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“And when was the last time you had your period?” Mom asks.
There’s a strange tension in the air, suddenly so quiet we can hear a pin drop. I do the mental math. Between heading up the Antonov Bratva and recovering from my near-death experience, I haven’t exactly had time to keep track of my cycle. The last time my period came to visit would have been…
Oh dear God.
“At least a month ago,” I mumble in disbelief. “A little over a month, actually. And there was one time…”
Charlotte sucks in a sharp breath and presses her phone flush against her ear. “Yeah, Aunt Nat? You’re going to want to bring a pregnancy test.”
* * *
I’m not entirely sure how long I spend locked in the bathroom, but the incessant checking up on me is starting to get on my nerves. I know my family cares, but knowing they’ve got their ear pressed up against the door while I’m trying to do my business is… Well, it’s a lot.
“Do you need any help?” Aunt Nat asks me.
“No,” I reply, exasperated.
On the other side, I can hear an exchange of whispers back and forth.
“I just don’t think it’s right,” Charlotte says to Mom.
“Hush now. It’s your father’s orders.”
“And since when do you do what Dad says?”
I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to care. I’ve got bigger problems on my plate right now. And by problems, I mean a pregnancy test that’s sitting on the bathroom counter while I wait for the timer on my phone to go off. When it finally does…
Two solid lines.
Positive.
I’m pregnant.
Someone knocks on the door. “Sweetheart?” Mom calls out. “How’s everything?”
I stare at the tiny stick pinched between my thumb and forefinger, my mouth open in awe. Have I finally lost it? Is this an incredibly detailed dream?
My hand falls instinctively to my belly, a surging warmth flooding my veins. Something hopeful and light. I stand in front of the bathroom sink, staring at my reflection, waiting for a freak out that never comes. In fact, I’ve never been calmer. Now that I know I’m pregnant, I’m feeling oddly maternal.
My baby.Andrei’sbaby. I wasn’t able to protect him, but maybe… Maybe I can protect our child.
I hold my breath, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. What will my family think if they find out? What will they have me do? Knowing I’m with child certainly complicates matters. I’ve already decided to raise the child, damn the consequences—but right now isn’t exactly an ideal time to spring this news on everyone. Our situation is delicate, the atmosphere fragile. What I really need is a plan, but I’m only going to be able to stitch one together if I have enough time.
“Sis?” Charlotte calls gently. “Sis, you’re freaking me out here. Will you please come out?”
I think on my feet. Nobody can know I’m pregnant. Not yet, anyway. I’ll tell them all eventually, but not until I can ensure my baby’s safety. Revealing us to the world too early could put a target on my back—ourbacks—now that the Bratva in Moscow is undoubtedly shattered and scrambling to pick up the pieces. Our enemies could come crawling out of the woodwork, and I, for one, refuse to be bait ever again.
I pluck the two remaining pregnancy tests from the box Aunt Natalya provided me and run the sink, slipping both strips under the water. I emerge from the bathroom with all three, holding them up for all to see.
“I got a positive on my first one,” I mumble. “So I took two more to check. Both negative.”
“False positives can happen,” Aunt Nat says without judgment. “How do you feel about that?”
I shrug as casually as possible. “Fine. Good. Out of curiosity, though…”
“Yes, dear?”
“The painkillers you have me on… If I were pregnant, could they…”
