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“Even then, but it might not be a bad idea to consider a private tutor, like what my brothers and cousins and I did.”
She nodded slowly. “I just worry about what will happen if Gregori isn’t stopped.”
I kneeled down, taking her hands. “I swear to you, on my life, that no one will get away with harming you or our children.”
Closing the distance between us, she held my face and kissed me—seeming to need the contact both for her own comfort and to submit to the fierce promise I gave her.
36
LOUISA
The restlessness that spurred me to get up and start my day wasn’t exclusive to this need to get up and work. I wasn’t a workaholic by any means, but this problem of Gregori was already personal. It mattered to me that I gave it my all and supplemented what Nikolai and the others could do in bringing him down.
I carried a Volkov baby. I had a member of the next generation of the Bratva to raise and support. And if Nikolai meant it about adopting Brady, and there was even the slightest chance that he could be included in this messy Mafia political sphere, then I had to worry about his future, too.
Moving in with Nikolai was a godsend, a new path forward.
Learning that I was having another baby was a bright hope of new life.
And connecting with Nikolai about how we loved each other was a good thing that would bring us both joy.
All three of those changes should’ve been saturated in goodness, not held back by fear.
So, yes, I did have a little extra proverbial fire under my ass to get moving. Even if Nikolai hadn’t needed to sleep in to make up for that lost night of rest, I wouldn’t have been able to lie in bed and relax.
He left my office, though, and I lingered. Not to track whatever else I could about pinpointing Gregori’s most likely hiding spot, but also to think. To dwell. To fashion a way to tell Brady that he would be having a baby sister or brother soon.
My phone buzzed and I reached for it.
Wren: Want to meet for lunch today?
It would be good to talk to her. Of all the women I’d met in the Volkov family, I related closest to her. That had to be due to us working together, and her assisting me with hacking and serving as a connection to Trojan and Igor. But she was quickly becoming a good friend, too. It’d do me well to lean on her for sisterly support.
Louisa: Not today. I suggested to Nikolai that we have lunch here and break the news to Brady.
Wren: And Paloma.
Wren: She might have the stronger reaction between the two of them.
I smiled, not intimidated.
Louisa: Good reactions, though. I’m excited for her. My mom was already gone by the time I had Brady. I look forward to having Paloma with me on this.
Wren: And she’s going to be so happy too. She loves Brady. We all do. You don’t need me to point that out. But she will be so excited to see you through this pregnancy and support you until he or she arrives.
Wren: I don’t need to ask how Nikolai took the news.
My smile widened.
Louisa: He is very happy.
Wren: So happy that we’ll be hearing about an engagement soon?
That was when I lost my smile.
Nikolai had been happy to hear this news. Shocked, but overwhelmingly happy. Yet, despite his professing his love for me and swearing that he would always love me, he didn’t put too many specifics to that claim.
It was on my mind, though.
