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“You have to marry me,” I repeat, trying to accept a fate I don’t wish to take a chance on with foolishness. Had it been just about me, I might still have considered vehemently fighting against this whole thing. But how can I put my child’s life at risk?
"The Bratva is not just an organization; it's power, it's blood, it's loyalty. And it's dangerous. Once you marry me, you will be family, and my men will lay down their lives for you."
My mind races, the pieces clicking into place with terrifying clarity. "Dangerous," I echo, tasting the word and feeling its sharp edges cut through my denial.
"Very." He locks his jaw, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "And now, so are you—and our child."
"Wait," I stammer, my voice barely a thread. "My... my brother Adam, he's..."
"Robin." Boris's voice is softer now, but it still commands attention. "I will protect you, both of you. Your family will be my family.”
“But Adam, he’s just a kid.”
“He can come live with us,” Boris suggests.
“No!” I almost shriek. “I… I can’t have him involved with any of this, Boris. Perhaps we could send him to a nice boarding school? Or he could continue to stay with my uncle. I don’t know. But we need to make sure he always has money, and we need to make sure his identity remains secret, hidden from the world.”
I’m almost rambling, and Boris comes closer. “Shh, Robin,” he soothes me, gently caressing my hair. “We will do whatever is needed to keep Adam safe, too. But you need to trust me."
Trust him? The man who exists in a world where bullets answer questions and loyalty is paid for in blood? Yet, as the truth sinks its teeth into me, I realize there's no going back. There's only forward, with Boris as my shield.
"Okay," I whisper, the fight draining out of me. Not surrender, but acceptance—of the danger, of the need for hisprotection, of the new life growing inside me that ties me to this man, this world. "Okay, I trust you."
His hand finds mine, large and warm, an anchor in the chaos. "Then we will face this together," he says, and I know it's a vow he intends to keep in marriage.
Chapter 13 - Boris
I sit in my office, staring at the list of people who called while I was busy. The top name stares at me and gives me a headache. Gerald Russo.
In the face of doing the right thing, I forsake another value of mine: Keeping my word.
However, marrying Russo’s daughter, Genevieve, will be impossible. Not now, with Robin set to wed me.
My fingers drum on the polished wood as I lose myself in thought. Robin's face flashes in my mind, her innocent smile tugging at my heart. She doesn't deserve to be caught up in this mess, but she is—and it's my fault. I got her pregnant. I should have used a condom. I should have been more responsible, but in the heat of the moment, I threw caution to the wind.
I know that a Bratva leader must not go back on his word. Yet, I can't abandon Robin and our unborn child. That child will share our blood and bond familial ties. In the Bratva, family means everything. It is everything. I've always been present for Damien, Lev, and Anoushka; I refuse to fail this new life I helped create.
"Damn it," I mutter under my breath, clenching my fist. Words won't change anything, though. It's time to act and find a way to protect Robin and our child without jeopardizing the delicate balance we've managed to maintain within the family and the business.
If only I knew what to do.
I think I need to clear my head. I’d rather keep Ivan out of this mess, but there’s no dearth of brothers in my family.
I pick up the phone and dial Damien and Lev's numbers. The urgency in my voice is unmistakable as I instruct them tomeet me at my office immediately. "It's important. Don't waste time."
For the first time in my life, I'm not certain I have all the answers, but I'll be damned if I don't fight for my family—every last one of them.
***
The door to my office bursts open, and Damien and Lev stride in, looking concerned. I can see the questions burning behind their eyes as they take in my serious demeanor.
"Alright, Boris," Lev says, leaning against the edge of my desk with his arms crossed. "What's this all about?"
I waste no time, plunging straight into the heart of the matter. "I had told Gerald Russo I would marry his daughter."
“We know that,” Lev rolls his eyes.
“Thing is, I can’t.”
