Page 146 of His to Own

“My men will make sure he’s all right.”

“My father,” I gasp.

“Don’t talk,” Maxim comforts me. “I need you to stay strong. Just stay with me.”

“But my father –,” I cough and it comes up bloody.

“Elena. Please.” I can hear the desperation in Maxim’s voice and it makes me go quiet.

I can feel the life leaving my body. The air leaving my lungs. The darkness at the edge of my vision. This time, I don’t think I’m just going to pass out.

“Elena,” is the last thing I hear Maxim say right before the darkness overtakes me.

Maxim

Nikolai gets us to the hospital in under ten minutes from how fast he drove. I pick Elena up in my arms and carry her into the hospital. She’s not conscious and still bleeding out but I know she has a pulse. It’s weak but it’s there.

The doctors and nurses immediately take her away to a room I’m not allowed to follow.

Nikolai stands at my side. “We got here in time. She’s still alive.”

“Barely. She might not make it.” I frown. “What was she trying to say about her father? I told her not to talk. What if she was trying to tell me something and then she dies and I’ll never hear what she had to say?”

“Maxim.” Nikolai places his hand on my shoulder. “Just wait for news. All right? Before you completely spiral. I’ve never seen you like this. I have to admit, it’s a shock. You really care for Elena, don’t you?”

“I love her,” I growl. I know how much I mean it in this moment. No other words have ever felt more true.

“Then fight for her. Don’t give up yet. I need to let Lana know where we are. She’ll want to see her sister too.” He steps away to make the call.

I slump against the wall as everything inside of me disappears. All I can do is wait for news about my wife.

They have to bring Elena into surgery. But she’s still alive for now.

More waiting. Lana arrives as does Masha and Adriana. But Gregory doesn’t come.

“Where is he?” I snarl. “Your men helped him, didn’t they?”

“My man, Dimitri, told me he gave Gregory a ride home. Said that Gregory didn’t face any injuries.”

“What a fucking joke. Gregory, the asshole who has always treated my wife terribly, gets away with nothing while Elena is in surgery right now? All because that fucker Aleksander stabbed her. He needs to die, Nikolai. He needs to die.”

“I know. But there’s nothing we can do but wait.”

“Where is your husband?” I ask Masha.

“I don’t know. I left for the hospital before he returned home. I wasn’t going to wait when my daughter could die.”

“Fuck,” I spit out, running my hand down my face as I slump in one of the waiting chairs.

It’s Lana who comes over. I can feel her sit down beside me and after a beat, she sets her hand on my shoulder.

I look at her in shock. “You hate me. Why are you comforting me?”

“Because you care for my sister. I can tell. You wouldn’t be so upset otherwise. It makes me not hate you as much.”

“I do care for her. I love your sister.” The more I say it, the easier it becomes. Never have I told a woman I love her because I never did. Elena is my first in this area. Something new. I always knew there was a reason Elena fascinated me.

Lana’s eyes widen before they soften. “I’m glad. I know you haven’t hurt her. You fought for her. Elena needs someone in her corner. She never had our dad.”