Page 85 of Lord of Justice

No, there's nothing there look away no baby.My thoughts are desperate, and I'm trying to keep my expression blank.

He scoots his stool back and looks at the nurse. "Can you bring me the ultrasound machine?" It's the first time I've seen an expression other than spite on Nurse Bear's face. She looks excited.

"Right away, doctor."

Chapter Forty-One

In which Andrey is humbled. A little late, but…

Andrey…

Nikandr was correct.

Caroline laid into me when I explained the situation again, shouting and gesturing over the lobster bouillabaisse. "Please don't spill it!" he begs, "I've really been looking forward to this." She doesn't bother to look at him.

"What iswrongwith you?" She's red-faced and furious. "Okay, I know many things that are wrong with you, but this, Andrey! How could you? First, scaring her into marrying you and second, never telling her? Did you think you could keep it a secret forever?"

"Yes," I answer honestly.

She stands up abruptly and Nik snaps, "Not over the bouillabaisse!"

"If this is what you dragged me over for, I'll takemy leave." I stand up, buttoning my jacket. "I need a report back from Melina to see where Iris is."

"Knowing Iris," Caroline says, "she's already picked up Rose and they're making plans to kill you with a well-placed car bomb."

"I switch cars every day or two." I rub my eyes. "That would make it difficult."

"Or, they're over at Roman and Violet's and all hell is about to break loose," she continues as Nikandr serves dinner. "If Rose doesn't murder you, Violet will. And if she doesn't, thenIwill."

"You think she'll tell them about this?"

"Of course," they say together.

"You're going to be experiencing a lot of family rage," Caroline says. "Your best bet is to make this right with Iris first."

"Andrey, I know you care about Iris, love her, in your way." Nik's tone is kind and it's irritating me. "You're so good at evaluating people so you know how to deal with them. Can't you see how badly this hurt her?"

"Iris told us girls at lunch a couple of weeks ago that she admired your honesty. She said you're blunt, sometimes unkind, but you're honest. Can you imagine how betrayed she feels?" Caroline adds.

I go through the mental binder I keep of all things Iris, and I realize they're right. "So, I apologize to her. I'll ask her how I can make amends. That I… regret keeping this from her. But I know," I add stubbornly, "that Iris is happy. That I make her happy."

"And she makesyouhappy," Nik insists on pointing out.

"It's true," Caroline agrees. "You haven't been nearly as heartless and unpleasant since you married Iris."

"This is overblown," I say. "Bratva marriages are for life. I'll have time to earn her forgiveness."

Nik shakes his head. "This is different. You lied to thePakhanto marry her, do you remember that?"

"It wasn't a lie," I say for the twentieth time. "It was an omission."

"There's precedent for releasing someone from a union in cases like these." I think he's joking. But his expression is serious.

"I can't lose her." The words drag out of me. "Not now. She's part of me."

My phone buzzes angrily at the same time as Nik's goes off. "Trofim. Why is there a security alarm? Where is my wife?"

“Miss Iris has been abducted, along with hersister." He's cold and clipped, which is how he handles a disaster. "They were in Wilson Green, her entire detail was shot down."