Chapter 15

fifteen

Sergi

We're sitting in the waiting room, hoping for more news on Phoebe. I rub my hand through my hair. Al telling me that I have power of attorney was a shock, I hate she's put that on me, but I also understand why. Basil can't be allowed claim the inheritance for Selene, and he can't have legal say over her medical decisions, either. Avery is sitting sideways on my lap, her head in the crook of my neck as I play with her hair. She's been different since I returned from my phone call, and Dimitri and Maria keep looking over with concern. I saw them arguing on my way in. I shake my head and think back to my phone call with Juan, and sigh, placing my nose in Avery's hair, taking a deep breath.

I walk outside the hospital, not happy leaving Avery but knowing I must make this call. I press his number, and it rings four times before he answers.

"Sergi?"

I break. I lean against the wall just off the hospital entrance and I release a cry.

"Dad."

He takes a sharp intake of breath. "Sergi, what is it, son? What's wrong?" And I sob. I hear someone in the background. "Is that Sergi? Is he okay? Juan what's wrong with our son?" If I weren't falling apart, I'd scream at her that I'm not her son.

Juan ignores her. "Sergi? Talk to me, son, what's wrong?"

I rasp, "Its Phoebe. Mihai shot and stabbed her, and they don't think she'll survive." I hear an anguished.

Juan starts to sob, saying, "No," over and over.

"I can't lose her, she's my family. I can't," I murmur.

"Sergi, you listen to me, she's strong, she is. I'm on my way, do you hear me? I'm on my way. I love you, son." I sob and hang up, struggling with my emotions. I look up to the stars and fucking pray she makes it.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when Basil comes in and I sigh. Here we fucking go. I kiss Averys head and gently lay her down on the hard seats, putting my jacket under her head. I kiss her forehead, and she smiles a little in her sleep, making me smile. Then I head toward the commotion.

Basil's eyes are red while Selene looks smug, making me want to carve her eyes out. Fucking bitch.

"Any news?" he questions as Al gets closer. Al shakes his head, making Basil scowl. "This is fucking unacceptable. I'll go see what's happening." He goes to walk away, and I stand firm next to my brother.

Al says flatly, "They won't tell you anything."

Basil frowns. "Of course, they will, I am her next of kin. Her father."

Al sighs, already having enough, and I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for the fall out.

"You're not her next of kin, and you do not hold power of attorney." Selene pales a little, making me narrow my eyes at her, hers meet mine but she quickly looks away.

Basil laughs darkly. "No offense, Alexandr, but you two never married."

Al smirks. "I never said it was me, Basil. You have no legal right to find out anything regarding your daughter because, four months ago, she ensured you couldn't. The paperwork is airtight. I already spoke to her lawyer, he explained it. There're specific instructions, including who can have knowledge, if she were ever admitted to hospital. Neither you nor Selene are on that list."

"She fucking made Juan her power of attorney? That won't stick, we can say she was coerced into signing it." I chuckle darkly, getting Basil's attentions. "This isn't fucking funny, boy. My daughter may be dying, I need to ensure she gets the correct care and isn't kept on a ventilator for months. She won't want to be a fucking vegetable."

Selene chimes in, pissing me off even more, "We also need to ensure my grandmother's inheritance isn't given to the wrong people."

I smirk at her. I'm still covered in my cousin's blood, and my rage is building. I need Avery in my arms now, so I say, "Well, considering she made all these plans behind everyone's back, being coerced into signing shit won't stand. And as for her being on a ventilator, if she makes it off the operating table, I will decide what happens with her care. Ss for the inheritance, you, Selene, will be getting fuck all." Both Selene and Basil look at Al, confused, then look at me wide eyed.

Al states, "My woman made her blood cousin her power of attorney. Sergi gets final say, Sergi gets any inheritance, Sergi gets your house. Since he is also a blood relative to Athena, and the legal documents were personally signed by Juan in acceptance, Athena's blood son, you two can't do fuck all." Selene's face goes bright red, and Al looks at Basil. "I called you because she's your daughter, but by the shit you just spewed about her being a ‘vegetable,' and Selene instantly chiming in about the inheritance, you don't actually give a fuck. You let that bitch get in your head on the way here, as usual, listening to the evil one. Stay out of my fucking way." He turns to take a seat, and I glare at them both.

I go back to my woman who woke up during the heat of the drama. I pick her up and sit her back in my lap, and Selene furrows her brows at me. I ignore her, placing my girl's head back in the crook of my neck, my hand back in her hair, playing with it. Instantly, my rage is calmed. Avery's nose moves along my neck, and she takes a deep breath, breathing me in. I close my eyes, my mind all over the place. How can I keep this precious creature safe when I failed my cousin?

