Page 24 of The Bratva Sinner

"Med room."

We all knew this was how this would turn out. Too many years in this life to expect anything different. It’s another sign of Lila’s innocence. I hate it that we were right, but I’m grateful to be carrying a warm, breathing Lila rather than the cold, dead one I expected to find eventually.

I carry her to our med room, which has all the equipment of a clinic. It’s a sign of the life we live.

“Put her down and go away,” Cinder orders.

"Cinder."

"Maksim." She gives me the look. "I have her. Go away."

“Should I call the doctor?”

“Not yet. I don’t think she would want that.”

I set Lila down on the med room table. She's awake. Her eyes follow me, and when I step back, she doesn't look away, which I take as a good sign. She was able to call me. She recognizes me. That’s all good.

"I'll be right outside," I tell her.

She nods. It's small but it's there.

Cinder closes the door in my face.

I pace outside the door. Damien appears with a question on his face.

“I don’t know,” I say.

“Random or targeted?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could have just been a mugging,” he says.

“Possibly.”

When the door opens, Cinder steps out and pulls it mostly closed behind her.

"She's going to be okay," she says.

"What happened?"

"They grabbed her off the street. She fought. One of them hit her. They used something to knock her out, but she came out of it faster than they expected. She says she ran and hid in the alley." She pauses. "She's lucky they didn't get her in a car."

I blow out a breath. “So, not random.”

“I don’t think so,” she replies.

“Fuck.”

"She asked for you," Cinder says.

I look at her. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to get her some water and pain meds. Be gentle. That girl has a hell of a story to tell when she’s ready.”

I push the door open and go in.

She's sitting up on the table, which I take as a good sign. There’s a blanket around her shoulders. Cinder has put a butterfly bandage on the cut at her temple. Her lip has been cleaned up, and there’s an ice pack in her hand that I’m pretty sure is supposed to be on her eye. She looks like she's been in a boxing ring.