Saving Katya (11 page)

“I said I’d pay for it.”

“You know...” Debra’s amiable disposition faded as she stared at him. “She gave up endorsement deals, a promising career, and she never regretted it for a second because look what she got in return. That beautiful little girl.” Debra tightened her lips and went silent, as if biting her tongue. Finally she gave him a what-the-hell look and said, “Her pride is the only thing she came out of this with intact. So what...you want to take that away from her, too?”

No. No, he didn’t. But he didn’t want to stand by and watch her lose her eyesight either. Especially when he could help. “So how do I give her money without her knowing?”

CHAPTER NINE

THE NEXT MORNING
,
Alexei pushed open the door to Kate’s hospital room and he and Debra stepped inside. Katya was lying on top of the covers beside Kate, and they were watching TV, Clash of the Gods. Alexei was familiar with the show and was impressed that a seven year old—his child—was lying there soaking up the docudrama.

Kate glanced toward the doorway and the happy look that’d graced her face seconds before faded when her gaze met Alexei’s. At least Alexei knew why now, and it had nothing to do with him. It was all about the secrets she’d been trying so hard to hide. And she assumed she still had one hidden. Thank God Debra told him. He had to help Kate, whether she wanted his assistance or not.

He looked at Katya lying there beside her mother. In a way, she reminded him of his sister Ana at that age. Of course, Ana was all grown up now and living in Paris. He’d tried to get her to come to the US, but she preferred Europe. If the Senator had her way, Alexei may well be paying his sister a visit very soon. The thought of leaving Kate again, and now Katya, left Alexei with a renewed ache in his heart that he’d only felt one other time—when he’d been dragged away from Kate eight years ago. But this time he wasn’t only being forced away from Kate, but his daughter, too.

Katya was his. Alexei tightened his lips, hoping to hold back the overwhelming emotions threatening to escape in the form of tears. They both looked helpless and vulnerable lying there together.

The urge to climb onto the bed and gather them both into his arms swept over Alexei. He may have had other thoughts about Kate Peterson yesterday, but today he wanted—needed—to protect her. And their daughter—he’d do anything to save that child from tears.

Alexei stepped toward the bed and caressed Kate’s arm. “Can I do anything for you?”

“Bribe someone to let me out of here?” she asked half-seriously and then laughed.

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Katya whispered to Kate, but loud enough that Alexei, and probably Debra too, heard her.

Kate looked at Debra with pleading eyes.

“But the doctors are supposed to be in soon,” Debra said, clearly not wanting to leave.

“Katya…” Alexei addressed her personally, “I would be honored if you’d escort me to the hospital’s cafeteria.”

Katya smiled brightly and looked at her mother. “Can I, Mommy?”

After a brief bout with silence, Kate said, “Sure.” She tapped Katya on the nose and nudged her off the bed.

Silence fell about the room as Alexei led Katya away. Once the door closed behind them, Debra pulled a chair up close to Kate’s bedside. “Has the staff said anything at all about when they’re going to release you?”

Kate shook her head. “No.” She tried to stop the worry over still being in the hospital from consuming her, but she had little luck. “I know it needs to be fast. Time’s wasting while I’m in here. If the Olympics end before I land a deal, it’ll never happen.”

“Ooh...” Debra’s mood and posture perked up. “No worries. We were contacted by Sports Today. The magazine would like to do a photo shoot here at the Olympics.”

“With me? They want to do a photo shoot with me?”

Debra nodded.

“Payment?”

“Enough to cover the surgery.”

“Seriously?” For the first time, Kate dared to hope this could work out in her favor. “That could be the answer to all my prayers.” At least she’d gain a fifty percent chance. As it stood, she was currently looking at a zero chance. Any percentage, even a small one, was better than nothing.

“Which is why we need to get you out of here.”

“But how odd is it that I’d get that lucky?” she asked, as her curiosity grew. She didn’t know much about the magazine Sports Today, but this couldn’t have happened at a more convenient time.

The hospital room’s door opened up and, at the sight of a group of three doctors, Kate’s mounting curiosity drifted away.

