“We should go. You can’t stand on your feet much longer.” She was wilting with every second that passed.
Zoe nodded, finally allowing Greg to drag her out into the hallway. She refused to let him carry her, even though he was more dragging her than escorting her.
Zoe stopped in the middle of the hallway. She cringed seeing all the bodies strewn about. Maxim had lost a lot of men today.
She seemed to sag as if all of her energy was leaving her. Greg hoisted her against him. “What is it? Is it your wound? I’m taking you to the hospital. You don’t look well.”
“That’s not it.”
“What is it?”
“Aleksei was here. I tried warning him at the mansion to stay far away, but Boris made him come. I couldn’t save him.” She looked around as if trying to find him amongst the carnage.
“Kitten, Aleksei is alive,” he whispered softly to her.
Her head shot up almost clipping him in the face. “What?”
“My team got him out before this happened.” Her eyes darted back and forth between his, almost as if she was looking for some sort of deceit in them. “I promised you, I’d keep him safe.”
Zoe’s body sagged again, but this time in relief. “He’s alive.”
Uncaring if she protested, Greg picked her up in his arms. “He is and after your trip to the hospital, you can see him.”
“Thank you,” she said as she curled her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder.
“I’d do anything for you, babe.” He kissed her softly on the head as he carried her outside. It wasn’t just words, but a promise. He would do anything for her that she asked. Even if he had to move to Virginia for her.
Chapter 25
Zoe’s wound was cleaned and stitched up. The doctor had assured her nothing vital had been hit and she would be able to leave the hospital after a day of observation. She hated hospitals and lying around with nothing to do but stare at four walls, but at least she had Greg to keep her company.
He’d been so attentive, waiting out in the lobby until the doctor had given the green light, and he hadn’t left her hospital room since. Even when the nurse said visiting hours were over, he’d used his government clearance to stay; he’d stated that due to some of the other men who had been injured during the fight being kept here until they were well enough to go to prison, Greg wasn’t leaving a federal agent unsupervised.
It wasn’t exactly the truth. There was a guard outside her door, but it warmed her heart he’d used it as an excuse to stay close to her.
“Are you ever going to tell me how you knew we were at the funeral parlor instead of the warehouse?”
“When you’re better.”
How much better could she get? “Greg, I’ve been in this hospital bed since yesterday. I’m healing thanks to you. I’m bored.”
Greg chuckled. “You are a terrible patient.” Zoe just cocked an eyebrow, waiting. “My contact, he put a bug in Viktor’s phone. We got the tip-off that he had changed locations. It was him who got Aleksei out of the parlor before things escalated as well.”
“I’m grateful for his intervention.” Zoe closed her eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks that Aleksei had been saved. She had been so worried about him. “I wanted so much to keep Aleksei out of things. I didn’t know how to get him away once we were there.”
“Charlie is good at discretion.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
They both turned to see a man in grey scrubs walking into the room. He wore small wire-framed glasses, had a clipboard in his hand and a stethoscope around his neck.
“Doctor or nurse?” Greg asked, not seeming at all surprised to see this man dressed this way.
Charlie’s face looked crushed. “Seriously?”
“It’s better than being called a bellhop.”
Bellhop? What in god’s name were they talking about?
