Fate Intended (The Coulter Men Series Book 3) (24 page)

Chapter 31

Midnight approached and there was no change in Anya’s condition. Trip looked across the bed at the haggard Viktor. He looked years older in the middle of the night than he did earlier in the day. Trip whispered into the half-lit room, “Mr. Sarkhov. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll stay here. I swear she’ll be safe.”

Viktor shook his head no. “I have to explain to my daughter why I lied to her. I cannot take the chance that she will be angry with me.”

“I could call you at the first signs of her waking. You need sleep.”

“I am afraid that if I leave here, I could lose her. She is all the family I have.”

Trip looked at him with sympathy. “I understand. You just look tired.”

“Well, you look like hell too, boy. You willing to leave?”

“If you aren’t quiet, I’m going to make you both leave.” The voice below them was small and weak. They were both up and out of their seats in a flash. Both saying her name…Anya. Jane. She opened her eyes a sliver, then closed them again as if the effort was draining. She smiled. Then nodded back off to sleep.

Viktor and Trip waited, both suddenly alert and watching for signs of liveliness.

As the dawn broke, she started to stir a little more, her hands squeezing theirs as they held onto her. At 7 AM, the doctor came to her room, checked her charts, her vital signs, and her pupils. He sighed and nodded. “I’m not going to give her any more sedation. She seems fine. All the scans seem normal. You guys will be here?”

“Yes.”
“Da.”
They answered in unison.

“Good then. Let me know when she wakes and we’ll check her neurological functioning.” He wrapped his stethoscope around his neck, stuck his pen in his pocket, and left without another word.

Trip and Viktor looked at each other, their faces hopeful, yet scared by the possibility of more complications. “She will be fine,” they assured each other in unison.

Demetry went to get coffee and breakfast; and to make the mandatory call to Sasha with an update. He brought back a bag of breakfast food. It sat unopened on the hospital tray. The coffee cooled untouched. The noise in the hallway increased as more staff arrived at work and visitors trickled into the building. Sasha and Frankie came and went. Nurses checked in and the doctor came back. He checked her over, frowned and left.

Viktor’s brow furrowed. He rubbed his chin with his hand. Scratched his head. Then he announced, “Demetry and I are going for walk. Last night, she smiled when you talked to her. Talk to her again.”

He motioned to Demetry and they were gone. Trip moved out of his seat and sat on the side of her bed. He brushed her hair back from her face and spoke quietly, “Jane, baby. Can you hear me?”

Nothing.

He tried again a little louder. “Jane. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I love you. I….” He wasn’t sure what to say. He just spoke what was in his heart, “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I’m sorry that I ever lied to you.” Stroking her cheek he kept talking. “I love you and I’m so scared right now. I’m scared that I’m going to lose you.”

He had to take a minute. Glancing out of the window, the clouds still moved steadily across the sky. His fingers smoothed her hair; his words came hoarse and choked from a constricting throat. “I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t do this whole life thing without you. I need you.”

No response from Jane. He rested his head on the bed beside hers and whispered, “Hey, God, I know I’m like this brat kid who only calls when I need a favor, but damn it, she’s a good woman. Please?”

He choked on the words. He couldn’t wipe the image from his mind of her body being lowered into the earth. It was a morbid thought, but one his mind couldn’t shake. Tears fell freely down his cheeks, landed in wet splotches on her blanket. He didn’t know how long he sat there, begging, praying, telling her of the happiest moments with her, his plans for their future. He was almost out of words and hope, when a hand touched his cheek. His eyes flashed open and his head spun toward the hand.

“What is wrong, Trip?” Her voice was weak, but she spoke. “Why are you crying?”

“What’s wrong?” His tears mingled with an exuberance that could only be called euphoria.

“Yes. What’s wrong?” she asked. Her face was contorted with concern. Her thumb brushed against his wet cheeks.

“I thought I’d lost my best friend.”

“Frankie?”

“No, you. You were supposed to wake up hours ago.”

“I was?”

“Yes. You were.”

“So, you…”

“I was petrified. Scared shitless.”

“Over me?”

“Yes, you.” He kissed her hand.

“Trip, there are things I need to tell you.” She tried to sit up and winced. She lay back down on the pillows. She touched her throat with her hands. “My throat hurts.”

He dried his eyes and got her a glass of ice water. “You’ve been through a lot, baby. We will talk later.”

