Page 140 of Twilight Tears

Am I doing everything I can? Nik has been reaching out to every contact we have, old and new, to find Pavel. But he hasn’t seen or heard anything. Dima has been doing the same thing on his end. Still nothing.

I want to be out on the streets hunting Pavel down. I want to tear through every hole and dark corner where he could hide and fucking sniff him out.

I also want to be here for Luna.

It’s been a few days and she still hasn’t gone into labor. Dr. Jenkins says it’s a good sign. We might actually make it to her due date. But he still wants to keep her here for observation. Usually, I’d push back. Luna isn’t comfortable here. She wants to be home.

Then I consider taking her back to the mansion and all I can see is that man standing in our bedroom, a gun aimed at her head. I press a kiss to her knuckles. “Don’t apologize, Luna. Don’t stress about anything. You’re taking care of yourself and our babies. That’s all I could ask.”

She picks at the lunch tray a nurse left for her an hour ago before she eventually falls back asleep.

I slide the tray table away and drop down into the recliner next to the bed. I’ve slept even less than Luna has the last few days. My tank is empty, but I don’t see any chance to refill it in my near future.

So I sink down in the chair and take what I can get. I close my eyes and drift off, settling into a half-sleep for all of five minutes before my phone buzzes.

“Fucking never ends,” I mumble, wrestling my phone out of my pocket.

Nik is calling again. I pick up and manage to snag a tiny bar of signal.

“Did you—my text?” he asks, his voice cutting out.

“I haven’t gotten anything,” I say. “Did you text?”

“—breaking up. Watch your back.”

Instantly, I sit up. On instinct, I check the door to make sure it’s clear. The room is empty. It’s just me and Luna up here.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone in the hospital—working for Pavel.” The static on the line is getting louder. “I just—figure out more.”

“You’re fucking breaking up,” I growl. “I can’t understand what?—”

“Don’t let your guard down, Yakov. Don’t let Luna?—”

The phone beeps as the call drops.

My heart is thundering in my chest. I knew it was a possibility that Pavel would invade the hospital, but I hoped it wasn’t true.

Adrenaline chases away the last of my exhaustion. I turn my chair towards the door and stare at every nurse, doctor, and patient who passes by. If any of them want to get to Luna, they’re going to have to kill me first.

When a figure finally appears in the doorway an hour later, I’m on my feet and blocking their path before I even realize who it is.

“Is everything okay?” Dr. Jenkins asks.

I ease back. “Nikandr heard a rumor about a threat. I’m not taking any chances.”

“Understandable.” He tips his head towards Luna. “I’m here to check in on her. How has she been sleeping?”

“Terrible up until now. This is the first time she’s slept for more than thirty minutes all day.”

He peeks around me to see Luna asleep in her bed. “Then my exam can wait a little bit. I don’t want to wake her up now that she’s finally resting. I’ll wait in the nurse’s lounge and come back in an hour.”

Before he can leave, my phone buzzes again.

It’s Nik. His name flashes on my screen, but when I swipe up on the call, it disconnects.

“Fuck!”