Page 96 of The Chaos She Brings

“We took out most of the Russian operation. But Petrov got away.”

“Petrov?”

“Mikhail.”

Oh.

“Who was the woman that found us?” I’m almost scared of the answer.

“Anastasia Volkova, she’s a Russian assassin.”

“What the fuck? Why was anassassinafter me?”

Enzo stops pacing and tips his head up to the ceiling as he releases a long breath. “We don’t know.”

“How did you find me?”

Kai squeezes my hand as Enzo talks. “Kaigot your location from your phone call, luckily you were close to Doc's house—he lives further out than the rest of us—he found you and brought you here.”

I rest my head against the pillow behind me and try to make sense of everything in my mind.

“Where exactly ishere? Are we in New York?”

“Yeah, we’re in the city. The safehouse was in Albany, Doc used one of the choppers to bring you here.”

The door opens again, and an older gentleman walks in, his stride confident and commanding. “Alright, everyone out, let me check on my patient.”

Kai clenches his jaw and looks like he might refuse but I give his hand a small squeeze and he eventually nods, getting to his feet with Enzo’s help and the two of them leave.

“Tessa, how are you?” The man smiles warmly at me as he begins checking my vitals.

“Just Tess, please. I’m… I don’t know.”

He chuckles. “Understandable. You’ve been through a lot.” His expression turns serious. “You were lucky, the bullet wound was just a bad graze, but it will scar.” He continues on, telling me about my injuries, apparently I hit myself in the face with the gun when I fired it, I don’t even remember doing that but when I touch my cheek I hiss in pain, the skin tender and bruised.

The doctor leaves and Kai returns alone, coming to sit back next to my side. He takes my hand and kisses it gently.

“This is probably a little more than you signed up for, huh?” I tease, wincing at the pain in my head as I attempt a laugh.

Kai’s lips twitch. “I don’t know. This feels pretty on brand for you.”

I really do laugh then. “I’m like a beacon for trauma at this point.”

“Maybe that’s why I keep gravitating towards you,” he shrugs simply.

I try to sit up but end up just groaning in pain as it pulls on my wound at my side.

“Take it easy,” Kai cautions.

“What’s the plan now?” I ask.

Kai rolls his eyes. “For you? Nothing. Just rest.”

I purse my lips. “Kai.” I glare at him. “Seriously, we need aplan.”

He sighs. “We have one.”

My eyes meet his and I see his determination shining back at me. For the first time since everything got turned upside down, I feel a sliver of calm, knowing that Kai’s with me.