Page 89 of Born into Chaos

“It’s good to have you back, Vitya,” he says, quickly stepping closer to check him over.

I keep my hand wrapped tightly around Vitya’s, refusing to let him go. He better get used to me being glued to his ass, because I’m here for the foreseeable future.

Chapter 14

Vitya

Sveta is gripping my hand like she’s never going to let me go, and I can’t take my eyes off her. I feel like it was only seconds ago that I was lunging in front of her, shielding her with my body and hoping like hell it was enough, but it’s been an entire week. Seven days of her worrying and scared, and I hate that I’ve put her through that.

When Tony starts feeling around my chest, I bite back the urge to smack his arm away as pain shoots through me, so intense it makes me lightheaded.

“I’ll give you another dose of morphine,” he promises. “I just need to check a few things first.”

I have no choice but to let him do what he needs to do. I lack the strength to even sit up, let alone make a run for the door.

“Can I get some water?” I ask, feeling like I’ve been eating sand. I’m hooked up to various things, including an IV, but my throat is so dry it aches.

Tony nods and Sveta quickly grabs a cup and fills it with water. Angling the straw to my lips, I give her anI hate being this helplesslook, but she just smiles and says, “Better get used to it. Now suck.”

I use what little strength I have to arch a brow at her while Tony stifles a laugh and she shoves the straw between my parched lips. I’m too thirsty to argue, so I don’t bother. Mypcholkais determined to get her way. I’m not going to forget about her sugar strike, though. I’m holding her to that one, and thinking about it has me grinning around the straw.

She smiles back at me, her whole face lighting up with it, and even though it feels like no time has passed at all for me, I’ve missed her so goddamn much. I finish the glass of water and when she puts it on the tray next to the bed, I squeeze her hand, unable to take my eyes off her.

“I’m sorry he got you,” I tell her, but she’s already shaking her head at me.

“It’s not your fault. He climbed up the trellis.” She sighs, clearly pissed that he used her means of escape against her. “I’m gonna tear that damn thing down.”

“Beat you to it,” I tell her, making her smile again. “I ripped it down when I realized that’s how he’d gotten in. I was so fucking scared when I realized he’d taken the two of you.”

“I knew you would be, and I hated that for you.”

“Did he hurt you?”

I search her face, fearing the worst, and I don’t release the breath I’m holding until she says, “No. We were okay. He wasn’t interested in hurting us.”

I raise a brow and lightly drag my finger along the yellow, faded bruise on her cheek, the one she’s tried very hard to cover up.

“I tried to make a run for it with Samantha and failed,” she says, giving me a half-smile that I don’t return because I’m too busy feeling sick at the idea of someone hitting her.

She leans over and kisses me. “I’m fine, Vitya. I promise.”

“I’m so sorry, Sveta.”

She kisses my hand and says, “He just wanted money. I can’t believe he was going to sell his own daughter.”

“Our daughter,” I correct. “She’s our daughter, Sveta.”

She gives me one of her sweet smiles and kisses me softly. “She is, and I know she’s missing you like crazy.”

“I miss her too. She better not have grown too much in one week.”

“You won’t even recognize her.” Sveta smiles and strokes my face like she can’t believe I’m really awake. “She’s already walking and eating solid food.”

“That’s not funny,” I tell her. “It would break my heart if I missed all that.”

“Such a softie,” she teases me.

“You made me that way,” I tell her.

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