My work ispro bonobut the satisfaction I get standing at their side, supporting them, far exceeds any monetary value. Who knows how different Nikolai’s life could have been if Carmichael had helped him instead of going against him when he was Frederick’s age? I understand why Carmichael did what he did—I’d go to any length to save my brothers as well—it’s just unfortunate Nikolai was caught in the crossfire—again.
Nothing will fix the injustices Nikolai suffered during his childhood, but for every second of every day I stand by his side, propping him up, the pain in his eyes dampens as the confidence in mine flourishes.
A king needs a queen at his side, someone strong enough to show him there’s a light at the end of every tunnel. I am that woman for Nikolai. He’s often said once I took my throne, I’d want for nothing. The same can be said for him. I’ll never stop fighting to show him he is worthy of the greatest treasures, that he deserves the gifted life his heir will live. The Bratva made Nikolai a man, but only I will make him a father.
I lick my dry lips before saying something I never in my life anticipated: “It’s apositivepregnancy test.Ourpositive pregnancy test. We’re having a baby.”
Nikolai’s wintry blue eyes lock with mine, but not a word spills from his lips. Worry stirs in my gut that I jumped the gun too early in our relationship. Nikolai dropped hints numerous times the past few months about his wish to have an heir before he straight up asked me to stop using contraception, so I seized control of our destiny by skipping my pill a good six to eight weeks ago. Now I’m panicked out of my mind. What if I don’t know him as well as I think I do, and his hope to become a father wasn’t an immediate wish?
“Nikolai. . .”
My words fall short when our SUV arrives at the side of a private jet. It is probably for the best as I’m honestly lost on what to say. I thought he wanted this. If I knew this was going to be his reaction, I wouldn’t have been so gung-ho to fulfill his every desire.
While a group of heavily armed men create a walkway from our SUV to the lowered stairs of the jet, Nikolai places the lid back on the box then slides it into the pocket of his jacket. Roman gives us the nod of approval to leave the safety of our car not even two seconds later.
Remaining quiet, Nikolai swings open the back driver’s side door, clasps my hand in his, then slips out. I’m not being cunning when I say it would take a missile to get through the guard of honor flanking us. The men who work alongside Nikolai are the highest-ranked in their industry, but their integrity is even more impressive than that. Since they were acquired with honor instead of the fear Vladimir worked with, they’d never let anything happen to Nikolai. They don’t just respect him, they care for him as well.
The heavy stomp of a dozen men follows us up the stairs of the jet, but Nikolai doesn’t pay them any attention. He even waves off the stewardess clamoring for the chance to answer his every whim. She flutters her eyelids at him excessively as the heat raring through her body overrules the blush on her cheeks.
Usually, my hackles would bristle from Nikolai being ogled so intently, but with my mind shut down with worry, I let her pathetic attempts to seduce a taken man roll off my shoulders like water off a duck’s back.
Just like Nikolai, my focus is on one thing and one thing only: the bedroom at the back of the jet. This is not a conversation I want to have in front of his crew. I don’t want to have it at all, let alone while surrounded by men who both love and detest me.
Don’t misconstrue; for the most part, Nikolai’s crew has welcomed me with open arms, but Rory’s punishment last year displayed a side of Nikolai his men have never seen. Half were confused by his protectiveness of me, unsure what it meant for their positions, whereas the other half saw my inclusion in his life as a positive.
The latter now form Nikolai’s innermost circle, their trust rewarded in the greatest way. By revealing his true self to the men who trust him with their lives, Nikolai’s group has grown tenfold the past twelve months. It’s funny how life can change in an instant. Whether a niggle in the gut warning you to end a date earlier than your acquaintance is hoping, or falling in love with a mafia prince, you’ll never fathom the outcome of your decision until it is too late.
One decision a man made five years ago altered my life in a way I never saw coming. It tore my family apart, and it shredded my heart into a thousand pieces, but it also brought me Nikolai. His life is as dark and corrupt as the man who tried to destroy mine, but by accepting him and loving him as he is, I not only had the oxygen in my veins revived, I’m discovering not all men in his industry are like Col Petretti and Vladimir. Whether good or bad, everyone has a place.
Mine is beside Nikolai, and I won’t give up my spot for anyone.
“I know this is daunting, Nikolai. I nearly puked when I saw the results. Not in a bad way. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”
I stop blubbering, realizing I’m doing a terrible job of explaining myself.
After a big breath, I try again. My second attempt isn’t any better than my first. “It’s kind of scary realizing how quickly life can change. For years, my focus centered on one thing, then you came into the picture and flipped everything on its head. Somedays I don’t even know who the hell I am, so it’s okay if you’re having a hard time registering this. I won’t hold it against you. Just don’t block me out—please. I’m scared, but I know we’ll be okay. We can get through anything if we do it together.”
I stop droning on when a lock sliding into place booms into my ears. I was so fixated on lessening the tension between us, I failed to notice we’ve entered the private sleeping quarters at the back of the jet.
When I attempt to continue my plea for understanding, Nikolai presses his finger to my lips. “Enough talking,Ahren.”
The pulse in my neck twangs when he guides me into the middle of the room. His natural arrogance is at an all-time high, leaving no doubt who is standing beside me. The king is walking the halls, his head not weighed down by the hefty weight his crown carries. His pigheadedness shouldn’t appeal to me; it shouldn’t sing a sweet serenade of love and devotion that has my heart taking notice even more than my pussy, but it does.
The fire in Nikolai’s eyes, the sneer on his face, even the slight flex of his fists as his eyes rake my body reveal truths I’ve heard many times the past twelve months. Men want to be him; women want to bed him, but there is only one person worthy of the king’s time. The woman who spoke to the king inside of him long before he took his reign: his queen.
Goosebumps prickle my skin when Nikolai slides the straps of my free-flowing shirt off my shoulders. The lightweight material rolls down my quivering stomach until it comes to a stop at the frilly skirt I’m wearing. With summer in full swing, I chose a light, breezy outfit to go from a dry Vegas night to a humid Florida morning with ease.
Air hisses between Nikolai’s teeth when his eyes take in my scarcely covered breasts, but it’s barely a blip on the radar compared to the heavy incline of his chest when his eyes lower to my stomach. I’m only a few weeks along, but I have no doubt he has spotted the slight curve in my stomach I noticed while dressing this morning.
I never believed in instant love, but Nikolai and our baby have made a fool out of me twice in under a year.
Wanting Nikolai to see the entire picture, I tug on the waistband in my skirt. I’ve barely yanked it past my panties when Nikolai’s impatience gets the better of him. With barely a grunt, he shreds my clothes off my body, their sturdy material no match for his strength.
Even though I heard a lock click, my eyes rocket to the door to ensure it is closed. My confidence has grown to a point I never thought achievable, but there are a handful of neuroses I’m still working through. My most driven is subjecting Nikolai’s crew to the ugliness of my scars. The last thing I want is for them to think Nikolai sacrificed everything for a marked-up mangy mutt.
All the stupid thoughts clouding my mind leave in an instant when Nikolai falls to his knees. He stares at my stomach for several long seconds before lifting his strong, firm hands to cup my barely existent baby bump. “?????? ??? ?????.” Tears burn my eyes from him greeting our baby as his. “???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????. ?????? ?? ?????????? ??? ???? ??????????.”
I attempt to correct him, to tell him the oxygen in his veins will be revived long before our little bundle joins our duo, but the quickest flash of his eyes steals my words. He truly thinks I saved him from the hell he was living in, and that our baby will be his final reward for the years of turmoil he suffered during his childhood.
