Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
My arm stretched out as I gestured toward Vivian. “The hell I will! That’s my—”
I was about to blurt out ‘wife.’
Once the idea had taken hold, it had quickly grown tangled roots.
The nurse shook her head as she made a note on her clipboard. “Sir, I have two deadbeat ex-husbands and three teenage boys. Flashing those baby blue eyes and shouting ain’t getting you nowhere with me. You’re just going to have to wait.”
My hand closed into a fist. “I’m not a patient man. If they are not doing everything humanly possible to save her—” My throat closed before I could even finish my threat.
The nurse looked up from her clipboard. “You’ll only be in the way and cause more harm than good. Is that what you want? Or do you want the doctor to focus on her patient?”
I glowered down at the woman. Her sensible question and solid reasoning was the last thing I wanted to hear. “Fine. But you tell them there will be hell to pay if she dies.”
The nurse tilted her head to the side as she gave me a soft smile. “I will. Now go wait over there before you make me use my mom voice.”
I should have known. If there was a single human being in all of the city who would not be intimidated by my appearance, threats, or reputation, it was a Chicago emergency room nurse.
There was no way I could sit.
I paced back and forth, running the length of the rows of chairs, all the while ignoring the nervous looks I was getting from the other people waiting for care or news of a loved one.
The whoosh of the emergency room doors opened, and Vaska and Mary ran in.
They went straight to the intake desk. “My friend brought a woman in here not too long ago.”
I raised my arm. “Vaska. Over here.”
Mary turned and ran straight into my arms, giving me a perfumed hug. “Oh, Varlaam. I’m so sorry.” She pulled back and looked up at me. “How is she?”
There was so much about Mary that reminded me of Vivian. They were both outspoken, vivacious, and intelligent. That there was a possibility they would not meet and become close friends was a stab to my heart.
I caught Vaska’s look over Mary’s head. He nodded behind her. “We were out to dinner when we got word. Thought we’d head over in case you needed anything.”
I nodded. I’d called Mac on my way to the hospital and told him what happened.
Vaska placed a hand on my shoulder. “Maxim and Ivan are already on their way to Vivian’s apartment to search for any signs of foul play.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “There were no visible signs of violence or injury on her body. I checked. Of course, this could be a hit made to look like an accident.”
He nodded. “That’s what we will find out.”
I placed my hands on his shoulders and leaned in. “If someone did this to her, I will rip their spine out through their mouth and beat them to death with it.”
There were several shocked gasps around us as one couple moved several rows away.
“We’ll learn the truth, my friend. Don’t worry.”
Just then, there was a disturbance down a nearby hallway. As we turned to look, Serg appeared, with Barb and Millie on each arm.
Barb looked up at him. “It’s so nice to have such a big, muscular man looking after us.”
Millie laid her head on his shoulder. “May I hold onto your arm a bit longer? I fear I’m so worried… I may faint.”
Serg’s eyes widened as he mouthed, Help me.
Vaska cleared his throat. “We sent Serg to take care of ceiling gir—I mean Vivian’s neighbors, like you asked.”
Barb and Millie rushed toward me, pulling Serg in their wake. “Any news?” they asked in unison.
“She’s with the doctors now.”
“Oh, our poor girl.”
“We should have called the police. This is all our fault.”
I placed my hands on each of their shoulders. “This is not your fault. I’m certain Vivian will be fine.”
They sagged with relief as they turned their attention back to Serg.
My lie had comforted them. If only I could believe it myself.
After another two hours and half a cup of the worst coffee I’d ever tried to choke down, the doctor reappeared.
I raced up to her. “How is she?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re the husband?”
Knowing she wouldn’t speak to me otherwise, I nodded.
Her hands pushed into the pockets of her lab coat. “A Venus Blood gas has confirmed she suffered from hydrocarbon exposure, which caused her to lose oxygen and pass out. I’ve ordered a chest x-ray as a precaution. And we’ve taken blood to check for liver and kidney damage. If this was her first overexposure, there shouldn’t be any issues. Fortunately, her symptoms were not so severe they required intubation. We’re giving her oxygen therapy through a mask and an IV fluid drip to further stabilize her.”