She didn’t like the looks on their faces. Now would’ve been a good time for her vision to desert her
, but t
he one time she preferred not to see her visitors’ faces, her sight stuck around. Go figure.

“Good morning, Kate. How are you feeling?” The lead doctor stepped forward and gave her a practiced smile.

“I’ve been better.” Kate shrugged, trying to remain calm, but it was hard to do when all she really wanted was to be released.

“First, I’d like to say that we’ve consulted with your specialists regarding your illness,” he said in a no-nonsense tone.

Kate didn’t like his tone or his demeanor. She glanced at Debra as feelings of dread crept upon her.

Debra stepped forward, closer to Kate, and squared her shoulders. “And what have you decided as a collective group?”

“Kate has a concussion resulting from a bump on the head when she fell on the ice.”

A bump on the head, huh? Well, that’s one way to put it. “Is that a problem?” Kate asked in a much shakier voice than she’d intended.

“Normally, it wouldn’t be.”

“Yeah, but this is no normal situation, is it?” Kate’s tone hardened. “So why don’t you just spell it out for me?”

“We’re not sure if this will affect your vision. Your eyesight is fragile.”

My eyesight is fragile
. She didn’t need a new set of doctors to tell her that. Kate blew out a long, lingering, exasperated sigh. “And...”

“Have you experienced any headaches just before your bouts with temporary vision loss?” The doctor’s tone was calm. So why’d she feel like his words were setting a trap?

“No. Why?” Kate asked. “Is that bad?”

“If you’re having headaches followed by any change at all in your eyesight, you’ll need to contact your specialist immediately.” He tried to smile, but it was tight-lipped. “You will need the surgery within seventy-two hours.”

“What?” Kate knew her mouth was gaping open, and she had no luck closing it.

“Pay close attention to your vision if you start experiencing headaches,” he warned. “The seventy-two hours is not a given. It’s generous, if anything.”

Helpless, hopeless laughter bubbled up inside Kate. “You’re shitting me, right?”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s probably best if you have someone with you at all times until you can return home and visit your specialist.”

He was clutching her chart against his chest now and looking at her with one of those pity looks. Feelings of claustrophobia settled around Kate like a straitjacket.

“That’s not a problem. If I’m not with her, another attendant will be,” Debra said. “Does this mean she can go?”

“There’s really no point for us to keep you here any longer. Before you leave, we’ll prescribe some eye drops. They’ll help to relieve the pressure until you can see your doctor back home.”

“What if I don’t get the surgery in time?” Kate asked.

A dark shadow panned across his eyes seconds before he shook his head. “Your eyesight will go away…and it won’t come back this time.”

CHAPTER 10

ALEXEI HURRIEDLY
polished off an in-room breakfast, dressed casually and grabbed his skates before heading out to Kate’s photo shoot. He couldn’t openly oversee it; instead, he had Serge taking care of that for him. Freed from the position to manage the project, Alexei was able to join Kate on the ice.

His time was better served keeping her safe. He didn’t want her doing any jumps and spins that might lead to a fall. Above all else, Kate didn’t need to fall.

Alexei paid the brisk chill in the air no mind as he hurried along the fairway toward the outdoor rink. The camera crew, Serge, Kate and Katya and their friends were already there. There was a time, not so long ago, that Alexei would’ve been the first one there. But ever since he’d run into Kate Peterson here at the Winter Games, he’d been distracted.

Serge propped his sunglasses on top of his head and stole a quick glance at Alexei, just long enough to flash him a look that said everything was going as Alexei had planned.

Alexei claimed a sideline bench near him and mindlessly put on his skates while watching Kate as she warmed up on the ice and the photographer began snapping pictures.

The guy seemed content, at first, with this simple act, but his satisfaction was short-lived. Soon, he began taunting Kate, encouraging her to, “
show her stuff
.”

She hesitated at first. But something, perhaps the gravity of the situation—she needed the money—pushed her to move faster.

That wasn’t happening. Alexei pushed himself up from the bench and skated out toward Kate, coasting to a stop at her side. “Good morning, Katya.” It wasn’t the smartest thing in the world to say, but it was the best he could come up with on short notice.

