Wreckless Intentions

by K. Marie

  The niece, Natalia, proved to have bigger balls than her father. She made a lot of noise and sent her boyfriend Broggs after me when initial police complaints netted her nothing. That course of action resulted in being no more than that of a pesky mosquito buzzing in my ear. At some point, though, she apparently convinced a few members of her mother’s family to aid in her quest for vengeance.

  They tried covering their tracks by going through Savin; but were sloppy, and apparently, cheap as hell. If you’re going to send someone after me, at least send the best.

  Amateur hour aside, I still couldn’t figure out why the Ostrovsky’s chose to get involved. They were a formidable organization in their own right. It didn’t make sense for them to risk starting a war that would reach all the way back to Russia—to my father’s organization. Not just to aid a family member in her quest for vengeance of a piece of shit like Chvetski. No, the Ostrovsky’s had another reason for agreeing to come after me. And that’s what I’d intended to extract from Savin. Who was now dead.

  “Boss,” Joe called, catching my attention.

  I had been staring out the window; seeing nothing but my own inner demons. I turned to see the same dark-haired nurse standing at the door of the waiting room, along with a petite Asian woman wearing light-blue scrubs. I immediately walked over to them.

  “This is Doctor Hahn, she operated on your brother,” the nurse explained, almost apologetically.

  My heart constricted inside my chest.

  “Your brother is critical but stabilized for now. We managed to get the bleeding under control, but there was an excessive loss of blood. A transfusion was given to replace three pints of A-negative, his blood type, but additional transfusions may be required once he’s out of the woods,” Doctor Hahn explained. “Whoever provided aid before he arrived likely saved his life; it was smart to use the belt to apply pressure to the wound. It slowed down the bleeding.”

  I released a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.

  “The body experiences a significant amount of shock with the amount of blood loss your brother suffered. There is some mild swelling of the brain; so, we’re keeping him in a medically induced coma for now. The next twenty-four hours will be the most critical,” the doctor added.

  “When can I see him?” I asked.

  “We’re preparing to transfer him to the Intensive Care Unit shortly. You’ll be allowed to see him then, but only for a short while,” she told me.

  Yeah, like that was going to happen. When I wasn’t here, Viktor would have two of the men with him at all times. I would also be bringing in my own trauma surgeon. However, there was probably no need to distress the doctor by telling her any of that.

  “Thank you,” I said instead, to both her and the frazzled-looking nurse.

  It occurred to me just then, her source of discomfort. Both women had been doing an admirable job of remaining professional; all while giving surreptitious looks to the intimidating-looking men standing behind me. I often forgot that what was perfectly normal for me, was a bit baffling and disconcerting to others.

  Of course, they have no idea who I am, but they would soon find out. Any moment now, I was expecting a cadre of people that included my attorneys—law enforcement officials, as well as Miami’s mayor. It paid to have friends in high places that could grant you access to whatever you needed.

  “I’ll come to get you as soon as your brother is in a room,” the nurse informed me before making a quick exit with the doctor.

  It was almost deathly quiet as I entered twenty minutes later. Standing just inside the doorway, my feet froze in place as I stood gazing across the room at Viktor. He lay in bed with his skin glowing as white as a ghost, and with numerous amounts of tubes snaking from his body to the machines that were helping to keep him alive.

  I told myself to quit acting like a pussy and finally pushed forward, forcing my feet to move across the room. However, when I reached the bed and peered down at Viktor; my throat constricted with an emotion I hadn’t experienced in years. A complete sense of helplessness.

  Nearly half his body was wrapped in thick, white bandages—a vinyl contraption surrounded his left leg, and a length of clear, plastic tubing extended from his mouth to the machine that was helping him to breathe. Jammed into the crook of his right arm was an I.V. that was likely delivering several vital medications and fluids at-once. Overall, he looked terrible.

  The eggplant-colored smudges underneath his eyes stood out starkly against his pale skin; as did the smear of blood on his neck. Without thinking, I lifted a hand to wipe away the blood with my thumb, only, it didn’t come off.

  I should have known it wouldn’t; blood wasn’t so easily washed off. Both literally and figuratively. A life of blood and violence seemed to be both our curse.

  My jaw clenched instantly in anger at the thought. There was anger at myself, of course, but I was mostly angry for Viktor. None of this was meant to be his life; he was supposed to have a chance at a normal life. It’s what had been promised.

  It started out well initially. Viktor decided against attending university in favor of joining the police force. He stayed on the police force only five years before leaving. For me, after my family was murdered. I can’t say that I dissuaded him either; at that time, I needed him. Perhaps that made me selfish, but, Viktor was a grown man who could make his own decisions.

  He chose me. And now, he might die because of that decision.

  My eyes traveled down to stare at Viktor’s chest, where I watched the artificial rise and fall from the machine that was pushing air inside his lungs. “Sorry, Malen'kiy run,” I whispered remorsefully, feeling an unexpected, unbearable ache tumble inside of me.

  Little Runt. I hadn’t called him that in years.

