Page 84 of Betrothed
His laugh sent several chills through me. I’d never seen or heard him like this. Even his body was swaying.
I dared risk angering him further by placing my hand on his forehead. His reaction was swift, knocking my arm away while squeezing my neck. Within seconds, the pressure became so much that stars floated in front of my eyes.
“Kirill. Don’t. Please…” His fingers dug into my skin until I couldn’t breathe. I was fighting him, pounding my fists against his chest. His hold was too strong. Too strong. I would pass out soon. “Kirill.”
His eyes were wild, his chest heaving and with his body shaking so violently, I knew the fever had to be at least one hundred andthree. Dear God, the man was burning up from the infection. He could die if I didn’t get him some help.
With my eyesight dimming, the pressure still building, every sound was strangled as I tried to beg him to let me go. “Kirill. Please.”
Something within him snapped and he released his hold, immediately backing away with his face twisting.
Coughing, I turned to the side, blinking away tears and I tried my best to get enough air in my lungs.
A roar filled the room, the sound agonizing. He had no idea how horrific his condition was.
By the time I recovered enough so I could plead with him to allow me to take him to the hospital, he’d turned around and picked up the laptop.
When I walked closer, I discovered just how much he’d learned about me. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Kirill. You need to hear me. You’re burning up with fever. You need antibiotics. I must take you to the hospital.”
“No!” He spun around again, his fist raised and his eyes completely lost in the fever. He had no understanding of what he was doing, which made him that much more dangerous. I tried again, placing my hand on his chest, praying I could get through to him.
“Please. I don’t want to lose you.”
He laughed, raking his hands through his hair and stumbling backwards against the desk. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You aren’t going to lose me. Do you know why?”
“Why?” How could I get him to listen to me? How?
He pointed his finger at me, his body swaying more than before. With the light of the laptop, I confirmed I was right. His shirt was soaked with sweat, strings running down his face.
“We’re going to be married.”
“What?” He was completely delusional. This was maddening. I had to get help. “Kirill. You don’t know what you’re saying. I’m going to get help.” When he just stared at me, I dove for my phone, managing to grab it before he yanked me off my feet, holding me in the air.
“Today. We’re getting married today. Do you hear me? Do you? Do you?” He wrenched the phone from my hand, tossing it across the room. As it shattered into several pieces, I whimpered.
“Yes. I hear you. Okay. Let’s get you some help.”
“I don’t need help. I don’t need… anything. Not a…” He looked away and suddenly collapsed to the floor.
“Kirill. Oh, my God.” I dropped to my knees, feeling for his pulse. It was weak, his breathing far too labored.
He could easily go into shock.
There was no time to waste or give a damn about his beloved protocol. While the thought of stealing a set of keys and driving him myself entered my mind, there was no way I could maneuver his huge body down the stairs and into a vehicle.
I had to track down one of the men watching the house.
So I left the alarm on, hoping that would draw their attention. I flew down the stairs, fumbling with the lock on the front doorwhile trying to remain calm. While I could call an ambulance since I knew the address, I couldn’t count on how the soldiers would handle the action.
The last thing I wanted was to get anyone killed. Finally, I managed to throw open the door, taking the time to turn on the outside light before racing outside. I had no idea where to look but with three steps, the outside motion detector light came on. Maybe all I needed to do was to stay right where I was.
Even with time running out, I tested the theory. Two armed men came running, stopping short when they noticed me. Without hesitation, I confronted them.
“You need to listen to me. Kirill is sick. He has a very bad infection from the knife wound. He’s delirious and passed out. He needs to go to the hospital.”
The two of them just glared at me.
