Page 36 of The Enemy’s Defector (Ivanov Syndicate #3)

NIKOLAI

I paced outside the hospital room, so furious that I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t see anything, too focused on fixating my glare on the floor. Tunnel vision could kill. It was suicide to be distracted and not watching my surroundings.

But I had my brothers here. Guards and Ivanov men.

This time, I wasn’t alone in protecting Katerina.

When they’d gotten to the code that alerted them of someone breaking in, the men in the building were there to take over.

They were still there to handle removing the bodies of the Kozlov assassins Anton had sent to kill my wife and child.

“She didn’t miscarry,” Saul said, likely trying to be helpful rather than annoying. He’d always been the most uncomfortable with awkward silences.

I didn’t stop, pacing and fuming that she’d come close to danger again. I didn’t look at him, not wanting to address his platitude.

“Don’t,” Maxim warned him with a shake of his head from where he leaned against the wall outside Katerina’s room.

“I wasn’t sure if he heard the doctor when she said that and…” Saul said, then gave up and sighed.

“He heard,” Maxim said. “We all did.”

Hearing the doctor tell me that Katerina wasn’t miscarrying appeased me, but that tinge of anger and fear mixed and consumed me still.

Sloane walked out of the room and down toward us gathered in the hall. Maxim approached her immediately, not seeming to trust even this distance between them despite the two guards flanking her.

After someone dared to break in and try to hurt our women, we were all on edge and tense.

“She’ll be fine, Nik,” she told me.

Because the doctor had been so nervous with all of us here and she was the most timid around me as they checked over Katerina, Sloane had suggested that we wait out here.

Maybe it was a womanly thing, kicking out the men.

But I loved Katerina too much to fight her on this.

I didn’t want her out of my sight after being informed that she was bleeding.

But with one calm look from her, I knew that she needed space.

I could tell that she wasn’t shutting me out but just being considerate of the doctor and nurse in the room.

“She only asked you to step out because she thought you were hovering and freaking out the nurses and doctor.” Sloane raised her brows.

I gritted my teeth. “I’m aware.”

“But she’s fine,” she said again. “It was just a scare, albeit after a scary incident.” She gave Maxim and Damon a stern look.

“It. Was. Just. A. Scare,” she repeated pointedly, matter-of-factly, and firmly with emphasis.

From what my brothers told me about what happened while I was gone, it sounded like they’d overreacted when they thought Sloane was spotting.

“She didn’t miscarry. The scans are all normal,” she added. “The baby is healthy and not in distress.”

Fuck. I hated that we were even here at all. “ I’m distressed,” I admitted frankly.

“Don’t be,” Maxim said at the same time she did.

I scowled at them both.

“The men came within seconds of the break-in,” my brother said.

“It only took them two to kill our guards posted in that room,” I retorted.

“And Katerina had it under control until the cavalry came,” Sloane said.

“She’s not new to this. She reacted a hell of a lot faster than I might have.

And she knew what to do.” She looked at Maxim.

“I envy that. As soon as this baby is out, I want to learn how to shoot. I can’t be relying on Katerina to be my bodyguard like this. ”

“She should have her own bodyguard,” I growled.

No. I would be her guard.

But until we acted on the plan to take out the Kozlov family, I couldn’t be with her every second. Nor could I count on her to stay locked up forever, not even for medical appointments.

It won’t be long now. We had our plans in place. That was why we weren’t at the house. My brothers and I had been covering the final details for setting fire to a warehouse where the majority of the Kozlov heads would be tonight.

The door to Katerina’s room opened again and Joann stepped out. She nodded at me, grave but calm. “She said she doesn’t want you causing a scene out here and to come in.”

I didn’t wait, rushing in to take my wife’s hand and stand next to the bed. Being near her restored my soul. Seeing that she looked fine helped me calm down. Feeling her fingers wrapped around mine comforted me too.

She was alive. I hadn’t failed her. Anton hadn’t succeeded.

And he never would.

“Mr. Ivanov,” the doctor greeted me while she typed on a computer attached to a scan. As my brothers entered, she raised her brows and said, “Uh, times three, I suppose.”

Maxim and Damon stepped back, but it wasn’t like my brothers could ever fade into the background.

The doctor filled us in about the tests and scans that had been done. Sloane wasn’t talking out of her ass. Katerina really was okay. The blood was just some spotting and Katerina and our baby really were okay.

“Perhaps you could count on participating in less strenuous activities for a while,” the doctor added as one last tip before leaving the room.

As soon as she was gone, Katerina squeezed my fingers. “None of that panic, now.”

I gritted my teeth, hating how out of control I felt. “I’m not panicking.”

“Then dial down that anger,” she said.

I bit my tongue.

“You can’t ask him not to be angry,” Maxim said. “I’m just as angry. No one should’ve gotten in that far.”

Katerina nodded in agreement as she sat up more. “If I can get my laptop, I can see where?—”

“No.” I shook my head. “You aren’t doing anything.”

She frowned, giving me a scathing stare. “Fine. Then I won’t. But don’t you dare be mad at me for defending myself. And the others.”

I leaned over to press my forehead to hers. “I’m not. I can’t be mad about the fact that you’re brave and smart and observant. I love that you are this strong. But I hate that you have to be.”

“Then make it so I don’t have to be,” she replied. “Kill him—for me. End him. End all of my uncle’s men so they won’t be a threat to my starting the rest of my life with you.”

I kissed her, closing my eyes and relishing how well we understood each other.

“Tonight,” Maxim said. “It will happen tonight.”

The wait for Katerina to be discharged was a long one. Instead of crowding the room, my brothers filed out.

Alone with Katerina, I sat on the bed and held her hand, relishing the miracle that she was alive.

“You can’t treat me like they do Sloane and Lucy,” she said mildly. “I’m not an outsider.”

I looked down at her, getting lost in her calm blue gaze.

“I’m not new to this life, Nik. I learned how to use a gun from you and my father. I’ve killed before, and I will kill again if I have to.”

I exhaled a long breath, knowing she meant every word. In her, I’d found my match, my queen, my partner in crime. She was right, yet I didn’t like it. “My job is to protect you.”

“And you have. You will. I have faith in that.” She reached up to kiss me. “And that’s why despite being annoyed that I’m left out of the assassination of my uncle tonight, I’ll be worried about your doing just that. Be careful, okay? Come home to me.”

I framed her face and kissed her soundly, committing this truce to memory.

“I will. I promise.”

I couldn’t wait to take out at least one of the main enemies who’d challenge my family.

And I would take supreme satisfaction in killing the man who’d dared to put a hit on my wife.