"You need more wine in you," Vivienne came over towards Salina who was busy checking out veil. But she was obviously distracted looking at the three men that'd accompanied them, currently huddled in the corner talking fast and quietly to one another.

"I don't think more wine is a good idea," Salina hummed without looking at her friend. But she did grab her arms and maneuver Vivienne in between her and the boys.

"They've been whispering for ten damn minutes- something's wrong."
As soon as she told Vivienne that, all three men glanced over at her not so discreetly.
Salina glared at them suspiciously. All their heads snapped back to each other and the whispering only got more aggressive.

The bride to be's brows shot up in surprise, slowly gripping the wine that was previously offered. "Matter of fact- I will take that wine."

Vivienne sighed, reaching to rub Salina's shoulders comfortingly. She had changed into her white slip dress to look at accessories- taking a break from the changing room.

"Take a breath, Selly. Look," Vivienne grabbed one of the veils that had a tiara attached. Minding her curls, Vivienne put it carefully in Salina's hair.

"It'll all be okay. You look gorgeous if all else fails."

Both the girls smiled as her shoulders relaxed a bit, albeit Salina's was a little more strained than Vivienne's.

"Ah," Lev cleared his throat as he finally stepped forward. Salina hummed as she began sipping on her glass. "We're going to have to cut this short, ladies."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on," Salina glared.

"Малы́шка, I don't want to worry you."

babygirl

Immediately, Salina felt her stomach fall into the pits of hell. She swallowed hard and tried to calm to sudden tremor to her hand.

"Where... Where is he?"

Lev glanced back towards Dima and Aleksei. "Don't look at them- where is my damn husband Lev?"

Aleksei piped up quickly at her stern tone, "He's actually on his way home!"

Salina's shoulders fell in momentary relief before Dima scowled at his brother. "So the meeting went okay with the Bratva?"

All three men paled, Lev chose to rip off the bandaid. "He was shot, honey. But he's on his way to the house right to the doctor."

Salina felt her throat clog, she felt like a whirlwind personified because while her blood drained it simultaneously flooded her face. She felt faint.

"Take me- Take me to him," Salina rushed out. She barely took the time to place her glass down, unbothered as the wine spilled everywhere.

"We can meet them there, please Lev I need to be there." Her voice cracked as she was already moving towards the entrance. Everyone followed, the older man nodding quickly.

Salina knew that if Dominik was being rushed to the doctor that it was bad. She's seen him impaled, punctured, slashed- he doesn't ever seek out a willingly doctor.
She's going to throw up.

Dima lead the group, bringing Salina underneath his arm. Aleksei held his hand out to Vivienne who'd collected anything Salina left, quickly Vivienne grabbed his hand and followed him out.

Lev rounded the back, running a stressed hand through his hair as he tossed the keys to Dima.

~

"Is that him?" Salina shifted in her seat as they pulled up behind an SUV that she recognized as one of their own. They were minutes from the house now and both vehicles were soaring over the speed limit of the road.

Dima, who was driving besides her with everyone in the back, nodded stiffly. He side glanced at Salina who wrung her dress worriedly, his chest hurt at the unshed tears in her eyes.

She didn't even take off the short veil from before, it was pushed messily out of her way.

Reaching over, he gripped her hand. Salina's wide, unusually vulnerable, eyes slid over to his. Those unshed tears fell down her cheeks, quickly she wiped them.

"Sorry- I'm sorry," she rushed.

Lev, from behind her, reached to squeeze her shoulder. Salina tried to get a hold of herself, she had just found herself forgetting that Dominik's return home was never guaranteed.

It felt like a bucket of ice water was dumped on top of her.

The car came to a screeching halt behind the other. Everyone scurried out like a bat out of hell.

She caught sight of her husband who'd thrown open his own door and was trying to get out himself. His entire outfit was drenched in blood and he looked pale- so pale.

"Domo!" She croaked, her and Angelo got to him at the same time. Snatching his arm, she held him up on one side. Angelo got the other side.

"Ma chère," he slurred. Salina reached up and cupped his face as they rushed him inside. He leaned into her touch but she quickly let go of him to hold his wound tightly.

Expecting him to hiss in pain, Dominik only smirked lazily. He was almost drooling, fighting unconsciousness as he slumped his head on top of her own. "That feels good, baby," he practically purred.

"Shut up I'm so angry at you right now," Salina sniffled. The doctor met them at the door, ushering them towards the dining table that'd been cleared off.

"Lay him down and get the shirt off," the doc ordered.

"Don't be... mad at me," Dominik's head lolled. "Look so pretty in white," he lifted his hand sluggishly to grip the fabric as they laid him down. He watched as his blood smeared against the dress and frowned.

"I'm going to give him an anesthetic before cleaning the wound. I'll have to open him up to check the damage."

Salina's mouth fell open. "You do this shit in the dining room? How much money he has and we're doing this here?"

Granted- the first level of the house has been turned into a makeshift hospital. But still, she couldn't help but protest.

