Page 162 of Toxic Salvation
“Not likely,” I snort. “I know Ihor. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s not the type to run and hide. He’d rather die. Lucky for him, I’m more than willing to do the honors.”
Pavel points at my desk. “Your phone is ringing.”
I glance down. Vesper’s name on the screen makes me smile before I answer. “Vesper, how did the?—”
Her breathing stops me cold. Heavy, panicked, fast. Faster than it should be if everything went alright at her appointment with Dr. Mann.
“K-Kovan!” she gasps. “I… Ihor… He was here… I’m… There’s so much blood… Oh, God… so much blood...”
The line goes dead.
I’ve known fear in my life.
When I was twelve, I broke my leg trying to prove to my father that I was every bit the hardened Bratva man that he was.
A few years ago, I rushed into a hospital room just in time to watch my brother flatline.
In the moment when Luka first called me Papa, I realized that, for the rest of my life, I would be responsible for him and what kind of man he turns out to be.
I’m used to fear. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, it has a way of creeping into the recesses of your life and standing its ground. I’m used to that.
At least, I thought I was.
But what I’m feeling right now is nothing compared to what I’ve felt in the past. This is what you would feel if you were going under the knife without anesthesia. You’re splayed out, open, vulnerable, completely raw.
There’s nothing between you and that blade. Nothing to stave off the pain. Nothing to dull the razor-sharp edge of agony that saws through your flesh and bone, reminding you that for all your strength and bravado, you are still human.
You bleed red.
You feel pain.
You know fear.
And sometimes, there’s only one thing between you and oblivion. One phone call.
Ihor… He was here… I’m… There’s so much blood… Oh, God… so much blood…
I try calling back. No response.
Nikolai doesn’t answer.
Neither does Tikhon.
We’re speeding down the highway towards Dr. Mann’s clinic when Pavel manages to get through to Aleksei.
“What the fuck is going on?” Pavel demands.
All I can hear for a moment is Aleksei’s ragged breathing. “Pavel, Filipp and I are parked out front in the lot with Annabelle. Is something wrong?”
Pavel turns to me. I grab the phone from his hand and yell into the receiver. “Where the fuck are Nikolai and Tikhon and why aren’t they answering their fucking phones?”
“I… I don’t know, boss,” Aleksei stutters. “I’ll go in right now and check on them.”
“Don’t leave Annabelle alone!” I snarl. “You go check. Leave Filipp with Annabelle. We’re on our way.”
I hang up and turn to Osip, who steps on the gas.
“They separated,” I say. “Vesper went into the clinic with Nikolai and Tikhon. Ihor probably cornered them somewhere and…”