  Though Viktor and I were now almost the same exact height and size; the years of our childhood came rushing back vividly. Back to a time when I was his protector—to a time when I’d vowed to always protect him no matter what. Even from his own father, hell, from both his fathers.

  When the nurse asked my relationship to Viktor, and I had stated that I was his brother, I wasn’t lying.

  I learned that little detail the day I killed my uncle, Luka.

  Viktor is my brother, Romanovich is both our father. It’s been me and my father’s dirty little secret, and I’ve been blackmailing him with that information for years.

  It’s how I managed to control him all this time.

  After graduating university, it was expected that I would go to work for Romanovich. But I had other plans. I wanted to live a “normal” life; free from all the death and brutality that went along with being part of the organization. Of course, Romanovich blew his lid and promptly lost his shit when I told him.

  However, I had an ace in the hole that I’d been saving for just the right opportunity. I knew my father—he was the chief controller of everyone and everything around him. Everybody did what he said without question. I knew he wouldn’t accept my decision, not without proper incentive.

  So, I threatened to go public with his dirty little secret. I meant it too. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to play hardball.

  The two of us engaged in a long-term standoff—with the contention between us ongoing for months. Romanovich finally relented and eventually pulled a favor to get me a job at one of Russia’s largest banks. But, I was still young and naïve, and not yet as good a chess player as he.

  My father was one step ahead of me. After all, he had two sons; the heir and the spare, so to speak. Ramonovich was determined one of his sons would someday take over the organization. I was determined it wouldn’t be Viktor.

  In the end, he and I came to an understanding. I agreed to be a part of the organization on my own terms, in exchange for Viktor being completely free of it.

  Only, it didn’t seem to be either of our destiny’s.

  Leaning over the bed, I pressed a kiss to Viktor’s forehead before turning to walk away. I was going to do s
omething tonight I hadn’t done since I was a boy, I was going to pray.

  But first, I had to call my father…and tell him his other son might not make it through the night.

  Twenty-Six

  C A M R Y

  My husband lied to me. It was my first thought as I stood looking at Viktor.

  My God. I almost didn’t even recognize the man lying in bed. It was shocking. This was really bad.

  Squeezing my eyes tightly shut to stop the flow of tears, I willed myself to keep my shit together. It wouldn’t do anyone any good for me to fall apart and turn into a weeping mess. Viktor and I weren’t super close—but we were family, he and I got along just fine. He was a daily fixture in our lives; had protected me on many occasions, he was Godfather to my son, and my daughter adored him. And my husband…he must be going through hell.

  When I arrived at the hospital, I found Garland asleep in the waiting room sprawled out on a small uncomfortable looking bench. He’d been here all night; he must be exhausted. I’d asked the guys not to wake him before I came back.

  When we departed last night at the marina, he told me Viktor had been in an accident. He’d texted me that everything was alright. He lied. Viktor looked to be barely clinging to life; he was on a ventilator for God’s sake. When I couldn’t reach Garland this morning I called Joe, he was the one to tell me that Viktor had been shot.

  I looked at the man lying in bed and couldn’t help the tears that spilled from my eyes despite my best efforts. My heart ached for him; it also ached for Garland. Viktor was the only real family he had outside of his parents. He had other family members, of course, but none that he was close to.

  Wiping at the tears, I left Viktor’s bedside and went into the adjoining bathroom to find what I needed. After locating it, I returned to the bed and pressed the warm, dampened cloth to his skin. Wiping gently, I slowly removed the blood that some dumbass left smeared on his neck. I stopped mid-swipe when the door pushed open, and Garland entered the room. He stood staring at me several long seconds before walking over.

  “I suppose that works much better than using my finger,” he murmured, eyes moving to the cloth that I had gripped in my hand.

  I looked down at the cloth, then back up at him. He’d tried removing the blood.

  “That’s what you’ve got me for,” I said softly, trying not to react. The look in his eyes…he looked absolutely destroyed.

  A heartbeat passed as we stood staring at each other; before I walked over and threw my arms around him. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, throat choked with tears.

  Garland’s strong arms enfolded me, squeezing like a band of steel as he held onto me tightly. I gladly absorbed his warmth as well as his pain, determined not to cry and to be strong for both him and Viktor. Garland was at his most vulnerable right now; he’d been going through hell all by himself. He was the tough guy because it was expected; mostly of himself, but also by others. Not me, I didn’t expect him to behave like an emotionally detached robot.

  “Nothing can be done to change this, but I’m here for you; if only to hold your hand, always,” I told him.

  “I know…” Garland murmured a moment later, lifting his head and placing a kiss on my cheek.

  I knew I wouldn’t get much more than that out of him, he wouldn’t break down and verbalize his inner turmoil. Still, that small acknowledgment meant a lot; it was his way of admitting that he needed me.

  Just then, a tall distinguished-looking man with golf-course tanned skin, salt and pepper hair, and sporting a white medical coat over business clothes, strolled into the room. He walked over and shook both Garland’s and my hand, introducing himself as Dr. Feliks Yanovich; trauma surgeon.

  “I’ve already read Viktor’s chart and consulted with the attending physician. It seems there’s been no change in his condition since he was stabilized, which might be a positive sign. However, I’ll be doing my own assessment as well,” the doctor informed us.