She was quiet a moment. “I remember. You came for me.” She closed her eyes a moment. “Nikki? What happened to Nikki?”             

“He’s gone.” Trip’s brow furrowed deep.

“Did you kill him?”

Trip nodded. “If there had been any other way, but he was ready to take a shot at you… well he did…it was my bullet that made him jerk and miss hitting you between the eyes.”

“I remember now. Poor Nikki.”

“I’m sorry, Jane.”

“It is not your fault. I just wish my brother could be a different person, you know?”

Trip nodded. He gripped her hand harder. He was afraid she’d hate him…throw him out of her life.

“Was I dreaming? I heard Poppa’s voice.”

“He is here. Him and Demetry went for a walk.”

“Really?” Her eyes sparkled. “So Nikki was right. He did fake his death. He is alive?”

“Yes. He’s alive and he has been here all night. I made him leave…he looks tired.”

Jane laughed. “You made Poppa leave. I doubt that. He is up to something.” Jane looked around the room and breathed the heavy scent of roses. “Ahh, Poppa’s roses. Those and a man declaring his love for me…what a way to wake up.”

Trip leaned down and kissed her gently, careful not to hurt her. He rubbed his nose against hers. “I’m so sorry for everything. I never should have lied to you.”

“I lied to you too, Trip. I understand.” She touched his cheek, tears sprang to her eyes. “I love you too much to care. You could tell me you were Stalin and I would still love you.”

“Viktor is worried you will be angry he lied to you. And I think Demetry is a little on edge too, though it’s hard to tell, he’s so talkative.”

“Sounds like Demetry, but I knocked him out a window, he’s….”

“Fine. Alive and kicking. Still working with your father. There were blanks in the gun he fired at Viktor. When you attacked him, they worked it into the plan.”

“It wasn’t very nice of them. I suffered horribly thinking my poppa was dead. Thinking Demetry was a traitor.”

“They were afraid if they were honest with you, you might not maintain the ruse of being dead. That you might tell people you were alive so they wouldn’t suffer.”

“Oh, no! I hadn’t thought of that! Aunt Tilley. She must be crushed. Has Poppa told her? She needs to know. She doesn’t have anyone but me. It was bad enough for her to think I was a criminal, but to think me dead….”

“And it seems Viktor was right.”

“Right?”

“You would have told.”

“Only Aunt Tilley.”

“And that would have been one too many.” He held her hand. “Seems Viktor knows you, too well. I’m certain Nikki was watching Tilley, probably had her phone tapped.”

“Oh, Nikki. I never trusted him, but never dreamed he was such a bad guy.”

“The worst. Frankie and Sasha told me your dad helped shut down several front orphanages that were feeding children to the sex trade.”

She clutched her stomach. “I will be ill. Tell me you lie. No one does that?”

Trip frowned.

Jane closed her eyes and frowned. “Why are people so evil?”

“Your dad did what he had to stop it. When Nikki thought his family was dead and he was free to operate the business on his own, he got sloppy. Your dad didn’t hide to hurt you. He did it to protect you. The good people beat the evil ones.”

“This time.”

“And next time. There’s more good than bad in this world.”

“You really think that?”

“I do.”

Gripping his hand, she sighed. “I hope you are right.”

“It’s just one bad man can do a lot of harm, and it took several teams of people to stop him. Hell, even Sasha’s fat friend was in on it.”

“Fatty?”

“Yep, seems Fatty is a champion for good.”

“So, he’s not cheating on his wife?”

Trip shrugged and let out a chuckle. “Hell if I know about that, but we’ll call the man innocent…he saved your father by planting his own mole, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt.”

“Fatty did what?” She pressed fingertips to a tender forehead. “Oh, never mind, I will sort it all out later. All this thinking makes my head ache.”

“You said I was to be first called.” A voice from the door boomed.

“Poppa!” Not a single feeling beyond elation spread through her veins. She held out her arms, calling him in for a hug.

“I’m sorry I killed you.” He stepped into the room and hugged his daughter. “And as soon as we started looking into the vile business… accidents started to happen. Too many accidents to be by chance,” Viktor explained.

“Trip explained everything. You are a wise poppa, always looking out for me.” Tears overwhelmed her and her body shook. He felt so warm and sturdy under her arms, like the most wondrous wish come true. Nikki said he was alive. Trip said he was alive. But the full reality of her father returning in the flesh to hug her was more than she could imagine.

“I’m sorry.” Viktor’s words were choked.

