34. Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Aleksandr

The gasps from the other diners echoed through the restaurant, slicing through the air like a knife. My heart pounded as I watched Talia collapse, her body crumpling to the floor. The restaurant, with its ornate chandeliers and richly adorned walls, suddenly felt like a cage. I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I gently cupped her face. The golden light from the chandelier above cast a halo around her, but her face was pale, lifeless.

"Talia, wake up," I urged, my voice raw with panic. "Please, wake up."

My eyes scanned her body, landing on a small puncture mark on her neck. It was a tiny, almost insignificant wound, but its effect was catastrophic. I clenched my jaw, fury, and fear intertwining as I turned to shout orders at Anton and Ivan. The room buzzed with the murmur of concerned diners, their faces blurring together, their whispers growing louder.

A restaurant worker rushed over, phone in hand. "I've called 9-1-1. An ambulance is on its way," she said, her voice trembling, her wide eyes filled with fear.

I barely acknowledged her, my focus entirely on Talia. I held her close, whispering words of comfort that I hoped she could hear. My hands were warm and strong, contrasting with the cold numbness spreading through her body. Time seemed to stretch, each second an eternity, until finally, the wail of sirens pierced the air, a sound that was both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of fear.

Paramedics burst into the restaurant, their efficient movements contradicting with the chaos that had enveloped the room. Their uniforms were a blur of blue and white as they quickly assessed the situation, lifting Talia onto a stretcher and securing her in place with practiced precision. My grip on her hand tightened, my eyes never leaving hers.

"She's my wife," I said urgently to the paramedics, my voice cracking with emotion, "and she's pregnant. I'm coming with her."

The paramedics exchanged glances but didn't argue, allowing me to climb into the ambulance. I held Talia's hand, my knuckles white with tension, as the ambulance sped towards the hospital. The city lights blurred past, a kaleidoscope of colors that matched the confusion in my mind. The siren's wail seemed to match the rhythm of my heart, fast and erratic.

At the hospital, everything moved quickly. Nurses and doctors surrounded her, their voices blending into an incomprehensible hum, an ensemble of urgency. The bright fluorescent lights and sterile white walls were jarring compared to the restaurant's rich, warm hues. I stayed close, reluctant to let go of her hand. A stern-looking nurse eventually ushered me out of the exam room.

"I'm her husband," I insisted, my voice breaking with desperation and determination. "I need to be with her."

The nurse looked at me sympathetically but stood firm. "You need to wait outside, sir. We'll take care of her."

My eyes blazed with frustration, but I complied, stepping back into the waiting room where Dimitri was already pacing, his footsteps echoing in the sterile corridor. We exchanged a glance, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on us.

"What happened?" Dimitri asked, his voice low and tense, his usually calm demeanor replaced with worry.

I ran a hand through my hair, my face marked with anguish. "Someone injected her with something. There was a puncture mark on her neck."

Dimitri's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "Do you think it was Vic?"

My jaw tightened, my eyes flashing with anger. "It has to be. Who else would dare?"

"Dr. Daria is here. She'll help Talia," Dimitri ensured.

We lapsed into a tense silence, the only sound the steady rhythm of my pacing, a metronome of barely contained rage. Dimitri tried to calm me, placing a hand on my shoulder, but it was clear that I was barely holding it together. The fear of losing Talia had taken me by surprise, and the worry about the baby was an added weight on my shoulders, a burden I could scarcely bear.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number with trembling fingers, the device shaking in my grip. "Tommy," I barked when the call connected. "I need to know where Vic is hiding. Now ," I growled.

Tommy Lansky's voice cracked through the phone, the connection slightly distorted. "Aleksandr, what happened?"

"Someone attacked Talia," I snapped, my voice a razor's edge. "They injected her with something, and she's unconscious. I need to find Vic."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Let me think. He could be at any of his old hideouts. He's been flying under my radar. Word on the street is that he knows I'm aware of his disloyalty. He might be at the warehouse on Fifth, the abandoned factory near the docks, or that cabin upstate. He's been known to use those places before. I'll have my men search all three places."

I nodded, my mind racing, each location forming a vivid picture. "Send me the addresses, and if your men find him, I need to be the first to know. Talia's life depends on it."

I ended the call, my resolve hardening like steel. "We'll find him," I said to Dimitri, my voice deadly calm. "I won't let him get away with this."

An hour crawled by, each minute stretching into an eternity, the sterile surroundings of the hospital only amplifying the tension. Finally, Dr. Daria emerged from the exam room, her expression grave, the weight of her news pressing on her visibly. Dimitri and I rushed over, our faces etched with worry, our breaths held.

"Aleksandr, we identified the drug. It's a powerful paralytic. She's stable, but we're administering an antidote through an IV. We need to keep Talia here overnight to monitor the baby and her condition."

My shoulders sagged with relief, but my eyes remained stormy, a tempest of emotions brewing beneath the surface. "Can I see her?"

Dr. Daria nodded, her eyes softening. "Yes, but only for a few minutes. She needs rest."

Dimitri and I followed Dr. Daria into the room. Talia lay on the hospital bed, her face pale but peaceful, an IV drip attached to her arm, the soft beep of the monitors a reassurance of life. I sat beside her, taking her hand in mine, my eyes filled with fear and determination, my thumb brushing soothing circles on her skin.

"I'm here, Talia," I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. "I won't leave you."

Dimitri stood by the door, his presence a silent reassurance, his ordinarily stoic expression softened by concern. His eyes met mine, an unspoken promise passing between us. We would stay by her side and protect her at all costs, our loyalty unwavering.

As the hours passed, my worry transformed into a fierce resolve, my eyes dark with determination. I would find Vic, no matter what it took. The man who killed Mikhail and dared to harm Talia would pay dearly for his actions. My eyes burned with a dangerous light, a promise of retribution that was terrifying and comforting.

Dimitri tried to get me to rest, but I refused, my gaze never leaving Talia's face. The night dragged on, the hospital's quiet hum a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me, each second a battle against the helplessness that threatened to overwhelm me. My mind raced, planning and calculating, my thoughts a whirlwind of strategies and scenarios. I wouldn't rest until I knew Talia was safe and the threat was eliminated.

In the early hours of the morning, a nurse entered to check Talia's vitals. Her movements were efficient and practiced. She gave me a sympathetic smile. "She's doing well," she said softly, her voice a balm to my frayed nerves. "The antidote is working. She should wake up soon."

I nodded, my grip on Talia's hand tightening, my eyes never leaving her face. I leaned in close, my voice a low, fervent whisper. "Come back to me."

The nurse left the room, leaving Dimitri and me alone with Talia. The silence was heavy with unspoken fears and hopes. My eyes never wavered, and I focused entirely on her, willing her to wake up and be okay. This is my fault. I selfishly took her out of the mansion, out in the open, where Vic got to her. Guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Talia's eyes fluttered, although her breathing remained even and calm. I glanced at Dimitri, our bond strengthened by the shared ordeal. We would find Vic, and we would make him pay for this. But for now, we stayed by Talia's side, our presence a shield against further harm, our resolve unbreakable.