“Morning,” she said, and dropped it at that.

“Don’t tell me you’re working, and so soon after your release from the hospital?” Alexei scanned the ice rink with a wandering eye.

Kate shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s just a short photo shoot,” she said with a nod. “It won’t take long.”

“When the shoot’s over,” he said, “can I count on you to take it easy for the rest of the Games?”

“Sure,” she said, and plastered on a smile to hide her lingering unease. Kate had enough to worry about without adding Alexei discovering her secret to the list.

An indistinct moodiness befell Kate and left her feeling odd and out of sorts. A shiver rippled up her back. An old adage breezed through her thoughts about how that meant somebody had just walked across her grave. Kate’s breath caught in her throat. The thought fled her brain and iced her veins as it shot out through her body. She felt her face flush hot.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Alexei’s voice filled with worry.

“Yes,” she whispered, and backed it up with a nod. “Why do you ask?” Kate studied Alexei as they circled each other like prey. What was he up to? She didn’t like it, not one bit. And she didn’t like him hovering, either. If he found out about her illness, or she actually lost her sight, he could end up using it against her.

“You look a little pale.” His tone was far too serious to suit Kate.

Kate’s heart pounded so loudly it felt caged inside her chest. The urge to sit down swept over her. Seconds later, her vision blurred. She barely had a chance to recognize the dull ache swelling inside her head and quickly tried to ward it off with a mental block.

No luck. The pain amplified. When the dizziness set in, she reached for her forehead, wishing she had something to grab onto. She panned her free hand in front of her, finding nothing but air.

As everything faded to black, she swore Alexei’s enchanting embrace caught her.

K
ate woke to the sounds of—what was it...? Jet engines? She opened her eyes to a dimly-lit room, barely making make out the cylindrical walls curving into a rounded ceiling. She
felt
rather than
saw
the bed she was lying in. What the hell?

“Where am I?” She asked a question that was meant for no one in particular.

Still, a comforting voice flowed through the darkness. “Alexei’s airplane.” It was Katya. And she was close by. Kate reached out and her palm landed against a small arm. “Katya...?”

“Yes, Mommy...” The bed moved as Katya crawled up next to her, her breath fanned against Kate’s face. “I’m here.”

Where were they going? This wasn’t a question she should ask Katya. Even so, she needed answers. “Where’s Debra?”

“I’m right here,” Debra said.

“Why is it so dark in here?” Kate asked.

“The doctors thought it might be best if you weren’t subjected to too much light right now,” Debra said, just as a lamp on the other side of the room flicked on and emitted an noninvasive, soft-glowing light about the aircraft’s stateroom.

The additional light did more than illuminate the room. A new and horrifying thought crossed Kate’s mind—why was she on Alexei’s jet?

Kate glanced toward the doorway and saw him standing there, backed against the wall.
What’s going on
? The words formed inside her mind but her brain wouldn’t send the inquiry to her mouth.

“Katya.” Alexei looked at their daughter. “Would you like to get something to drink or snack on?” he asked, as if he’d read Kate’s mind and knew she wanted to talk to Debra alone.

“I sure could use something to drink,” Kate said to her daughter, to give her reason to accept his invitation. “Do you think you could get me something?”

“Sure, Mommy.” Katya crawled off the bed and took Alexei’s hand as they left the stateroom. He closed the door on their way out.

Kate projected her anxiety onto Debra with her hardest glare. “What the hell...?” She pushed herself up and swung her feet over the edge of the bed. “What are we doing on Alexei’s plane?”

“You need to lie back down.” Debra laid a firm hand on Kate shoulder and nudged her back down on the bed. Kate fought it at first, but relented when Debra said, “You’ve pushed your luck as far as it will go. Your time has run out.” Debra’s look flashed serious at Kate, telling her that Debra meant that literally.

Images of the photo shoot and the mad headache that had fallen upon her—shortly after her vision blurred—flooded Kate’s mind. Shit. Debra wasn’t kidding when she said Kate’s time had run out. But it was too soon.