Page 82 of The Watcher's Bride

I don’t know how long I sat on the sand beside Nora, but the roar of an approaching vehicle tears through the quiet, and headlights cut across the sand. I shield Nora with my body,momentarily unsure if it’s friend or foe, until the sleek black SUV screeches to a halt and our family doctor climbs out.

Dr. Kirov is older, his white hair pulled back into a ponytail, his medical kit in one hand. He’s worked for the Bratva for decades and owes more than a few favors to my family.

“She’s been drugged. She can’t move,” I say quickly as he kneels beside us, setting down his case.

He begins checking her vitals without needing to ask a single question. “Pupil response is slow, but steady. Pulse is weak but consistent. Good signs.” His voice is brisk, clinical, but not unkind.

“Will she make it?” I ask, hating the weakness in my voice.

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he opens her mouth gently, checking her airway and nodding to himself.

“I need to run tests. Could be a neurotoxin, maybe something paralytic but non-lethal. I’ve seen similar cocktails used in underground trade,” he mutters. “We’ll take her to my place. We can monitor her there and get her what she needs.”

He looks up at me, serious. “It won’t be comfortable, but it’ll be safe. No hospitals, no questions. If we act fast, she has a strong chance.”

I nod. “Do it. I don’t care what it costs.”

He calls in his team, who arrive within minutes with a stretcher and supplies. I hover, refusing to let go of her hand as they gently load her into the back of the SUV.

“I’ll ride with you,” I say.

Kirov nods once, and I climb in beside Nora, holding her cold fingers in mine the entire ride.

But even as the vehicle pulls away from the burning ruins of our home, and the shadows of the beach fade behind us, part of me is still back there—watching the silhouette of the boat vanish over the dark water.

Tatiana.

I had her in my sights. I could have ended her. The traitor who played us all, who betrayed my trust, and nearly killed the woman I love. She deserved to die. And I let her go.

To save Nora, I had to make a choice—and I would make the same one again. But it doesn’t sit easy in my gut. Every second she’s out there, she’s a threat. And I know her well enough to understand she won’t go quietly. She’s ambitious, ruthless, and clever.

She’s still playing the game.

And next time, I won’t hesitate.

I look down at Nora, still silent, still unmoving but alive.

“You’re going to be okay,” I whisper against her temple. “We’re not done yet. Not by a long shot.”

Because as long as she’s breathing, there’s still a war to win. And I won’t stop until the last piece is in place and every last enemy is buried.

Chapter 51

Nora

The hours it takes the drugs to wear off are some of the most terrifying of my life. Trapped inside my body, I fear the worst, that I’ll be stuck like this. The concern in Leo’s eyes and the tight set of his jaw tells me he fears the same. I feel nothing as the doctor takes my blood to run tests and checks me over. Leo doesn’t let go of my limp hand the whole time, but I only know this because I can see him clinging onto it, willing me to squeeze.

Without being able to move my head, I’m limited to a minuscule window of vision. The plain white ceiling above, Leo’s face on my left, and the door on the right. I don’t know where I am. The beeping of the machine I’m hooked up to would suggest a hospital, but there aren’t the usual sounds of a busy hospital outside my door. I strain my peripheral vision for clues.

Leo must sense what I’m doing. “You’re in a private facility. The Belyh family doctor treats us here when we don’t want to deal with unnecessary questions from police. I promise you, he’s the best. And if he says we need to take you elsewhere, we’ll do it, even if I get locked up. The doctor’s just running some tests, then we’ll know more about what we’re dealing with.”

I feel wetness and realize I’m crying. Automatically I try to wipe the tears away, but my arm stays where it is, useless.

Leo leans over and gently brushes away the tears with his thumb, “It’s okay, Nora, the doctor will fix this.” Despite his words I can sense the uncertainty in his voice.

I know Leo wouldn’t leave me. He’d stick by my side and care for me if I remain like this. Though it would destroy us both. I can’t stand the thought of Leo watching me waste away, a shell of a person. It’s a fate worse than death.

“If… stuck… kill me…” I manage to garble out.

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