He hauls me up, and I feel every damn bullet hole, every cut and bruise, but it’s all muffled, like I’m still partly in a dream. No pain yet, just a lot of nothing.
Luka’s grip is solid, though, keeping me steady.
Erik strolls over, his grin still plastered on his face, and shoves two massive pillows behind me, propping me up. “There. Don’t say I never did anything for you, D,” he says, winking like the smartass he is.
“Yeah, yeah,” I grunt, settling back against the pillows. “You two look like you’re enjoying yourselves.”
Erik’s fumbling around, trying to make me comfy, adjusting the pillow and shit. Fucking awkward. Then grabs a cup of water from the side table. He holds it up to my lips, letting me sip a bit before placing it back down.
Erik’s eyes are locked on me, and I can practically see the cogs turning in his head. I’m waiting for him to spew some bullshit, but then I catch a glimmer in his eye, a shine that can only be one thing: tears. Fucking tears?
He stands up quickly, turning his back to me, but then looks over his shoulder with that familiar smirk, the one that says he’s got my back, no matter what.
“You pull a stunt like that again, D, and I swear, I’ll drag your sorry ass back from the dead just to kick it. Bratva doesn’t leave their own behind.”
I give a low grunt, rolling my eyes so hard they might fall out of my skull. I’m no good with this sappy shit. It’s not my game, not my territory. But even though his words are dripping with sarcasm, I know what he means. They were worried. They thought they’d never see me again.
I pause for a second, narrowing my eyes. “Did we… manage to take down Zimniy?” The last thing I remember was Oleg pulling the trigger and then the world going dark. He better have finished the bastard.
Luka nods, his expression turning serious. “Zimniy’s gone. Thanks to Oleg. He took a bullet for you, D. But don’t worry, that stubborn bastard’s still breathing.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Good. Last thing I need is thatsukahaunting my sleep.”
Erik grins. “Trust me, D. Oleg made sure Zimniy won’t be causing any more problems.” He flops down on the leather sofa like he owns the place, stretching his arms along the back.
“Zimniy is more than dead. The Skull Collector’s empire is crumbling, and we’ve been cleaning up. Found a stash of stolen gold and silver, made ourselves a hell of a lot richer.”
I shift, trying to sit up straighter, but pain shoots through my side. The anesthesia’s wearing off, and every part of my body is starting to remind me just how close I came to meeting my end. My ribs ache, my head’s pounding, and there’s a gnawing sensation in my gut that has nothing to do with the bullet holes.
And… Wren? The kid?I want to ask. My throat tightens as I try to form the words, but something stops me. Something vulnerable that I can’t let slip.
So I just swallow, my throat drier than the fucking Sahara.
Luka is still sitting beside me, watching me carefully. His face turns serious, eyes narrowing in that familiar way when he’s got something on his mind.
“You were lucky, D. Lucky to be alive.” His voice takes on that hard edge that I recognize from the old days, that edge that doesn’t leave room for debate. “You can’t keep being lucky forever.”
I meet his gaze, the room going quiet around us, and I force out a laugh. “What? You gonna give me a lecture now?” I rasp, trying to smirk, even if it barely registers.
He doesn’t smile back, and that’s how I know he means it. “I’m telling you because you’ve got someone to think about now. You’re a father, D. You don’t get to be reckless anymore.”
A father.
Me.
The kid’s image flashes in my head—dark hair, blue eyes, a wildness to him that I recognize all too well.
What’s his name? Are they okay? Wren…
It’s like Luka can read my mind because he leans back and gives a small nod. “Wren andAlexare fine. They’ll be staying here in the mansion in the meantime.”
The name reverberates in my mind like a gunshot. Alex. My kid’s name.
Before I can respond, I hear it.
Thud, thud, thud—the sound of small, hurried footsteps, many little footsteps echoing down the hallway.
BAM! Something crashes against the wall just outside the room.
