Page 6 of In the Grey of Dawn

“Alan, it's an emergency. Afamilyemergency. I have to leave as—”

“Is everything alright here?” Dimi’s gruff voice echoes across the small space cutting me off. Turning to face him, my arms still full of the supplies I'm carrying, I’m confronted by the Bratva man that isDimitriy. Standing at his full 6’4 height, he demands authority as the wound on his chest slowly drips down his abs. Every scar, muscle and tattoo, on display for anyone to see.

“It’s okay, Dimi. You can go back to the room, I’ll be there in a minute,” I say softly to him. I wouldn’t usually put myself in this position but I’d rather talk to Alan in a public space then have to meet him in his office, and Dimi shouldn’t be here at all.

“Hmm, you see, I don't think it is okay. From what I heard, you were doing the right thing and letting your boss know tonight is your last shift … and then what I heard is he was saying no.” He glares over my head staring straight at Alan. I don't even thinkheknows how intimidating he can be when he's like this, but then again you don't get far in his line of work if you show weakness, so he probably does.

“Alan, it was Alan, right? And you're Charlie’s boss?”

“Charlie?” Alan questions, his face slowly turning red. He continues to flick his head between Dimi and me, no doubt trying to make sense of why he’s defending me. Everyone knows who Dimi is and what he represents. His visits to the hospital are very low-key events and either himself or one of his men will usually come and get me when I'm on shift. I will then scold him for not using his Bratva Doctor, fix him up and then we part ways until the next time. It can be hours or weeks between each visit but we formed an unlikely friendship that turned into him feeling like family. He will be one of the few people I’ll miss when I leave the city.

Placing his arm around me, Dimi pulls me into his side, so I'm nestled under his arm. Although I’m not one for these kinds of theatrics, I enjoy watching Alan squirm so I play along.

“You see Al, I can call you Al, right? Charlie here is my girl, and she has a family emergency. You wouldn't want to mess withthe familynow would you Al? You never know what could happen if you start putting your nose where it doesn't belong.”

He says it so casually you would think he was talking about the weather, but the way he’s staring at Alan can not be mistaken for anything other than a threat.

There’s a sheen over Alan's face as he breaks into a sweat, his voice raising an octave higher, his eyes darting all over as he processes what’s happening. “Oh, um, yes. Charlie, that's perfectly alright. I’ll process all the required paperwork and you can collect it at the end of your shift.”

“Thank you, Alan, I appreciate it,” I say happily, before nudging into Dimis' side, turning to leave.

“Oh and Al,” Dimi calls out over his shoulder, stopping and turning to face Alan once more, “I'll be watching,” he says menacingly. A grin spreads over his face as he stares at Alan far longer than he needs to.

The man whose balls I kicked glares at me as we approach the small private room we’re using. He’s still icing them and I give him anI’m sorrylook before entering the room, leaving him to guard the door from the hallway. Motioning to Dimi, he sits on the bed as I lay out what I need to start closing the wound on his chest.

“Thank you for doing that. I would have gotten there in the end but I appreciate your help.” I say, gently wiping around the wound, trying to clean off as much blood as I can.

“When do you leave?” Is all he responds gruffly.

“In a week or so, I have to sort my apartment and then I’m moving to that town I told you about a few months ago. Hidden Valley, where my friend got married. The one in the middle of nowhere, high in the Mountains. She’s pregnant and she’s struggling,” I say almost zoning out thinking of everything I need to organise.

“You know if you stay, we could get married and you would never want for anything,” he says, a flicker of vulnerability flashing across his face as he looks at me, waiting for my reaction. Tenderly, I place my hand on his cheek as he closes his eyes to my touch.

“Dimi, you know I love you. I just don't love you like that. That kiss we had was like kissing my dad,” I whisper. A shiver runs through me causing me to pull my hand away.

“I know it was weird. I was there too. Trust me to find the only woman in the city who wants to be my friend. You’re the only one who treats me like a person, Charlie. Why don't we get married and just stay friends?” he says, running his hand through his hair, looking at me with sagging shoulders. For a second he looks defeated, his posture sagging.

“What's with all the marriage talk? You never bring it up like this,” I say quietly, as I slowly place butterfly stitches across the shallow wound slashed into his chest.

“It’s nothing, well, I hope it's nothing. I think my father is planning my marriage to another family and if I’m already married then he can’t,” he mumbles. Looking like a regular guy for a moment and not the hardened Bratva man he is to everyone else.

“I’m sorry. That’s got to be hard to deal with. I may not want the whole nuclear family life, but I do want to find someone who I love and who loves me … actually, there is a guy I met a while back. You know the one from my friend’s wedding,” I say, smiling at the thought.

“You mean the one I’m scarred from because you told me how he tied you up and fucked you in a basement,” he says, scrunching his nose up at me.

“Yep,” I say, emphasising the popping sound of the letter p. A massive grin spreads across my face as I take joy in seeing how grossed out he is.

“I’m just saying, I might be able to test the waters and see if he’s looking for something more. I’m a little tired of playing the field, you know. All of the meaningless hookups are leaving me a little numb these days and I’m starting to think it’s time for me to settle down ... just not with you.” I quickly add, grinning at him.

“I’ll let you leave as long as I can help you. You have my contact details but my men will be over tomorrow to help you pack and sort whatever you need to.”

“Dimi, I’m fine, and anyway, you don’t know where I live,” I say, rolling my eyes at his protectiveness.

“I know everything about you,” he smirks, “and you’re not taking that shit car of yours either. You can have one of mine.”

“Dimi,” I growl, feigning seriousness. “I’m not taking one of your cars. You are so dramatic all the time.”

I love the ease of the relationship we have. There was a time I thought I might be able to push through my lack of romantic feelings for him, but the one time we tried andthe kisshappened, it was immediately clear to both of us that we could only ever be friends.

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