Page 95 of Sexting the Bratva Beast

I don’t want Ivana to die. The twins have been a part of the family since Leonid found them, and even though there’s never been any warmth between us, or any real connection, life would not be the same without her and Tamara around.

“I need to make a call.”

I sense Cartier’s eyes follow me out of the room, but I don’t turn around. Outside, in the sterile corridor, I locate Tamara’s number on my contacts app and wait for the call to connect.

“Andrej?” Even from 5,000 miles away, I can hear the panic lacing in her voice.

She knows.

“Is she…?”

“She’s in intensive care, but she came through surgery.”

The relief is palpable in the silence that follows.

“How did you know?” I have to ask.

“Cartier called me. I’m at the airport now.”

Just when I thought that I couldn’t love Cartier more.

“Andrej?” Tamara drags me back to the conversation. “Take good care of her.”

She ends the call with a click.

Back inside the room, Cartier is still sitting by the bed, clinging to Ivana’s hand. “I told her that you’re alive.” She smiles at me over her shoulder as I drag the drip stand closer to the bed. “I thanked her for saving us. I don’t know if she’ll remember, or if this will help her recover.”

I sit beside her and raise her free hand to my lips. “Thank you. For calling Tamara.”

Cartier swallows. “It was the least I could do.”

Her eyes widen then, and her gaze snaps back to Ivana. “Ivana?” she whispers. “Can you hear me?”

I lean closer to the bed. Did her eyelids flicker? My pulse is racing, and my heartbeat sounds louder and clumsier in my ears than it ever has before, but I stare at Ivana, willing her with every fiber of my being to wake up.

Another flicker. I sense Cartier’s excitement even though she doesn’t move. If this were anywhere else, a stadium or an arena, we would be the guys on our feet, waving banners and cheering the loudest.

“Ivana.” Cartier squeezes her hand. “I’m right here. Andrej is here too. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe now.”

Ivana’s eyes open a crack and settle on me first.

I force a smile. “Welcome back.”

With a lot of effort, she drags her eyes towards Cartier without moving her head. Her lips part, but no sound comes out.

“You don’t have to say anything.” I jump in before she tries again. “But know that we’re both eternally grateful to you.”

Tears squeeze from Ivana’s eyes, and trickle down her cheeks and onto the pillow.

Cartier lets out a strangled gasp. She stands abruptly and dashes from the room, a hand over her mouth. I follow her with my gaze, but quickly return my attention to Ivana, whose fingers are tapping on the bedcovers. The monitor recording her heartbeat picks up speed.

“What is it?” I slide into Cartier’s seat, dragging the drip stand beside me. “Do you need pain relief? I’ll call the nurse.”

I’m half on my feet to press the red button behind the bed when she manages to croak, “No.”

I sit back down and lean closer to the bed so that I can hear her. “You saved our lives, Ivana. We’ll never forget what you did for us. I’ll never forget that you saved the woman I love.”

Fresh tears well in her eyes as Cartier returns to the room, looking even paler.