Page 74 of Villainous Kingpin

She shifted the baby on her hip. “She belongs with her family, Sasha. And you know that.”

“Aurora,” I gritted. I liked my sister-in-law, but God, I’d kill myself if she was my wife. So fucking opinionated. “Wynter will be with her family when she is ready to be with her family. Not a moment sooner.”

“Have you met her before?” she asked curiously. When I shook my head, she continued curiously, “What is your obsession with her? She’s a bit too young for you.”

I clenched my hands. Why did everyone assume I wanted to fuck her, for Pete’s sake.

“Aren’t you a bit young for Alexei?” I retorted back dryly.

“The girl’s not even twenty-one,” she objected. “That doesn’t compare to Alexei and I.”

My jaw tightened and I gritted my teeth or risked snapping at my sister-in-law and then Alexei would go on one of his growl sessions or even worse, try to fight while Wynter laid there immobile.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” I asked again.

“I don’t know,” she answered as she walked over to Wynter’s sleeping form. Little Kostya’s eyes studied Wynter, and for the first time since he was born, he stayed focused for longer than a second. It had to be those golden curls. “The doctor said he’s not certain whether she was assaulted. He’ll have to do a rape kit, but he needs her consent.”

She won’t give it, I thought immediately. I’d bet my life on it.

Áine, Cassio’s wife, offered to help if Wynter wanted someone to talk to when she woke up. It was bad timing to bring her here. Cassio and Alexei planned on having a double date. Of course, that went out the fucking window and everybody hovered in the penthouse.

Another set of footsteps. Fuck, this was like a whole fucking gathering in the sick room.

“Brennan called Nico,” Cassio hissed under his voice. “He’s been trying to call Wynter and getting no answer. She told him earlier today that she was staying with a friend.”

“I thought the four girls were inseparable,” Aurora said thoughtfully.

“Brennan said they always stuck together,” Alexei confirmed.

“Davina is with Brennan. Juliette and Ivy are at the house, trying to figure out how to plan another heist without getting caught.” She rolled her eyes to emphasize how reckless they were. “That means Wynter was probably with a boy.”

“And you came up with that before or after she was assaulted?” They were all getting on my nerves. “Considering the state she’s in, we can all come to the conclusion she wasn’t with a girlfriend.”

“Sasha-” Alexei growled.

Wynter’s body stirred and all our heads snapped to her. Light green eyes cracked open and met mine. I jerked forward, leaning over her.

“Wyn?”

Dark bruises around her eyes and on the side of her face were stark against her pale skin.

Someone must have called the nurse and doctor back in because suddenly the two pushed us all away from her bed.

“Hello, dear,” the doctor cooed to her like she was an infant. I fucking wanted to punch him. “Do you remember your name?” Wynter blinked slowly, then nodded. “Do you know how you got here?”

She stared at him for a moment as if she was trying to remember and then she slowly nodded.

“We cleaned up your cuts and bruises. We need to check for your concussion and do a rape kit.” She instantly stiffened and I could have just smacked the stupid doctor upside his head. Cassio should really find a brighter doctor than this moron.

Her tongue swept over her dry lips. “I wasn’t raped.”

The doctor took her hand and gently patted it. “Let us just do a test and-”

Wynter jerked her hand back. “I just told you,” she croaked. “I wasn’t raped. I got away.”

I watched her for any signs that she might be lying or in denial. I didn’t think so. Her eyes came to me, ignoring everyone else.

“How long until the bruises and cuts go away?” she muttered, turning her head to look out the window.