Page 127 of Silent Heart

Kolya groaned. “Two, babe. He’s holding two.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. If they weren’t going to work properly what was the point in keeping them open?

“I’m not a human doctor, but my professional opinion is that she is suffering from a pretty good concussion. Keep ice on that bump, and keep her in bed, Marta.” Dr. Hoffner moved away.

“Wait!” My eyes flashed open, and I tried to move.

Instantly, a wave of sickness swept over me.

With a hiss, Kolya pulled me against himself. “Lie down.”

“Lilac,” I pleaded as bits of the conversations flickered into place.

“Patched up and doing just fine.” Dr. Hoffner patted my hand.

“Mrs. Kellnhofer, can I trouble you to send someone to my truck for my duffel bag on the back seat?” Kolya rumbled from behind me.

A smile tugged at my lips to hear him use so many words to come across as polite to my grandmother.

Someone chirped in assent, and the front door opened and slapped closed.

I winced.

“I’ll take some of that pie, Marta, if you have any left,” the vet said.

“Just a moment, sir. I have something for you.” Kolya shifted me closer.

Grandma’s slippered feet padded across the floor. “I’ll get the pie, Grant.”

The front door banged again, and Kolya growled. “If you don’t move more quietly, I’ll make sure you don’t have the choice to move at all.”

The cousin yelped.

“He’s only joking, Dallas,” I muttered, closing my eyes once more.

“Oh, I don’t think so. This man hunts sex traffickers for sport,” my cousin quipped. “I’m not pissing him off.”

“You liked it,” Kolya said, and then he surprised me by chuckling. “I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm in a gunfight.”

“We rid the woods of some very, very bad men,” Dallas said amiably. “It was more satisfying than deer hunting!”

I would have rolled my eyes if it didn’t hurt so much.

“What?” Kolya murmured, pausing whatever he was doing with his free hand in the duffel bag to stroke my shoulder. “I can feel your comment, my little water sprite.”

“Not only have you stolen my heart, gargoyle,” I drawled. “But you’ve corrupted my cousins.”

“I prefer to see it as enlisting them.”

If I felt better, I would have smacked his chest. He would not be training them like he trained those vigilantes. None of my cousins had the finesse or skill for that kind of hobby. That was a recipe for disaster.

“He’s right,” Dallas chimed in. “If more of us stand up to this pest on society, even us regular joes, maybe we can do something about it.”

I let it go, too tired to argue.

Brittle joints popped. A rough touch wrapped around my hand. Under me, Kolya’s breathing changed.

Wanting to cry with protest, I squinted once more. And saw my grandfather looking over at me with a watery gaze.

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