Page 170 of Deceptive Vows

My eyes dart back and forth as I try to establish where I am. I half expect to be in the hospital, then I remember that happened already.

Then I remember everything else and try to get up.

“Hold it,” Eric says, resting a heavy hand on my chest.

I lift my arm which is attached to tubes. I’m hooked up to the machines.

“Sophia,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse. “It’s her. She has Natalia. She’s working with Ivan.”

“I know.Weknow.”

“We?” My brows pinch.

“The backup plan. Aiden is here, and so is Lucca Dyshekov of the Yurkov.”

“They both came?”

“Yes, they’re here to help. No one else knows about your survival.”

I’ve never been so relieved in my life. Two Pakhans are here from the two biggest brotherhoods in our alliance. Both allies of mine, and friends.

“Jesus, I need to get up.”

“Mikhail, you need to rest.”

“How the hell can I rest, Eric? They have my wife.”

“You could have died. You nearlydiddie.”

I know he’s right. I felt myself shut down. I felt the end coming. “How the hell did you get to me? How am I alive?”

“You must have dropped your phone when I called and the poison started taking effect. I was still on the line, so I heard most of what Sophia said. I was able to track you then cloak my number. I got to you just in time to get you to the hospital, where they were able to treat you with an antidote. Another few hours of the poison in your system, and you would be dead. Sophia thinks you died. So, Ivan will, too.”

Shit.“How long have I been down?” Panic hits me when I think days could have passed and Ivan hurt Natalia.

“Nearly two days.”

Oh God no. Not again.

God, don’t tell me it happened again. I was helpless and unable to help or do shit.

“Two days?” I grate out.

“Try not to worry about that.”

“Anything could have happened to Natalia.”

“Mikhail, please try to stay focus.”

I try and push past the fear brimming my mind.

“My guards. I heard gunfire at Sophia’s house. What happened to them?” I think of Sebastian first, then the others who accompanied me.

Eric’s face falls. “Sebastian made it, but he had to have surgery. He’s still in the hospital. The others are dead. There were dead men on Sophia’s lawn by the time I got there.”

“Fuck. That fucking woman. I never guessed it could be her, Eric. I never even considered it. Did you?” I wonder.

“No, and I realized I didn’t know what she was capable of or who’s working for her. That’s why I didn’t inform anybody from your brotherhood of what happened and I had you moved here for your safety.”