Chapter 82 I Needed You, Gianna

Chapter 82 I Needed You, Gianna
Dmitry

Ya otorvu emu golovu, yesli on budet obnimat’ Dzhannu dol’she dvadtsati sekund. \[I will rip his head off if he keeps hugging Gianna for more than twenty seconds\].
I eye the both of them, grinding my teeth so hard my jaw begins to ache. She asked me to give her space, and somehow that translated into parading around the entire hospital with Braide, laughing with him like the last hour never happened.

And yes, I followed her. From the second she walked away from me outside the doctor's office. I told myself it was because I was worried, because I couldn't bear the thought of her breaking down alone, but standing here watching another man hold her while she melts into his arms has every ugly emotion inside me clawing its way to the surface.

I saw it earlier when she looked at me. I heard it in every word she threw at that doctor. She thinks I don't understand what she's feeling, that I couldn't possibly know what it's like to stand there helpless while someone you love slips further and further away. She thinks she's carrying this weight alone, but she's forgetting one thing.

Alec isn't just her brother.

He's my only family too. He's my best friend, my brother in every way that matters, and I've spent the last month praying to every god I don't even believe that he'd wake up. Every single day I've walked into this hospital hoping today would be different, only to leave with another piece of hope ripped away from me.

Yet somehow, I'm the one standing here alone while she's letting another man comfort her.

Braide catches my eye, he knows I'm here. He fucking knows.

Yet he doesn't pull away. If anything, he hugs her tighter, presses a lingering kiss to her cheek before ruffling her hair like he's got every right to touch her.

Yeah.

That's fucking it.

I storm toward them, my footsteps echoing through the corridor. They'd been so wrapped up in each other they hadn't even noticed me until I was standing a few feet away.

"Fancy seeing you both here," I drawl, unable to keep the venom from creeping into my voice.

Both of them turn, though Gianna startles the most.

"Dmitry." Her eyes dart between Braide and me before settling on my face. "You were supposed to be waiting outside for me, right?"

I let out a humorless scoff, my gaze never leaving the two of them.

"I was. Then I got worried and decided to check on you." My jaw tightens as I gesture between them. "What I wasn't expecting was to find you here having the time of your life."

Gianna's brows pull together. "I bumped into Braide."

"Oh?" I ask, my laugh hollow. "That is a shocker, isn’t it?”

"I was extremely surprised too, apparently." She smiles at Braide, all teeth, before turning back to me. "He usually spends time in the pediatric oncology ward. We even met one of his favourites, Sonia."

"She's such a fun child," she adds, the fondness in her voice impossible to miss.

I nod slowly, my gaze shifting to Braide.

"How... charitable of him."

The corner of his mouth twitches. "That’s the least I can do."

"I'm sure it is.”

An awkward silence settles between the three of us. Gianna doesn't seem to notice it, too caught up in telling me about Sonia and the games they'd played, but every word that leaves her mouth only twists the knot tightening in my chest.

She hadn't smiled like this with me all day.

Not once.

Yet somehow, she'd managed to laugh, play games and walk the halls with him.

"I'm glad you found something to take your mind off things," I say, the words sounding far kinder than I mean them to.

Gianna finally catches the edge in my voice. The smile slips from her lips as she studies my face.

"Dmitry..."

"I think you've had enough excitement for one day." I hold her gaze, refusing to look away. "Let's go."

Braide's eyes remain fixed on mine, unreadable, but I can feel the challenge lingering between us.

"Take care of yourself, Gianna, see you around princess," he says quietly.

"I will."

She gives him one last smile before taking a step toward me.

I don't wait for another word.

I turn on my heel and start walking, expecting her to follow.

After everything I'd just witnessed, the last thing I need is to watch her say goodbye to him twice.

The ride home is eerily quiet, and for once I'm grateful I took the car instead of the bike. I'm too fucking livid to have her wrapped around me, her arms hugging me tightly as though everything between us is fine.

Neither of us says a word when we pull into the driveway. The silence follows us into the house, heavy enough to suffocate, but I don't spare Gianna a glance. I stride straight to my room, shutting the door behind me a little harder than I'd intended.

He called her princess and she smiled.

Fuck.

Fuck.

The image refuses to leave my head, her laughing with him, hugging him, and letting him kiss her cheek.
I yank my shirt over my head and fling it across the room before kicking off my shoes. My hands find the waistband of my trousers, and I strip down until I'm left in nothing but my shorts.

I need a shower.

No.

I need freezing fucking water.

Maybe then it'll wash this goddamn rage off me before I do something I'll regret.

The water has long since turned lukewarm, but I don't make a move to shut it off. It drums against the back of my neck, washing over my shoulders, yet somehow the anger still clings to me.

I can’t even enjoy my shower when all I can see when I close my eyes all I see is his arms around her, and that fucking gleam on her face.

I brace my palms against the tiled wall and let out a slow breath, this woman will be the death of me. Completely. I can’t even enjoy my shower. Just as I’m about to turn off the shower, the bathroom door creaks open behind me.

I don't turn around.

A pair of hesitant footsteps pad across the floor before stopping just behind me. A second later, two soft arms wrap around my waist, her palms flattening against my stomach as her cheek rests carefully between my shoulder blades.

"I know you're upset," Gianna whispers.

My lips turn to a tight line, I’m way past upset but it’s nice she noticed.

Her fingers slowly trace over my abs, fuckk is she trying to apologize or fucking turn me on? My semi-hard cock presses against the wall and I shut my eyes fighting the feel of it.

"I know you're angry with me."

I keep quiet, letting her speak as she rubs the soap across my back.

"I needed a minute to breathe," she continues quietly. "When I told you to give me space, I wasn't pushing you away."

A bitter laugh escapes me. "Really?"

She tightens her hold. "I was falling apart, Dmitry."

"And you chose to run to Braide instead?"

The question comes out harsher than anything I've ever said, it makes her go still completely.

"That's what this is about?"

"What do you think it's about?" I ask, finally turning off the shower. The sudden silence is deafening as I slowly turn to face her. "I watched another man hold you, Gianna." I breathe, shutting my eyes. “Braide.”

Her expression softens.

"I wasn't happy because of him."

"Could've fooled me."

She reaches for my hand, but I let it hang between us.

"I was happy because meeting Sonia gave me hope." Her voice trembles. “I didn’t mean to push you away.”

A tired sigh leaves me as I finally let my shoulders relax. “I understand.”

Her watery eyes search mine, almost like she’s waiting for the catch.

“I do,” I repeat, my voice quieter now. “You met someone able to give you something to hold on to today after everything the doctor said… I’m glad you found that.”

I brush a damp strand of hair away from her face, my thumb lingering against her cheek. “But I needed you too, Gianna.”