Page 53 of Deadly Devotion
But beneath his warmth was an edge, a hardness that spoke of the life he led. It was that duality that drew me to him; the light and the dark intertwined in a dangerous and intoxicating way. I admired how he carried himself, with an air of authority and confidence demanding respect.
“Any luck finding Vic?” I inquired.
“Not yet, but we will get him. This will all be over soon enough.” His face was a mask of determination, and I believed he’d stop at nothing to get Vic.
After a while, I excused myself to go to the restroom. The opulent decor of the restaurant continued into the hallway, but the further I went, the quieter it became. Gold-framed mirrors hung on the walls, reflecting the dim lighting and creating a sense of sophistication. I freshened up quickly, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at me was confident and alluring, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes—uncertainty, perhaps. I shook my head, pushing the thought away, and exited the restroom.
The hallway was dimly lit, and as I walked back towards the dining area, I felt a sudden, dark presence behind me. Before I could react, a rough hand clamped over my mouth, and I felt a prick in my neck, a needle injecting something into my bloodstream. Panic surged through me, my body choosing fight over flight.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, sharpening my senses. I stomped down with my heel, aiming for my assailant’s foot. A muffled cry of pain told me I’d hit my mark. Summoning all my strength, I reached behind me and grabbed his crotch, squeezing and twisting with every ounce of force I could muster. He howled, his grip loosening just enough for me to break free.
My vision blurred as I stumbled into the dining room, my legs feeling like jelly. I could hear Aleksandr’s voice, a roar of fury cutting through the haze, but I couldn’t focus on the words. The world tilted, the faces of the diners spinning in a surreal dance of concern and curiosity. The luxurious surroundings seemed to warp and distort, the rich colors and textures blending into a disorienting swirl.
Each step felt like I was wading through water, my limbs heavy and uncooperative. I reached out, trying to steady myself on the back of a nearby chair, but my fingers slipped off the polished surface. The voices around me grew louder, a cacophony of alarmed exclamations and hushed whispers. Aleksandr’s figure loomed ahead, his expression full of rage and fear.
My strength waned, my vision narrowing to a dark tunnel. The last thing I saw was Aleksandr rushing towards me, his eyes wide with panic. Then, everything went black, the world dissolving into nothingness as I fell into unconsciousness.
Chapter 34
Aleksandr
The gasps from the other diners echoed through the restaurant, slicing through the air like a knife. My heart pounded as I watched Talia collapse, her body crumpling to the floor. The restaurant, with its ornate chandeliers and richly adorned walls, suddenly felt like a cage. I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I gently cupped her face. The golden light from the chandelier above cast a halo around her, but her face was pale, lifeless.
“Talia, wake up,” I urged, my voice raw with panic. “Please, wake up.”
My eyes scanned her body, landing on a small puncture mark on her neck. It was a tiny, almost insignificant wound,but its effect was catastrophic. I clenched my jaw, fury, and fear intertwining as I turned to shout orders at Anton and Ivan. The room buzzed with the murmur of concerned diners, their faces blurring together, their whispers growing louder.
A restaurant worker rushed over, phone in hand. “I’ve called 9-1-1. An ambulance is on its way,” she said, her voice trembling, her wide eyes filled with fear.
I barely acknowledged her, my focus entirely on Talia. I held her close, whispering words of comfort that I hoped she could hear. My hands were warm and strong, contrasting with the cold numbness spreading through her body. Time seemed to stretch, each second an eternity, until finally, the wail of sirens pierced the air, a sound that was both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of fear.
Paramedics burst into the restaurant, their efficient movements contradicting with the chaos that had enveloped the room. Their uniforms were a blur of blue and white as they quickly assessed the situation, lifting Talia onto a stretcher and securing her in place with practiced precision. My grip on her hand tightened, my eyes never leaving hers.
“She’s my wife,” I said urgently to the paramedics, my voice cracking with emotion, “and she’s pregnant. I’m coming with her.”
The paramedics exchanged glances but didn’t argue, allowing me to climb into the ambulance. I held Talia’s hand, my knuckles white with tension, as the ambulance sped towards the hospital. The city lights blurred past, a kaleidoscope of colors that matched the confusion in my mind. The siren’s wail seemed to match the rhythm of my heart, fast and erratic.
At the hospital, everything moved quickly. Nurses and doctors surrounded her, their voices blending into an incomprehensible hum, an ensemble of urgency. The bright fluorescent lights and sterile white walls were jarring compared to the restaurant’s rich, warm hues. I stayed close, reluctant to let go of her hand. A stern-looking nurse eventually ushered me out of the exam room.
“I’m her husband,” I insisted, my voice breaking with desperation and determination. “I need to be with her.”
The nurse looked at me sympathetically but stood firm. “You need to wait outside, sir. We’ll take care of her.”
My eyes blazed with frustration, but I complied, stepping back into the waiting room where Dimitri was already pacing, his footsteps echoing in the sterile corridor. We exchanged a glance, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on us.
“What happened?” Dimitri asked, his voice low and tense, his usually calm demeanor replaced with worry.
I ran a hand through my hair, my face marked with anguish. “Someone injected her with something. There was a puncture mark on her neck.”
Dimitri’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. “Do you think it was Vic?”
My jaw tightened, my eyes flashing with anger. “It has to be. Who else would dare?”
“Dr. Daria is here. She’ll help Talia,” Dimitri ensured.
We lapsed into a tense silence, the only sound the steady rhythm of my pacing, a metronome of barely contained rage. Dimitri tried to calm me, placing a hand on my shoulder, but itwas clear that I was barely holding it together. The fear of losing Talia had taken me by surprise, and the worry about the baby was an added weight on my shoulders, a burden I could scarcely bear.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number with trembling fingers, the device shaking in my grip. “Tommy,” I barked when the call connected. “I need to know where Vic is hiding.Now,“ I growled.