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I shook my head. “I stayed because I can’t imagine living in a world where you don’t exist. I never want to again. That’s the truth.”
He let out a long sigh as if my words had punctured the balloon of tension inside him, and then he smiled, picking up the ultrasound picture off the table beside him, and took my hand in his. “Molly, we’re having a baby,” he said quietly.
“Yep, weird boy, we are.”
22
KIRILL
The venue for the dinner was as public as could be. It was also a popular restaurant with the higher ups in the police, most of whom had the kind of secrets they paid me to keep. The amount of security there made it safe enough to introduce Viktor and Mallory for the first time.
If Viktor was taken off-guard by the introduction, he covered it well.“So, this is the infamous Mallory Madison. I’ve heard a lot about you over the years.”
“Likewise,” Molly said, holding out her hand to shake my father’s.
The sight of her small, pale hand in his scarred one made me anxious. He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back, and I fought the urge to step between them.
His piercing eyes fixed on her.“You must be some woman to have ensnared my son so completely.”
Molly smiled politely and tugged her hand away before sitting in the chair I’d pulled out for her. The surrounding tables were full of Chernov men, both Viktor’s and mine. There was a tension in the air, like electricity before a storm. I hated to expose Mallory to it, but I hadn’t been joking about our plan. Having her face known as the newest bride in the Chernov bratva would keep her safe from Viktor for now.
“It’s Mallory Chernova now, Father,” I corrected Viktor, waiting until he’d taken a large mouthful of wine to drop the bomb.
Viktor coughed, and the expensive wine dribbled from his pursed lips. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, ignoring the napkin at his elbow. “Is that right? Well done, son. You’ve surprised me, something few manage. I was surprised to hear we were going to dinner at all, considering I thought Mallory here had been the victim of a brutal home invasion at your apartment.”
“Did you? I never received any condolences from you,” I pointed out idly.
Viktor’s hand tightened into a fist on the table. “You’ve been busy. You probably didn’t notice.”
“Right, that must’ve been what happened. I have other news, Father,” I continued, drinking water. It wouldn’t do to let my guard drop around Viktor. “You’re going to be a grandfather. Congratulations.”
Viktor froze, and his huge shoulders tensed. He turned a considering eye to Mallory, one that made my skin itch. “Is that right? How wonderful.”
Telling Viktor about the baby was a tactical decision. I knew how seriously he took continuing the Chernov family blood line. It should ensure Molly’s safety for the rest of the pregnancy.
Viktor was still looking at Mallory. “Congratulations. A pregnancy, and so young too,” he murmured as his piggish eyes slid down her lithe body. “You must be exceptionally receptive to conceiving to be pregnant so quickly.”
Fighting the urge to reach across the table and punch the older man in the throat for his lecherous gaze, I settled for glaring at him. He didn’t notice. He was too taken with Mallory.My wife.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’m sure Kirill and I are just a perfect fit,” Molly said sweetly, refusing to be cowed by Viktor’s lewd tone.
Viktor blinked, clearly reassessing his opponent, and then turned to me. “Where was my invite to the wedding?”
“It was a small, intimate affair, I’m afraid. Now that the good news has been covered, let’s talk about De Sanctis.”
The food had arrived, and Mallory began eating as I discussed the Antonio De Sanctis issue with my father.
“Renato has been called in from Naples. I supposed he’ll arrive any day. The fact that he made an attempt on your life can’t stand. We have to retaliate and do so hard.”
I shook my head. “We’d never get to Renato. Antonio will be on the lookout for an attempt on his son.”
“And eye for an eye never works, haven’t you heard?”
A nonchalant drawl reached me, and I twisted in my seat to see Nikolai approaching.
He had made some effort to dress the part for the Michelin starred restaurant, but his black button-down shirt was open to nearly to his navel, and his tattooed chest was exposed. He had too much ink to nail down one image, and I knew a few of them had been done during his stint in a Russian prison in his early twenties.
“Nikolai, to what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?” Viktor didn’t sound happy to see his preferred son.
