gasped but stopped crying. “You wouldn’t dare. It’s one of the requirements of being best friends. Besides, you secretly love watching sparkly vampires.”
“And I wouldn’t miss them for the world.
We pulled up to Liam’s apartment building, and Freya leaned between the front seats. “Why are we at your apartment? She needs to go to a hospital.”
Liam pulled into the underground parking garage and expertly backed into his spot. “I called my doctor. She’ll receive the best care money can buy. A hospital is too risky at the moment. If she needs an X-ray or ultrasound, we’ll take her to one of the smaller clinics. They’re easier to secure.”
We both just gaped at him.
Not giving us a chance to come up with a snarky comeback, he was out of the car and opening my door. He undid my seat belt, then lifted me out of the seat, taking extra care not to jostle me too much.
I relished his attention as much as I despised it. He was sending my feelings into a tailspin of hurt and confusion.
Why is he doing this for me?
Freya followed us, her gaze never wavering, taking a particular interest in the spot where Liam’s hands held on to me.
He didn’t let me go, carrying me all the way into his apartment and to his bedroom. Placing me on his bed, he stayed close. “Do you need a blanket?”
Playing with the edges of my makeshift bandage, I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