Jane shook her head. “No, no. I am happy. I’m so happy. These…I swear…happy tears!”

Jane held onto his hand as he pulled away. She looked past her father to Demetry. “Sorry I killed you, Demetry.”

“Is okay, little mouse.”

She grinned at him, her heart glad that her bodyguard and companion since she was but a wee girl was someone she could love and trust. She turned to Viktor. “I am glad you are alive too, Poppa. I was so sad without you.”

“I am sorry,
milaya moya
…these were dangerous times.”

“It’s all right, Poppa. I am just glad to have you back.” She smiled at him, glassy eyed and radiant. Trip gave her shoulder a squeeze. She looked up at him and his heart flip-flopped. He couldn’t help but lean down and kiss her. Her hand wound its way under his collar, stroking the strong flesh of his neck.

“Whatever happened to waiting on my blessings, son?”

Trip grinned down at her and said without looking back at Viktor. “Your dad can’t decide whether or not he likes me.”

Jane bit her lip and cringed. She looked up at her father who winked and smiled. Jane whispered in Trip’s ear, “How do you make people love you so much?”

“I must just have a way with Sarkhovs.” He glanced up at Viktor, cleared his throat as he stepped back and said, “But I better not press my luck.”

Epilogue: Six months later

Viktor kissed his daughter’s cheek, then took a step back and smiled. “You are lovely,
devochka
. I never got to see you as a baby, but you will always be my baby girl.”

Anya smiled. “Yes, of course, Poppa.” She adjusted the roses in her bouquet. “These roses are lovely, but I can’t wait for you to get back to growing your own.”

“
Da
. I am buying a house on the beach. I am going to live where I am warm, where I can garden in the sunshine, not a house.”

“You’re not going back to Russia?”

“Course not. My baby is here. You will have little ones. I will be…what is American? I will be Grand Poppa. Sounds good.” He sat his girth on a chair by the window and looked out over DC. “No, Anya, I am staying here. Maybe I go to island like Trip’s family. I like it there. Not so far from my Anya.”

“Oh, Poppa!” Anya cried and kneeled down to hug him. “I couldn’t be happier.” Tears burned her eyes. She pressed at her eyes gently not wanting to mess up the make-up Sasha had so carefully applied.

There was a tap at the door. Anya gave her father another glowing smile, then hurried to answer. It was Trip’s mother. Anya blushed a little, but stepped back to allow her to enter. She brought her two daughter-in-laws with her. The ever cheerful and difficult not to love, Mollie; and the ever quiet, yet equally as difficult not to love, Jenna. Barbara cleared her throat and nodded a greeting to Viktor. She then turned her attention to Anya. “Anya. Dear. I wanted to give you a gift.” She handed over a velvet-lined box.

Anya opened it to find a diamond-encrusted bracelet with a single red stone in the middle. “It is a garnet,” Barbara explained. “Rowan’s birth stone. He is my last single child and I gladly give him to you.”

Jane touched the red stone affectionately. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

“Thank you.” Barbara gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for not holding it…”

“Enough.” Anya held up her hand to stop the apologies. “We are family, no? Family forgives. Family understands.”

Barbara turned to Viktor, who had risen upon her entry, and shook his hand. “And you, sir, thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter.”

“I must not take all the credit. Her Aunt Tilley had a big hand.”

“Anya has spoken of her. Too bad she couldn’t make it to the wedding. But I understand why she and Rowan wanted to hurry and marry before he left on another assignment.”

Anya frowned. “Yes, I wish Aunt Tilley could be here too. But I have my new family…and Poppa…and Sasha. Sasha? Where has Sasha gone to? Where is the maid of honor?”

Jenna’s cheeks flushed. “She said something to me, but I don’t remember. The boys were shooting each other with fake guns and using the ring pillows as shields, so I was pre-occupied. Dear Lord, I hope they settle down before the ceremony. Mollie?”

“She helped me diaper the girls, but I don’t recall her saying she was going anywhere. I assumed she was coming back here.”

“She will be here. You can trust Sasha to keep her word,” Viktor assured.

Anya nodded slowly, bride nerves suddenly fluttering in her belly. She tried to maintain a pleasant conversation with her future in-laws, but couldn’t keep from looking over their heads and scanning the crowd every time the sanctuary door swung open. She let out a squeal when she spotted a glimpse of red moving toward her.              

