Page 88
My actions stalled while I caught my breath. “Oh, Mina. I will never replace your mother. I know how much she loves you.” To keep myself busy, I found the peanut butter and jelly, managing to place both on the counter.
“She’s an angel.”
“I know, but she still watches you from heaven and angels feel love and all the emotions we feel. Just stronger.”
She thought about what I was telling her. “I’ll buy that.”
The kid could have me laughing in a heartbeat. “I’m glad to hear that.” I yanked out the silverware drawer and grabbed a knife. A sudden wave of nausea hit me unexpectedly. I took a few deep breaths, also realizing I was very lightheaded.
Maybe I needed some water. As I turned toward the fridge, I suddenly felt unsteady on my feet. A single step and the light began to fade from the periphery of my vision.
As soon as I fell backward against the counter, the knife slipped from my hand, clanging on the tile.
At that moment, down I went, crumpling to the floor and…
CHAPTER 18
Maxsim
“What the fuck is wrong with her? Talk to me!” My demand was close to being shouted.
“Calm down, Maxsim. There is no need to shout.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I spent all morning inside a goddamn hospital with my daughter only to have my… Only to have my six-year-old daughter call me telling me Isabel had fallen asleep and she couldn’t wake her up. You’re acting like it’s no big deal. It is a big deal. So fucking talk to me.”
Mario seemed highly uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot.
The last thing I wanted was for any of my men to see me throwing a tantrum. “Go stay with my daughter, Mario.”
“What do you want me to tell her, Pakhan?”
“Tell her…” Christ. I couldn’t even put a coherent sentence together. “Tell her that I’ll be right down. I just need to check with the doctor on Isabel’s condition.”
“Will do, sir.”
When he left the hallway, I cornered the doctor. “You didn’t mention a damn thing about Isabel and that something could be wrong the other day.”
“I did come by your house yesterday. Didn’t Isabel tell you?”
“She told me about your concern with Mina, which was why we spent our morning at the hospital. You did not say anything was wrong with Isabel.”
We stood outside in the hallway, the door to the master bedroom closed behind us. The last thing I wanted was for Isabel to hear how upset I was, and I was furious with the doctor and with the circumstances. “Now tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“You know I can’t do that, Maxsim. I took an oath.” He was more than agitated with me; well, he had another thing coming if he believed I was going to let this go.
“Did you not hear me? My daughter had to call me to tell me Isabel had fainted. I drove ninety miles an hour to get here. Plus, you told Isabel about Mina.”
“That was different.”
“How the fuck so?”
Roman shook his head. “Why don’t you take a breath?”
Dr. Isatov had been with the family since he’d been an intern. He’d been my doctor as a child, Roman’s too. And currently, my brother was leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
“Take it easy on him, brother. He’s right. You’re not married and even if you were, she’d have to give her consent to let you be told anything about her condition.”
“Well, we are going to remedy that tomorrow!” Yes, I knew how I sounded.
