Nikolai forced her to swallow and held her chin so she couldn't open her mouth to spit it out.
Merri gagged and her face twisted into a sour expression, "Ewww.. bitter."
He had a faint smile gazing at her cute reaction, "Well, Chinese medicine is usually bitter."
As he picked up the towel Merri fainted. He grabbed her thin waist before she hit the floor. What the hell!
He quickly put on her dress and carried her out of the bathroom. His eyes were like black ice and his voice was filled with anger. "Where the fuck is the doctor who was just here!"
The old man was sitting on the couch, "He left."
"She is unconscious!"
"Of course she is. Didn't he tell you she needs to sleep off the drug."
"NO!"
"I will check the girl's vitals, but you can see her complexion has improved already. She is no longer flushed from internal heat."
Nikolai's heart tightened as he laid Merri down on the worn out couch. His body tensed, surrounded by killing intent and the atmosphere was suffocating. The veins on his neck were bulging and his voice was gravelly, "If anything happens to my woman, I will kill you..your wife and that quack."
The old doctor gazed at the terrifying man and replied, "Calm down Boy! The little girl isn't going to die. I told you she needs to sleep for her body to recover. Look at the fragile girl, she is too thin and weak. The drug ravished her nervous system and sucked up her internal energy. If you want to kill someone, you should damn well kill the insidious bastard who gave her the drug!"
Nikolai clenched his hands into fists and the doctor could hear the sound of his knuckles cracking. Don't worry, that cunning bitch will die a horrible death for harming the little angel.
The doctor's wife came down the stairs and sounded annoyed, "Aren't you finished yet?"
He glared at his nosy wife, Greedy old hag!I don't need you pissing off this hothead! If you didn't answer the door I wouldn't have to deal with this shit. "Go back to bed. I will be up shortly."
Opening his black medicine bag he took out a pad of paper, "I will give you a prescription to clear the remaining heat in her body. She might be feverish and disoriented later. I will also give you one for a sedative and you should buy nutritional supplements at the pharmacy. You don't need a prescription for them.. From what I could tell from my examination the girl is severely anemic. She should rest and nourish her body."
Nikolai took the prescriptions and nodded. "Give me your phone number, I will call tomorrow with an address. You need to monitor her condition daily. I have business I need to attend to and won't be able to stay."
He handed him more money, "I will pay you more when I return."
The old doctor reluctantly accepted the money, he was aware he had no choice but to agree. Well, at least if this crazy bastard isn't there it won't be so stressful to treat the girl.
After Nikolai put the number in his phone he picked up Merri to carry her to the car.
When he reached the car Nikolai's younger cousin nudged his brother who was slumped over the steering wheel snoring. "Max! Wake up, Niko is back with the girl."
He jumped out and opened the back door, "Why is she still unconscious?"
Nikolai ignored him and got into the backseat holding Merri in his arms. "Go to my parent's house."
"..."
They drove to a small village and his cousin stopped in front of a small farm. When Nikolai first started making money with Alexi, he bought this small farm for his family. He always remembered when he was young and his family was extremely poor, his mother longingly looked at the property. She would sigh and say she wished they could own such a beautiful farm.
There was a small pasture for horses and an area for chickens and behind the barn the owner kept goats. The driveway leading to a two story brick house was lined with tall Birch trees. At the back of the property close to a mountain was a hot spring and small cabin.The house itself was old and in need of repair when he purchased the property.
Nikolai convinced the owner to sell by giving him much more money than it was worth. He hired an architect in Kazan and paid to have the home completely renovated.
Max stopped the car at the driveway and turned around, "Uncle and Auntie are probably sleeping, don't you want to come to my place?"
"No. The last time I talked to my sister she said after the tenant moved out last month, they were not going to rent the cottage by the barn until next month. I will stay there."
He pulled to the left and took a side road past the pasture to a quaint cottage located past the barn. "Huh...that is a good idea, a lot of tourists like to stay in the countryside and go visit Kazan. It's cheaper than staying in the city."
When they arrived Nikolai handed him the prescriptions and money. "Before you go to work in the morning, go to the Pharmacy. Fill these prescriptions and buy nutritional supplements. Stop at Lou's and get me two burner phones."
"I don't want anyone except my family to know I am back...got it?"
"Yeah."
"Wait while I open the door." Nikolai carefully laid Merri on the backseat and walked to the front door. He opened his wallet and took out a thin piece of metal. He put it in the door lock and twisted it. The door opened and he turned on the lights.
He walked to the bedroom and looked at the bed. Good. It looks like they bought a new bed and covers. He turned down the blue and white bedspread then went to get Merri.
He came back to the car and picked up Merri then tapped on the window, "See you in the morning."
Nikolai carried Merri into the bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. He covered her with the blanket and bedspread then walked over to the thermostat to turn on the heater. I should go to the house and get a warm nightgown from Anya.
Nikolai knew his sister might still be awake so he walked to the house. Looking up at at the second floor, her bedroom was brightly lit so he picked up a small rock and threw it at the window.
Anya was texting her friend when she heard the rock hit the window. What the... She thought it might be one of her friends who was drunk causing trouble.
She walked to the window and when she saw the person was Nikolai she excitedly grabbed her bathrobe. Anya put on the thick robe and her slippers as she ran down the hallway to the stairs
When she opened the back door she immediately wrapped her arms around him, "Brother!"
She let go of him then held his hand, "Let's hurry inside it is freezing out here!"
They walked into the kitchen, he whispered, "I don't want Mother and Father to wake up. Sit."
Anya obediently sat down, "Why didn't you tell us you were coming home?"
"It was last minute. I am going to stay in the cottage, I...I brought a friend."
Her eyes lit up, "A friend? You have never brought anyone home with you..who is it?"
"Well, we can talk in the morning. I need you to give me one of your warmest pajamas, a bathrobe and a pair of slippers."
His sister couldn't hide her surprise. She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Brother..you..you brought a..a..woman!"
" I will explain in the morning. Can you go get those for me?"
She hopped out of her seat, "Sure..sure. I will be right back."
He looked in the refrigerator and put a few bottles of water, juice and some containers of leftovers in a bag. He picked up two apples from a bowl on the counter. The little angel might be hungry if she wakes up.
Anxious to hear who her cold and indifferent brother brought home, Anya didn't take long and returned to the kitchen. She handed him the clothes, "Are you going to bring your friend to the house tomorrow?"
She desperately wants to meet the woman. If he wasn't interested in her there is no way he would bring her home.
"Don't mention anything to Mom. I will come back in the morning."
"Okay."
After Nikolai left with the clothes and food, Anya sat in a daze at the kitchen table. My cold and aloof brother bought a woman home...it must be serious...Vera will be crying! The woman must be incredibly beautiful...a goddess... to catch that stone hearted man! Oh My God! I can't wait to see her!
When he walked into the cottage he was happy the heater worked. The temperature outside was freezing and the cottage can be drafty. After he put the food in the empty refrigerator he walked back to the bedroom.
Merri was still asleep and he sat on the edge of the bed. He pressed his lips on her forehead and was relieved she wasn't feverish. His ink black eyes were full of love as he carressed her cheek, I will take care of that poisonous woman who hurt my little angel.
He propped her up in bed and unzipped the thin chiffon dress she was wearing then slipped it over her head. He decided not to take off her bra and underwear, afraid he wouldn't be able to resist his desire if she was totally naked.
Nikolai carefully put on the warm red plaid flannel pajamas keeping his mind occupied so his mind wouldn't wander to her beautiful body.