Page 27 of The Enemy Protector
I move into the room and look at the mountain of a man that has been at my side every day for years. Not having him with me is like not having my right arm. I feel terrible for all the grumbling I’ve done. I’m always bitching at him for smothering me.
I take his hand and stare down at his bruised face. One eye is swollen. He looks smaller in the hospital bed, which is strange because Anton has never looked small a day in his life.
I pull a chair close and sit beside him.
“Thank you,” I whisper, even though he can’t hear me. “Thank you for saving me.”
I stay for another hour watching him breathe. Watching the monitors. Making sure he’s alive.
When I finally leave, Gregor drives me home in an SUV surrounded by three other vehicles. An entire convoy for one person. It would be excessive if someone hadn’t just tried to run me down on a public street.
When I return home, my father is still up.
“Anton?”
“He’ll live. Fractured leg, broken ribs, concussion.”
My father nods slowly. “He performed his duty.”
That’s all he’ll say about the man who saved his daughter’s life. No praise. No gratitude. Just acknowledgement that Anton did what he was paid to do.
I realize that’s all we all are in his world. Expendable pieces.
8
Sergei
I’m halfway through my second drink when my phone vibrates. Nelson. I answer immediately.
When I got Nelson's first call—there's been an attempt, she's down—it took everything I had not to go straight there. Not to be the one to pull her off the pavement. I know that's irrational. It makes no difference.
Knowing she was less than a second from being crushed by that SUV sits in my chest. Anton threw himself between her and the impact with the commitment of a man who has already decided his life is worth less than hers.
“Tell me.”
“She’s back home. Looks like she’s staying in for the night.”
The tension in my shoulders eases a fraction.
“Anton?”
“He’ll be fine, but he won’t be moving around anytime soon. She’s upped her protection. My cover is blown. I didn’t want tointeract, but she hit the ground hard. You want me to change up my looks or pull back.”
“Both. Stay away for a few days. She will clock you. Wear sunglasses. Go with the security guard uniform. That’ll relax her guard.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
“It’s fine.”
It’s not. Nelson has been one of my best. He can blend into any crowd, disappear into any background. But Sofia saw his face. She’ll remember it if she sees him again, and she’s too smart not to start connecting dots. She’ll assume Nelson is stalking her or trying to kill her. Maybe both. I know how she is with men. She doesn’t date. I know she doesn’t trust easily.
I end the call and dial Kirill.
“I’m on my way,” he answers. “Just got what you need.”
“I’m in the office.”
I hang up and pour another drink. Knowing she was less than a second from being crushed by that SUV still turns my stomach.
