Fractured Ties by Bethany-Kris Page 0,43
at that statement, proving to her that he absolutely could hear their conversation, despite how quiet they were being.
The doctor glanced over his shoulder and looked right at Konstantin then, asking, “Oh, have you found yourself something more than a friend, Konstantin? Wouldn’t have taken you for the type, all things considered.”
Just how well did this doctor know the Boykovs? If it was quite well, as the doctor’s statement suggested, Maya supposed it made sense now why Konstantin demanded they be taken to this clinic instead of a closer hospital. Not to mention why the doctor had come in like he was on call for Konstantin.
“Not my anything,” Konstantin countered. “Try Kolya, no?”
The doctor tensed, glanced back at Maya warily, and then quickly back to Konstantin. “Seriously?”
Konstantin shrugged one shoulder, but otherwise didn’t move another muscle or speak. No, simply a shrug as his confirmation, and nothing else. Maya didn’t quite know what to make of that, really.
“Well, then,” the doctor said as his attention came back to Maya and he began cleaning her scratches again. Although now, his voice was a little more hesitant than before, she noticed. “Let’s just worry about getting you—”
It was a crash outside the closed door that stopped the doctor from saying anything more. Well, that and a familiar voice shouting at someone else.
“Zatknis! Move, right now.”
“What is your problem, Kolya?”
“Get the fuck out of my way before I force you out of it.”
Nothing more was said, instead the door crashed open with a bang as Kolya barreled into the room. Towering over six feet, his shoulders wide enough to fill the door frame, and cold blue eyes zoning straight in on Maya the second he could see her. It was like he didn’t see anything else, didn’t check for anyone else, and didn’t care about a thing but her.
She blinked.
And he was still there.
Still staring at her.
Still moving closer.
Still ignoring the world around him.
Silently, the doctor stepped aside when Kolya reached the middle of the room. He had all the medical supplies on the bed quickly scooped up before Kolya even came to stand in front of Maya, and moved entirely away from the line of fire without as much as a word of hello.
And then there was Kolya.
Eyes full of storms.
Stiffness in his jaw.
Rage in the set of his frown.
Softness in his hands.
He reached for her without asking, and she didn’t mind a bit. He cupped her face in his two large palms with careful hands, and she couldn’t help but smile a little when his thumbs stroked her cheeks but only ghosted over the scratches. She saw fury flash in his gaze when his eyes drifted toward the bruise above her left eye.
He was harsh.
His stance.
His aura.
Him.
He was cold, and firm, and unmoved.
And yet, his touch was soft, and sweet, and warm.
“I’m okay,” Maya said. “I am.”
She was a lot better now that he was there.
Kolya made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like a noncommittal grunt—as though he neither agreed nor disagreed with her statement and he didn’t trust himself to speak. Maya didn’t know where to begin or end with this man.
Maybe that was the problem.
He couldn’t be figured out.
He wasn’t meant to be understood.
He simply was.
Konstantin cleared his throat loudly, saying, “If we’re all done making others feel awkward, yeah, a quick chat would be nice.”
Kolya’s jaw stiffened, but he was quick to toss over his shoulder, “Speak, then.”
Even as he spoke to his brother, Kolya didn’t let go of Maya or look away from her. It was almost like he thought if he did let her go or look away, circumstances would change. She wouldn’t be okay or she would be gone entirely. She could practically feel that fear vibrating from his very person, yet she kept quiet.
“The run down, then,” Konstantin said. “I took care of the one Albanian—Tomor, no?”
Maya nodded at the question. “Yeah, that one.”
Kolya’s scowl deepened. “He was the guard with the Albanian that Vadim was meeting with earlier when I got to the Compound.”
He was looking at her.
But he spoke to Konstantin.
Across the room, Maya saw Konstantin nod at the statement before he replied with, “My apologies on getting there a little bit late, yeah?”
Kolya’s gaze dragged its way over Maya’s scrapes and bruises again, and not for one single second did she think his rage was in any way quelled over it. “Move on, brat.”
Konstantin cleared his throat. “And speaking of the Compound—I pulled some strings and