Page 38 of Toxic Salvation (Krayev Bratva #2)

VESPER

“He’s gonna puke,” one of the interns whispers.

“Nah, he’s gonna pass out. Look at him. Pale as shit.”

“What do you think this is about?”

I clear my throat loudly to interrupt the gossiping. “Maybe if you people stopped whispering, we might be able to find out.”

The interns throw me frightened glances and face forward, toward the staircase where Jeremy is standing, staring down at flashcards that he seems intent on memorizing. His hands shake as he flips through them.

I don’t exactly blame him. Better to focus on the cards than the growing throng of curious doctors, nurses and support staff that have gathered around to hear this sudden “announcement.”

Whatever it is, it can’t be good. Jeremy’s usually perfect hair is disheveled and there’s a fresh graze of stubble lining his jaw. Dark circles ring his eyes. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days.

“Dr. Fleming,” one of the cardiothoracic attendings speaks up, “we all have surgeries scheduled for this morning. So, if you wouldn’t mind…”

Jeremy looks from side to side as though he’s searching for someone. I wonder if it’s me. Then he makes eye contact with me and looks away almost immediately.

Okay, so it’s not me.

“Alright then.” Jeremy coughs, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I wanted you all here today to make an announcement.”

The crowd shifts impatiently. I glance at the giant clock on the wall. I have to start scrubbing in in half an hour. Jeremy better talk fast because he’s losing the crowd.

I count down from ten. When he still hasn’t gotten started, I give up and start to leave. But I’m hardly five steps away when Jeremy finally begins talking.

“I’m stepping down from the board of directors.”

Wait. What?

I spin around to stare at Jeremy. There is no way that the man is stepping down of his own accord. One glance his way and I start to see his pale clamminess and his profuse sweating in a different light.

“Effective immediately, I will no longer be board president. In fact, the hospital is going through a complete overhaul. The entire board is being replaced.”

“The entire board ?” someone asks. “But why?”

Jeremy consults his flashcards again. “The why of it isn’t important. All I can say is that a new infusion of blood is in the best interests of this hospital.”

New infusion of blood. I almost snort. If only they knew what kind of blood Jeremy’s been trafficking.

“A new board is being vetted as we speak. You will have their names by the end of the week. Any major decisions concerning this hospital and how it’s run will be undertaken by the new board members.

” He consults his cards again, sweat dripping into his eyes.

If I didn’t know exactly what he did to deserve this unceremonious send-off, I’d almost feel sorry for the bastard.

“I wish you and this hospital all the best.”

He doesn’t really sell that last sentiment, but I find myself applauding anyway, starting up a smattering of claps that dies down almost as soon as I start it up.

Not that I care. No one else here will know why this is cause for celebration, but I certainly do. In fact, I think I know who to thank as well.

Unfortunately, it’s gonna have to wait until after my surgery.

Which is just as well. Because the thank you I have in mind is going to take time.

And it’s definitely going to require me to scrub in again.

Note to self: Don’t jump into your man’s arms in the middle of a briefing with all his men.

Hardened mafia men though they may be, there will be blushing. And whistles. And catcalls. And the odd cheer from some of the bolder Bratva soldiers.

I hear a “you go, boss” along with a “hell yeah!”

“Sorry.” I wince, removing my arms from his shoulders. “I probably should have waited until you were done.”

Kovan remains composed as he keeps one arm wrapped around my waist. “It’s okay. We’re almost finished here anyway.” He looks up at his men. “You have your orders. Go.”

I watch the cheeky grins as they file out of Kovan’s office. The last two to leave are Pavel and Osip, both of whom are smirking before the door closes.

“Did I embarrass you?” I ask.

“You could never embarrass me,” Kovan assures me. “To what do I owe this very pleasant assault?”

I tell him about Jeremy’s announcement this morning at St. Raphael’s. “… I’m assuming I have you to thank for that?”

He’s quiet for a while before he answers. “Jeremy proved himself to be worse than useless,” he says by way of explanation. “So, I replaced him and his entire board with men and women who will be far easier to work with.”

“How easy are we talking?”

He shrugs. “Well, considering that I’m now head of the board, I’d say pretty easy.”

My jaw falls wide open. “ You are head of the board of directors for St. Raphael’s?”

