I’m still kind of on automatic pilot as they carry Georgi into a room, and I stand to the side while they place him on a bed.
The woman takes hold of his hand and brushes her palm over his forehead. “Wake up. Please.”
When Atanas Petkov comes into the room with what looks like a first aid kit, the urge to tend to Georgi wars with my need to hide from the head of the Bulgarian mafia.
My need for survival wins out, and I slightly turn my back to him, hoping he doesn’t notice Simi and me.
“Nina,” Georgi suddenly mumbles, and my head snaps up, my gaze locking on him.
Seeing his eyes are open, but he looks dazed, I remain standing near the corner. I dare a glance at Atanas, but then luck abandons me once more, as his dark eyes lock on me.
My arms tighten around Simi, and I begin to shake my head.
“Georgi?” the woman asks.
“Hey,” he murmurs lovingly. “I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay,” she sobs while my gaze remains imprisoned by Atanas Petkov.
“Where is your father?” he asks, his tone promising nothing but endless days of pain.
My mouth dries right up, and I begin to tremble as I reply with a pleading tone, “I don’t know.”
Atanas takes threatening steps toward me, and as I cringe back, Mr. Torrisi darts between us. “No one touches them.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Georgi struggling into a sitting position. “Come here, Nina.”
I don’t hesitate for a second and rush to where the woman is still standing beside the bed.
She gives me a questioning look before turning it on Georgi.
“She’s Boris Pavlov’s daughter. She will know where his hiding spots are,” Atanas says. “We should get the information out of her as quickly as possible.”
Georgi locks eyes with me. “Do you know where he is?” I quickly shake my head, and it has him glaring at Atanas. “She doesn’t know.”
“She could be lying,” he argues.
“She isn’t!” Georgi snaps.
“Let’s talk outside while Georgi gets his wounds treated,” Mr. Torrisi says, and luckily, Atanas leaves the room with him.
Georgi slumps back and inhales a heavy breath, his eyes flicking between the woman and me. “Nina, this is Raya, my sister.”
Oh.
When Santino opens the first aid kit and begins to dig around in it, Georgi says, “Nina will take care of me.”
Figuring as long as I’m of use to Georgi, Simi and I will be spared from being tortured, I quickly set her down on the bed and reach for the antiseptic bottle and some gauze.
“Before you get started, I need to shower,” Georgi informs me as he begins to move off the bed.
“What if you pass out?” Raya asks as she moves closer to help him up.
“I’ll be with him,” Santino replies, coming around the bed.
I quickly drop the items on the covers and pick up my daughter. Scurrying out of the way, we end up by the window.
“Does it hurt?” she whispers. “Your face.”