  After Garland nodded his understanding and thanked the man for coming, we left the room, giving him some space in which to work.

  As we made our way down the hallway towards the waiting room, we received curious looks from several of the staff. I guess we did make quite the spectacle. Garland’s men were everywhere, you’d think he owned the damn place.

  Why we needed so much security in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital was perplexing. Though, considering Viktor had just been shot and I didn’t yet know the circumstances surrounding it, I made no comment.

  “I’m going to get us some coffee. When Dr. Yanovich is finished, why don’t I sit with Viktor while you go home and get cleaned up?” I suggested to Garland.

  “I look that bad?” he asked with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

  “If you grow anymore scruff on your face, the kids might not recognize you,” I teased. I actually preferred him with scruff, I’d love it if he never shaved.

  “In that case, I might just take you up on your offer.”

  By the time my two Russian giants and I trekked down to the main lobby for coffee and returned, Dr. Yanovich had completed his examination and was standing in the waiting room speaking with Garland.

  “There can be any number of factors, but I’ve ordered an MRI and a few other tests, once I receive the results, I can make a more thorough determination,” the doctor was saying as I walked up.

  “You can do that—an MRI, while he’s on a ventilator?” I asked curiously, remembering all the equipment Viktor was hooked-up to.

  “Absolutely, the ventilators in this unit are designed specifically for use with MRI,” Yanovich answered.

  “How soon before the tests are done? How long does it take for the results to come back?” Garland questioned.

  “I’ve requested they be done stat—immediately, so, I anticipate they’ll be done within the next hour. The results typically take just as long,” answered Dr. Yanovich.

  “You’ll be sticking close by until then?” Garland asked in a tone that sounded strangely like a command.

  I restrained myself from looking at him like he was crazy.

  “Of course, Mr. Vidov, I’ll make myself available for as long as needed,” the doctor assured him, seemingly unfazed.

  It was probably an occupational hazard—he undoubtedly dealt with demanding loved ones of patients all the time. That being said, my husband still needed to work on his manners.

  “Thank you,” I told the doctor with a gracious smile when Garland said nothing.

  As soon as Yanovich walked off, my eyes went to my husband. Under different circumstances, I’d typically make a snarky remark about his officious tendencies, but I refrained. These weren’t typical circumstances.

  “I got you a breakfast sandwich,” I told him, handing over the wrapped package. “Now, go home, shower, skip the shaving, kiss the kids, and get your gorgeous self back here,” I added sternly.

  Garland’s eyes smiled back at me as he accepted the sandwich. “Yes, dear,” was all he said before giving me a quick peck and walking away.

  I grinned at his retreating back…every man needed a woman to take charge every now and then.

  A mere fifteen minutes after Garland left, two technicians and a nurse came into the room for Viktor. They were quick and efficient and had the bed and all of the equipment rolling out of the room in about five minutes. I stayed put, but the bodyguards stationed outside accompanied the caravan.

  I used the time to call Katherine, who’d babysat the kids both last night and this morning. Luckily, she’d already come prepared to stay the night; as Garland and I were to spend the entire night on the yacht. I was extremely grateful that she’d been there this morning when Joe told me about Viktor.

  After ending the call with Katherine and checking a few emails, I texted Marie to tell her what happened. Though, when her call came in a few minutes later, I didn’t get to answer, because Viktor was already being returned.

  Once everything had been put back to rights and th
e staff left the room, I stood looking over Viktor with a heavy heart, then said a heartfelt prayer. With nothing left to do but wait, I took a seat on the gray vinyl chair and pulled out my phone to occupy myself. I was only a few minutes into my virtual landscape puzzle when all hell broke loose.

  My head shot up in alarm at a sudden sound. When I looked over at Viktor, his body made a slight movement, then another, and then another. My heart leaped as I jumped to my feet, frozen, not knowing what was happening. His body made a jerking movement, and then one of the monitors started to bleep. Panicking—I ran for the door, clumsily wrenching it open and yelling out for help. The guards went on high alert; rushing past me and into the room. I followed behind them, and we all came to a sudden halt as we stood there watching Viktor’s body twitch and jerk as he lay in the bed. The monitors were going crazy as several of them sounded all at once.

  Oh, God.

  My heart lurched in fear as two nurses swept into the room and started yelling orders that I didn’t really hear. I just stood glued in place—in a state of horror and dread, as I watched Viktor helplessly, not knowing what the hell to do. There was nothing I could do, but I felt I should be doing something. Anything. He was dying for Christ sake!

  Dr. Yanovich rushed past me and ordered the guards out of the room. He must have ordered me too, but I couldn’t move—I continued standing there until he walked over to me and put a gentle hand on my upper arm.

  “Mrs. Vidov, it would be best if you waited outside,” he said firmly but gently.

  “What’s wrong with him—is he dying?!” I asked in panicked fear, unmoving.

  “It’s likely a seizure, we’ll get him stabilized, don’t worry,” he assured while coaxing me towards the door.

  “You can’t let him die…” I cried mournfully, coming completely unglued.