Two more hours later, and the doors open again, and the doc comes in. His scrubs are covered in blood. I quickly get up. I help Avery stand and I hold her hand, following Al toward where the doctor is standing.

"It was touch and go; we lost her a few times on the table. I managed to save her bowel and her lung. Her esophagus is badly bruised, but should heal just fine, and she has a concussion from head trauma." My heart stops as he continues, "The bullet was 1 mm from her heart. It was lodged in her chest cavity, and she'd lost a lot of blood, but she survived the surgery."

My knees go weak as Avery holds me up.

"The next forty-eight hours are going to be the most critical; she's not out of the woods yet." He clears his throat. "She is in an induced coma. We'll try weening her out of it in three to four days, but I don't know if she will wake." Damian and Dimitri hold Al up, and the doc continues, "If she does wake up, we're not 100% sure she will be the same again. Each time she had to be revived, she was losing oxygen to her brain. If she wakes, she may be awake but she might not be there, or she may not have her memories, or even her speech and motor skills. We won't know until she wakes up." He reaches forward and squeezes Al's shoulder as tears fall from my eyes. "I'm sorry, Alexandr, but her chances are not high at the moment. All we can do is wait and pray that she fights." Then he turns to leave as Al roars in pain. I fall apart, sobbing in Avery's arms while she murmurs against me, squeezing me tight. I hold on to her just as tight.

An hour later, we're allowed to see Phoebe. Avery gives me a sweet kiss and says she'll wait in reception, because only blood family are allowed in. I make sure Al goes in first with me, much to Basil's disappointment. When we get to her room, I instantly sob. Al walks up to her, grabbing her hand, and kneels near her bed. I use to the door to keep myself upright. Her face is pale, and wires and tubes weave around her like spider webs. I shake my head and walk over to her. I lean down and give her a kiss on the forehead.

I whisper, "You have to wake up for us, we need you." I walk over to Al and squeeze his shoulder, then leave to let Damian and Sofia come in next so I can get Avery home. As I head to her, I notice her sitting in a chair staring at the wall. I scrunch my eyebrows; she's still acting weird since I left her in the Volkov's care to call Juan. I shake my head; I can't deal with whatever drama she has going on right now. It's probably something pathetic anyway, because the Volkov's are the best people I know.

I have to think of Phoebe.

I sigh, realizing I need to put the brakes on our relationship for a little while. She hears my footsteps and looks up to see me walking toward her, she gives me a small smile, but I don't return it, knowing I need to distance myself from her for now. I take her hand, walking us out to my car. I help her in, then go round to the driver's side, and for the first time in months, I don't take her hand.

Forty-five minutes later, we arrive at her apartment. She furrows her brows in confusion. I sigh again and murmur, "I just need some time to myself."

She looks at me and nods, pain lacing her expression, but I stay strong as she leans over, and places a gentle kiss to my mouth. I don't return it. She nods again and gets out, knowing I'm not going to open her door for her. I feel like shit, not making sure to walk her to her door, but I just need some time right now. I rev my engine, and once she shuts the door, I speed off, heading back to the hospital.

I don't know how long I sit here, watching Phoebe's chest move up and down with the help of the ventilator, while Al holds her hand, keeping his head next to their joined hands. The door opens and a woman barges in. She gasps at the sight of Phoebs, her hazel eyes fill with tears, her black hair in disarray. A man, about my height, with my green eyes and my blond hair, walks in behind her, his eyes also fill with tears. Al lifts his head and nods at them, then he leans over and kisses Phoebe's forehead, then looks at me, pain etched all over his face, but not just pain for his love, also for me because of who just walked in the room.

He gives me a nod and I nod back, and he leaves the room. Juan looks my way, and his tears fall when his eyes meet my cold ones. I'm not in the mood to deal with him tonight. His wife Valerie looks my way, and she gasps. I get she sees me as her son, but I don't see her as a mother. I had one and a great one at that, I don't want or need another one, though I know she's innocent in all this. This man lied to my mother, got her pregnant, and left her. Valerie's only crime was staying with the man. But I also know she would of tried to take me if she had known, and that is also a crime in my eyes; my mother was my world.

I shake my head at them. I can't deal with this. I get up. and kiss Phoebe's forehead. I whisper, "I'll be back soon, Phoebe Pie." Then I turn and walk out without saying a word to them. I nod to Peter, who was put on guard duty by Basil. Well, he volunteered.

I hear Valerie sob, but I keep walking.