Page 18 of Prey of the Bratva

“The bullet only grazed through,” I muttered.

“Told you I’ve had worse.”

I ignored that and worked efficiently, cleaning the wound while applying pressure to contain the bleeding upon impact. I dressed it with practiced precision. I could not help but notice how she didn’t flinch when I touched the injury and didn’t try to pull away in pain. Instead, her breathing remained steady and controlled. Only the slight tightening of her fingers against the cushion betrayed the pain. For someone who looked as soft and fragile as her, she had guts of steel.

“You’re very composed,” I said.

“I don’t see the benefit in panicking.”

“Most people panic no matter what.”

“Most people don’t survive things like this.”

I glanced up at her briefly and chuckled, knowing she was right. Our world was a unique one, and not everyone could understand or survive it. Misha Chernykh was clearly experienced. When I moved to her foot, she tensed slightly, which was enough to tell me that it hurt more than she was ready to say out loud.

“Let me see it,” I said.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s clearly not.”

She took a deep breath and finally extended her leg towards me, as carefully as possible. I examined it, pressing lightly along the joint to check for any serious injuries. She didn’t react immediately, but when I hit the wrong spot, her breath hitched just slightly.

“You have a serious sprain,” I said. “Possibly a minor fracture, but only an X-ray will be able to confirm that.”

“Can you fix the sprain?”

“I can try and stabilize it so your foot begins healing.”

“I think that would be more than enough for now.”

I wrapped it quickly, securing the joint to prevent further damage. It only took a few more minutes before I was finally finished. I leaned back slightly, studying her again. Despite the blood on her skin and the pain in her body, she sat upright as if nothing could bend her. Still looking at me like she hadn’t just nearly died.

“You’re not what I expected,” I said.

“Neither are you.” She shifted slightly, adjusting herself against the couch. “I’m staying here.”

It wasn’t a question or a request, and I raised a brow in wonder.

“That’s not for you to decide.”

“It is,” she replied calmly. “You know perfectly well that I am not in a position to move, and going back to the estate like this raises too many questions.”

“Your brothers will notice you’re gone.”

“It’s alright. I can’t worry about that right now. I need to get better, and I need to get better quickly. I will return home when I can walk without a limp.”

“What will I get?” I asked, leaning back.

She met my gaze directly. “You get answers.”

Silence settled between us again while I studied her. The fact that she had just walked into something that could have killed her and was already planning her next move instead of dwelling on the outcome astounded me. I had intended to kill her. That had been the plan. But everything was suddenly complicated. Now I was sitting in a safe house with her blood on my hands, stabilizing her injuries instead of ending her life.

I leaned back slightly, my gaze still locked on hers.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” I said quietly.

“No,” she agreed. “It wasn’t. But it did anyway. I believe we really cannot anticipate outcomes and make the world turn according to our will.”