Protected Slaves

8. Plans

"They claim that she took that bullet for Emily," a voice with a Russian accent said.

"She did sir," someone else replied. "The orphans backed the story up and several of your men and women searched the area for Winchester and he was nowhere to be seen. Now if you don't mind sir I need to attend to Rayla."

"Can I speak with her?"

"After I make sure that she is okay."

The sound of a curtain being opened echoed around the room. Footsteps grew closer to me but I had no intentions of opening my eyes, I was so tired. I was aware that someone was beside me.

"Rayla," the voice was gentle now as they called my name.

My eyes jerked open and disorientation swept through me. I don't remember being in this room. The last place I remember being in was the operating room. Beside me a monitor registered the acceleration of my heartbeat but it began to slow down when I realized where I was. One of the nurses from the surgery stood beside me with a small smile on her lips.

"Are you thirsty?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied, my voice echoing.

I frowned as I raised my hand to my face to feel that a mask was over it. I tried to rip it off but I was still half asleep and my fingers only slid over the plastic mask. The curtain was pulled back again and I looked up to see that nurse was walking back with a tiny container in her hands. She noticed that I was trying to get the mask off and she laughed.

"The amount of patients we have that try to do that," she said with a smile. She helped take it away from my face then handed the tiny container to me. "There isn't a big amount but the drip will help rehydrate you."

I tipped the small contents into my mouth which barely did anything but I knew best than to ask for more. I rested my head back against the pillow and sighed as the nurse took my blood pressure and temperature. She scribbled the readings down into a thin folder then placed it on a bedside table.

"Are you up for visitors?" the nurse asked.

I knew who stood outside these curtains and I knew that they would barge in and speak to me even if I rejected their visit. Viktor would want answers. He would want me to tell him something that could very well bring Miles and myself down. But I wouldn't give him anything he could use.

I wanted to tell the nurse no but I'd rather get this stupid meeting over and down with so I didn't have to face Viktor for the rest of my stay here in hospital.

"Yes," I told the nurse.

She nodded and slipped out between the curtains. I watched as Viktor stepped into the small space with his eyes narrowed at me as if I was faking my injury. Viktor took a seat beside the bed and I shivered to have him this close to me.

"So you took a bullet for someone," Viktor said, breaking the awkward silence that had settled around us.

"Yes," I replied.

"Who did you take it for?" Viktor asked.

"Emily," I answered evenly.

"Don't act like you're above suspicion, Westgate," Viktor snapped. "Did you provoke Tom Davidson to fire that gun at you."

"Are you kidding me?" I demanded.

Viktor seemed startled by my outburst. He leaned away from me with his lips pulled down into a thin line.

"I'm not kidding you," he replied evenly.

"You absolutely amaze me! I took a fucking bullet for my friend because it's something anyone would do for their friends. Tom went on a mental rage and attacked me in the bathroom then he turned on his friend Kellin and stabbed him in the stomach. Tom pulled a gun out and pointed it at Emily so I took it for her! Do you realize how old Emily is? Hmm? She's only thirteen and that bullet would have killed her if I hadn't taken it," I snapped. Beside me the heart monitor sped up as the anger surged through my body. I clenched the sheets in my hands to keep myself steady as I continued. My voice was softer now but just as menacing. "Before you even ask, Miles was nowhere near the dormitory during the attack. Just ask your precious Officials. They searched for him and they did not find him."