"Dominik hates the hospital, you know that," Lev piped up as they stripped him of his shirt. Salina sucked in a breath at the sight of his injury in his abdomen.

"This is the routine he's had since he came into power."

"He can kiss my ass," she murmured. Dominik gripped her hand tight as the doc got to work.

"Ya mad at me?" Her husband tugged her closer, his crimson slicked hand slid up her throat as he observed her through squinted eyes.

His pupils expanded, almost completely covering the brown iris as he went under the mild anesthesia.

"Yes," she whispered while he fiddled with the veil still tangled in her hair.

"Pretty, pretty, pretty," he cooed. "Busy later?"

"Taking care of you," Salina couldn't help but peer over to see the doctor make an incision.

Quietly, she whined while tucking her face into Dominik's hair. Her stomach ached with phantom pain right where they were cutting into her husband.

"My poor baby," Dominik smushed his face against her as much as he could. The pain of the doctor digging around for the bullets barely fazed him.

In fact, if it was Salina digging around with forceps in his bullet wound he'd probably pop a stiffy. If it wasn't for the blood loss at least.

"Stop," Salina rasped in his ear. "Focus on yourself right now." She kissed his head repeatedly before looking up at the surgery again.

Dominik looked deathly pale at this point with how much he's bled out.

"I can give him blood- I'm a universal donor," she rushed to tell them once she got herself together. The doctor nodded in agreement.

"That's hot," Dominik smirked lazily.

"Only... Only if I can give ya... somethin' later in return."

He tried to reach and grab his crotch but everyone reached to stop him. Salina scolded him quietly and he furrowed his brow annoyedly.

"Rest while he finishes baby," Salina kissed his cheek.

"Sit on my face," he demanded. "It'll make me feel better."

Salina growled as she hovered over his head, angrily she pressed her mouth against his firmly. When she pulled away, he groaned loudly.

"Behave!" Salina pointed at him as she got ready to give blood.

After a few hours, Dominik was stitched up and Salina's IV was attached to his arm. Salina was slumped over his body, resting her cheek to his shoulder as the two of them rested. Dominik was barely awake with bleary eyes, but Salina snored softly.

"Don't let her give too much," Dominik rasped as he began waking himself up more. The drugs were wearing off at this point, he was gearing to get off the damn table.

"Doc," the Don snapped. "Вытащите эту штуку из ее руки."

Get that thing out of her arm.

Salina jolted at his volume, her squinted eyes flew to him. She grunted, reaching to hold his face and check him. In a moment, she was standing over him and looking at his bandaged torso.

"eсолнышко," Dominik cooed to his wife "I ruined your dress..." She was covered in his blood, her clothes and her skin, he reached to finger at the soiled veil cascading down with her hair. His brow furrowed and he frowned tightly.

The doctor came, taking out both of their IV's before giving a short lecture on what Dominik needs to do while healing. Salina listened aptly, Dominik was busy admiring her.

After thanking the doctor- everyone was left in silence. Dima and Aleksei were in the doorway, Lev sat nearest to the couple at the table.

"Where's Viv?" Salina sighed tiredly as she raked her hands down her face.

Aleksei cleared his throat, "Poor thing was stressed... She ain't used to all this. I brought her to the guest room and she ended up falling asleep."

Salina nodded slowly, "Okay... Help me get him to our bed and you all can stay the night."

"I can walk," Dominik finally piped up. He clutched Salina's hip, "Nobody else in our room- you know that."

Salina glared up at him as he only gazed down at her, taking in how pretty her eyes are. Inhaling deeply, Salina nodded once before signaling that the three other men could go rest now.

The married couple hobbled upstairs, Salina supporting Dominik before laying him down on their bed.

"Did you pick a dress for me?"

Salina deadpanned at him, "I'm furious right now. Do you know how scary that was?" She sniffled as tears flooded her eyes once again.

"C'mere," he opened his arms sluggishly. Salina pouted her lips while unzipping her dress and yanking the damned veil out of her hair. Stripping Dominik's pants off, Salina crawled on top of him and cuddled gently against him.

Tracing her name that was tattooed on his chest, Dominik curled her closer.
"'M sorry," he whispered. "Won't happen again."

Salina frowned tightly, "You can't promise that."

"I'll try my damn hardest, жена. I'll always come back to you, we're never meant to be apart. In this life and the next."

Salina held him even tighter, careful of his wounds. "Don't ever leave me."

Dominik nuzzled into her hair, holding back a wince at the moment. "Alright... Я люблю тебя." He rasped as he pressed his nose to the top of her head.

i love you

"I love you too. Sleep please," Salina croaked as her mind clouded with anxiety.

But she helped her husband get comfortable, pushing all the worries aside for a moment.

•••

new chapter!!!

since i did say before that i would post an extra chapter eventually the next chapter is coming out by tonight!!

i told u guys not to even worry this was just for funsies LOL domo takes a bullet to the gut like a champ

love u🫶🫶