Sasha blushed as she approached and Anya teased, “I thought maybe you snuck off from me…again!” Anya hadn’t let her off the hook for sneaking away and marrying Frankie without so much as a word to anyone. And then she hid the fact that she was expecting, forcing Anya to interrogate her for the truth after she so very noticeably gave up vodka and cigarettes.

It still amazed Anya. Her usually attachment-free friend was married and expecting while she and Trip were still in “dating” mode as mandated by her father. She hadn’t had a moment alone with Trip for two months. Demetry was always with her, trailing right behind just like at home. He sat a row behind at the movies and a table away at dinner. Anya hadn’t managed much more than a peck good night since she left the hospital. She told her father it was because Trip was headed out of country for the hasty nuptials, but quite honestly, if she didn’t get some alone time with Trip soon, she was going to go insane!

“I always have good reasons for what I do, Miss Anya! I was rounding up lost family,” Sasha said as she pulled a short, plump middle-aged woman through the door.

“Aunt Tilley!” Anya hopped up and down like a happy child before running to her aunt and throwing her arms around her, patting her back with her bouquet of roses.

“I wanted to tell you I was coming, but then Viktor said to surprise you. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I would’ve come some months ago, but there was a mix-up with my passport. Seems I was placed on a watch list. Seems your Nikki had me tagged and watched by Scotland Yard. Can’t say I’m crushed that the bloke is dead, horrible sport he always was.”

“You’re here. Thank you. This is so perfect. I am so happy.”

“I brought you your grandmother’s pearl earrings. Isn’t that a tradition in America too? Something borrowed? I was to wear them when I married, but…” She looked flustered then fussed on, “No matter. You will do them proud.”

“You need something blue.” Mollie chimed in. “But I was busy with the girls and never thought about it.”

Anya shrugged. “No matter.”

“Not so fast.” Jenna grabbed a blue marker from a Sunday school desk and pulled down Anya’s long white glove. She drew a tiny bouquet of hearts, inscribed it with “forever” on her wrist, then pulled the glove back up to cover it.

Mollie ticked off the criteria, “We have the borrowed and the blue…now, something old.”

Viktor pulled a coin from his pocket. “I found this digging for dinosaur bones as a boy. My brother told me it was gold. I have always considered it a good luck charm.” He handed it to Mollie and she directed Anya to slip it in her shoe.

“Something new?” Jenna reminded.

“I have my bracelet.” Anya shook her glittering wrist in the air.

“Looks like you ladies have covered all the bases.” Barbara smiled at the three ladies, her eyes a little glazy, but her jaw firm.              

The wedding planner popped her head in the room. “Okay, guys, need you to take your places. We’re about to begin.” She looked at Anya. “You ready?”

She nodded and turned to Viktor who took her arm in his. Aunt Tilley and her new family gave her hugs as they headed toward their seats. Sasha kissed her cheek and grabbed her bouquet from the table. “I guess I go first.”

Anya nodded. An electric thrill ran down her spine. It was time! She turned to her father. “So, do I look all right, Poppa?”

“More lovely than a princess. I am proud of you, Anya. You are a strong and beautiful woman. I owe your Aunt Tilley much. I am going to ask her to stay with me in the states. I can buy a house with many rooms. No need for her to live alone. ”

They walked toward the door of the sanctuary. “Poppa, that is a wonderful idea. Do you think she will?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I think I should have asked long ago.”

Anya raised an eyebrow at her father.

Viktor laughed and patted her hand. “Nothing to tell, daughter. Your aunt always respected your mother. But she is gone. Time to move on.”

Anya grinned. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he lifted the veil over her head and concealed her beneath its gossamer shimmer.

As the wedding march grew louder, Anya felt a tremor of fear. There were hundreds of people out there and she didn’t know more than twenty of them. Her knees started to shake. What if she tripped; what if she forgot her vows…and God forbid, what if she slipped up and cursed? Her mouth was dry and her hands shook as she took her first step into the great expanse of the cathedral. Her father squeezed her arm gently, but it did nothing to quell the panic. Everyone was standing, looking at her.

She moved on shaky legs to the aisle. Looking past the multitudes of people and the flash of lights as photographs were snapped, to the man waiting on her. He smiled as he waited…on her, to begin their future… together. The sounds and sights of the church melted away. She felt like she floated to the altar, carried by unseen angels who glorified in the day with her. When Trip took her hand in his, it was sturdy, warm, secure. He was hers forever…now if only…forever could ever be long enough.