Page 46 of Mafia and Scars

And that makes my stomach swirl slightly as I think about the story time tonight and everything else he’s done for us.

Because it’s sweet—and a stark contrast to the reticent ex-military man I met when I first arrived here.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

VIKTOR

After checking once more that the kids are fast asleep, I pull out my phone. There’s a text from our doctor, saying he’d like to meet me in person to discuss Avelina’s hospital test results.

I know that taking them from the hospital database was a complete breach of her privacy, and I don’t know what made me do it, but the doctor’s tone makes a shudder roll down my spine.

I quickly text him back and arrange a meeting for tomorrow.

I think about how Avelina thanked me before. Her words have a knot forming in my chest, and I rub at it. And that smile she gave me—a sort of sleepy contentment—has that knot growing tighter. I swallow around the lump in my throat. What is wrong with me?

I shower in one of the spare bathrooms and dressed in a black T-shirt and pajama pants. I rub at my sternum, hoping to ease that knot.With another deep inhale, I make my way down the hall to the linen cupboard and get out a spare blanket. Then I settle down in a chair I put just outside my bedroom door.

I hear a sound and turn to see Grigory again. He gives a sharp shake of his head “What are you doing now?” he demands.

“I’m sleeping here. So, I’ll hear if Avelina or the children need anything during the night.”

“Viktor,” Grigory grits out after a long pause.

I know that tone. I tense for a second before letting out a breath.

“Matvey heard what you said to her earlier. He told me you apologized to her for what I said when she first arrived here.”

Again, I tense. Fire licks my chest at the mere mention of anyone overhearing any conversation between me and Avelina. It’s a new sensation—a strange sensation. My fingers curl around the edge of the blanket. “What of it?”

“It’s not like you to apologize. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you apologize for anything, let alone on somebody else’s behalf. Or sleep in a chair outside your room. And all for some woman you don’t even know.”

The words aren’t malicious. I know that. But that doesn’t stop the heat boiling through me.

“Are you okay, Viktor?” he says carefully.

My jaw tightens. “I’m fine,” I clip.

“Viktor, come on. Rushing to some hospital because you get a call from a stranger. Watching her kids. Sleeping in a goddamn chair. That’s notyou.”

I know it’s not me. And I don’t understand why I’m doing it. But I’m not going to stop. “Look, Grigory, I just want her to get better faster. The sooner she’s well, the sooner they’ll all be out of our hair for good, okay?”

His stare is intense on me. “Is that really all there is to it?”

“Yes. That’s it. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Grigory.”

He studies me, and I fight the urge to fidget under his scrutiny.

He gives me one last glance and a shake of his head before he walks back down the hall and stairs.

A huff of breath leaves me as my eyes close. Pinching my brow, I take another steadying breath before I tuck the blanket under my arm and settle back against the chair. This is just in case the kids or Avelina need something. I could ask one of the men to do it, of course…but something is keeping me here. I close my eyes briefly.

After a few moments, I tug my phone from my pocket along with my headphones. It’s far too early for me to sleep, but I’m not needed tonight at the casinos or the shipping yard.

My fingers tap against the screen, pulling up my emails. I can focus on that and get some work done. I check through my inbox. Order and efficiency are what I like in my life. The most important emails go at the top with tags and labels.

My thumb taps to open an email from our distributor. My eyes skim the contents, but I’m not focused. I sigh and rub at my eyes, pressing my head back against the wall behind me. One more time I read the contents, but my mind drifts again.

I think about Avelina’s floral scent which now lingers in my room and on my pillows and sheets. It’s not unwelcome, and that’s the unnerving part. Seeing her nestled in my bed stirred something—something I pushed away as soon as it reared its head.