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I’ve missed her so badly that seeing her now nearly knocks the breath out of me. Her eyes widen when they land on me.

“Dario?”

“Hello, tesoro mio.”

“How did you get in?”

“You weren’t answering.”

Her mouth falls open. I almost smile. Instead, I move closer.

She pulls her knees toward her chest, watching me carefully. “Can you wait in the bedroom while I get dressed?”

“No.”

Her brows pull together. “Dario.”

“I’m not fucking leaving you alone again, Katya,” I growl.

I’m satisfied to see a flash of indignation in her eyes as she lifts her chin. “You broke into my hotel room. That isn’t normal.”

I flash her a predatory smile. “I’m not normal.”

That earns me the smallest flicker of amusement, but it disappears quickly when her eyes fill with tears. I stop. Everything inside me that was ready to demand answers goes quiet.

I reach for a towel. “Come here, Bella.”

She hesitates.

“Katya,” I growl softly, putting all my fears and desperation into my voice.

She must have heard it, because it makes her move. I hold out my hand, and when her fingers slip into mine, I help her carefully out of the tub. I wrap the towel around her before she can shiver.

She watches me the entire time. I can feel her eyes on my face, but I don’t look away. I dry her feet, help her into the robe, and tie the belt myself. She suddenly blinks hard.

“Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know.” She presses her lips together.

I lift a hand and wipe the tear from her cheek with my thumb. “I’m not angry with you, tesoro.”

Her eyes close briefly. That small reaction nearly destroys me. I lead her to the bed and sit beside her, keeping one hand around hers.

“I know who you are.” She goes completely still. “Your mother married Yuri Balshov. Mikhail is your stepbrother. Alexei is your other stepbrother. You grew up around the Bratva, even if you spent years trying to get away from it.”

Her face loses what little color it had.

“I found out after you left. And I understand why you didn’t tell me.”

She swallows. “And the baby? You saw the pregnancy test?” she asks.

“Yes.”

Her eyes drop. “I was going to tell you. But I was scared.”

The words come out so quietly that my anger dies before it has a chance to become anything dangerous.

I move closer. “What were you scared of?”