Page 49 of Savage Don

“Please tell me none of them involve me doing anything embarrassing.”

“Unfortunately, Anya has been very thorough.”

Anya looks pleased with herself. “I told him you made Kirill laugh.”

Viktor's eyebrows rise. “Now that’s impressive.”

“I know,” I say. “I'm considering putting it on my résumé.”

He pulls the armchair closer and sits, looking far more comfortable than any member of this family has a right to look in a hospital room.

I glance toward the door before I can stop myself.

Nikolai isn't there. And why would he? I’m sure he has other stuff to deal with.

Whatever it is he does that requires approximately forty bodyguards and a house with its own security perimeter. There is absolutely no reason for him to spend another morning sitting beside my hospital bed.

Still, disappointment settles briefly in my stomach.

Viktor notices my glance. “My brother had a meeting he couldn't move,” he says. “He asked me to check on you and bring Anya.”

I look back at him. “Oh. That's nice of him.”

Viktor's smile widens slightly. “Isn't it?”

I narrow my eyes. “Don't make it weird.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

Anya climbs back onto the edge of the bed.“Elle is coming home with us today,” she announces.

I look at her. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. I don't remember agreeing to that.”

“You said you would think about it.”

“I did, which is different from signing a legally binding contract.”

Viktor leans back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself.

Anya turns toward me with an expression of absolute determination. “But you're hurt, and you can't drive, and Papa said you need to rest, so you should come home where Galina can make you food and the doctor can check on you.”

I open my mouth. Then close it.

Because the annoying thing is that she has a point.

I cannot drive. I cannot work my usual jobs for at least a couple of weeks. And I don’t currently have a home I can comfortably recover in.

I have been sleeping on my friend Maya's couch for the past few weeks after my landlord told me to leave the apartment. The arrangement was supposed to last a few days while I found somewhere else, but a few days became two weeks, and then another week, and now I have developed the unpleasant habit of waking before Maya does so I can fold the blankets and make the living room look as though I haven't been occupying it.

She has never complained.

I can't exactly ask her to help me shower, cook for me, and watch me limp around her apartment for the next fortnight.

And Nikolai has offered me a place to stay.