“What better way to keep the Keres at bay than controlling the whole hospital?” he muses. “This way, I can keep an eye on things and I can keep the hospital safe.”

“You mean you can keep an eye on me .”

He doesn’t bother denying it. “Everything worked out, wouldn’t you say?”

I don’t give him the satisfaction of agreeing quite yet. “What about the other members of the board?”

“I will fill the positions with the best of the best,” he says. “Men and women who know what it takes to run hospitals and have sufficient knowledge of the health care system. I plan on returning St. Raphael’s to the trusted institution it used to be.”

Honestly, I’m getting teary-eyed just listening to Kovan talk. “Not that I’m not immensely grateful, Kovan… but you’ve got so much on your plate already. Why take this on, too?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m doing this for you.

” He touches my cheek with his palm. “This hospital means everything to you and I’m not about to throw it to the wolves.

I can’t appoint a hospital employee to the board, but I hope you know that you’re an unofficial member.

You can make the decisions, allocate the funds, decide which department heads to fire and which department heads to keep. ”

I’m shaking my head. “That’s too much power.”

“Get used to it,” he says flatly. “You wanted to be my partner. This is what it means.”

“Can you actually do this?”

“I just did.” He winks. “It’s a private hospital. And since my money is bankrolling it, no one can say a word. I’m the man in charge and you’re my right-hand woman.”

“Right-hand woman.” I smile. “I like the sound of that.”

I move into his arms, ready to celebrate right on his desk. But before our kiss can turn into the R-rated variety, the door to Kovan’s office opens and Luka walks in.

“Vesper, you’re home already!” he crows.

“Finished my shift early, sweetheart.” I peel myself out of Kovan’s arms and go to him. “How was school today?”

“Fine.” He shrugs. “Can we do something fun?”

“We sure can,” I assure him, running my fingers through his messy hair. “How about a movie tonight? We can make snacks.”

“But before that—” Kovan gestures for Luka to sit down. “—Vesper and I have something to tell you.”

He studies the two of us for a moment, his lips pursing before he plops onto the couch. “You’re going to have a baby.”

And here I thought I’d hidden my pregnancy pretty well. The only time I wore anything to highlight my pregnancy was when Luka wasn’t around. “How did you know?”

“I’m nine,” Luka reminds us indignantly. “I notice things.”

I exchange a glance with Kovan and drape one arm over Luka’s shoulders. “How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “Will everything change?”

“I mean, there’ll be lots of noise and lots of dirty diapers and lots of chaos,” I say. “So yes, that part will change. But as for our relationship with you, no, nothing will change.”

A tentative little smile appears at the corners of Luka’s mouth. “So, I’ll have a cousin?”

“Actually, I was hoping you’d think of this baby more as your brother,” I say with as much caution as I can.

Luka’s face lights up with excitement. “You’re having a boy?”

“I’m having a boy,” I confirm.

Luka throws his arms around me and hugs me tight. “I’m going to be a big brother,” he murmurs into my chest.

I hold him against me and meet Kovan’s gaze over Luka’s head. There’s something tender there. It fills me with warmth.

This is what family feels like.

It’s hard to be worried about anything right now. Even the idea of Ihor seems more distant, a problem for another day.

“There’s just one thing,” Kovan says, kneeling down in front of Luka and me. “You can’t mention a thing about this pregnancy to your mom, Luka. Is that clear?”

He looks offended that Kovan would even mention it. “I won’t, I promise.”

“Good man.” Kovan pats him on the back.

“I’m happy you’re going to have this baby, Vesper,” Luka says softly. “It means that you can’t ever leave us.”

I bite my lip. “I don’t plan on leaving you, sweetheart.”

“Dad said the same thing,” Luka retorts. “And then he died.”

The conversation we’d had over dinner with Charity and Pavel is still fresh in my mind.

Kovan and I had planned to tell Luka about the guardianship arrangements, too, so that he would be prepared.

But as I look into his sweet, trusting face, I realize that no amount of preparation can get any kid ready for the reality of losing a parent.

So, I keep my mouth shut.

And I hold him close for as long as I can.

Because I know that, in this world, in Kovan’s world, nothing is ever guaranteed. Not safety, not security, and certainly not tomorrow.

But right now, we have this moment. We have each other.

That has to be enough.