Don't look at me

[Sofia Vasilieva]

Pavel (Pasha) Vasiliev

Pavel stayed. He liaised with doctors, arranged a private suite, and assured security to his liking. There had been little in the way of conversation otherwise, in part because he doubted Maksim realised he was still there. Morphine would have flooded his system by now, robbing what little sense might remain. Even without it, Pavel suspected Maksim would understand little of what had transpired today. Or why. He stared for a long time, expression inscrutable.

“We need to have a talk, you and I,” he said as he stood. The hour had not yet passed, and the disposable wallet lay dormant in his pocket. Nina would be putting the children to bed by now. He decided he would call while he could.

In the sterile corridor, the click of heels announced Alina’s furious arrival. She crashed into his chest, and Pavel cupped the back of her head. “I’m sorry, Linochka,” he told her. Behind her Sofia followed at a slower pace, one of the family’s men at her heels. Her haughty gaze dissected the scene in silence.

Alina did not tremble, but he was none the less aware of the furnace of her emotions.

“Someone will pay for this,” she said. “You will make someone pay, Pasha.” She pushed away. No tears stained her cheeks. She was pale and fierce.

Sofia followed Alina to the threshold of the hospital room, but lingered in the doorway as their sister disappeared inside. Her brows arched for what she beheld. When she pulled away, the door closed with her.

“Put some fucking gloves on, Pasha, before she notices your hands.”

---

Alina Marveet

“Maksim?”

Alina’s heart beat like thunder in her chest. Her gaze roamed unabashed over the unimaginable state of him. Max did not move, and for a moment she wondered if he was unconscious, else that he might be so high on pain relief he did not even realise she was there. Nothing really shocked her, but seeing him like that broke her chest open. In the vapours was a terrible anger, but with him she set aside such feelings.

“Oh, Maksimka.” She perched on the bed with him, trying to be careful of how much he must hurt. Her hand reached for his, gentle of the taped line. She wondered if shame curled his face away. Everything was so swollen it was hard to read anything of his expression. She held it close, pressed against her stomach, cradled in both her own. Nothing yet showed. It was too early for scans, and for now it was still just a secret between the two of them. Family is an empire, her father had always been fond of saying. But theirs was an island.

He had been at the casino, she knew that much. But Sofia had fielded the call from their brother, and she had asked him no questions. Alina was not sure she truly wanted to know. She turned a blind eye to her family’s legacy, but in the back of her mind she had always wondered if something like this might happen. Max was too sweet-hearted to have ever truly considered what it meant to marry into the Vasilievs. She took his name without a blink, but it was never going to be enough to protect them.