"How bad is it?"
Aria's voice came through the phone, shaking with panic, and Dmitri felt guilt twist in his chest as he heard the raw terror in her words.
"Viktor says it's serious," Dmitri said, keeping his tone grim and controlled. "Head trauma from the accident, he's in the hospital. We need to get back to New York tonight."
"Is he conscious?" Aria asked, and her breathing was rapid and uneven. "Is he awake? Did Viktor say if he's awake?"
"Viktor didn't give me those details," Dmitri said, which was technically true. "He just said Marcus is in the hospital and we need to come home immediately. I'm booking flights now. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?"
"Ten minutes," Aria said. "I'm packing now. Meet me in the lobby."
The call ended, and Dmitri immediately began searching for the next available flights to New York while his mind worked through the logistics of getting them both out of Paris as quickly as possible.
