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“What is it, my love?”
She stares at me, and how I silently acknowledge how I’ve fallen for her.
“I thought about what you said, about going home. I realize how much I’m missing. Three of your brothers are married and having babies. Katya is married. I’m choking without my sister.”
“She’s safe. I promise.”
I worry she’ll make contact with Katya and expose us before my brothers can have a sit down with her father. He’ll want retribution. He’ll want Cormac’s head. My family is ruthless and wears blood on their hands like champs, but they’re disciplined.
Unlike the Bratva.
“If you agree to face your father, then I insist we get married first. It’s better for both of us, if I bring you there as my wife. And present the baby as ours.”
She turns her head and stares out the window. The gray misty morning keeps the room shadowed as soft rain pelts the windows.
“I don’t trust my father.”
“My brothers won’t let anything happen to us. I want us to be together. To raise this baby together. I don’t want to spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders. I don’t trust your father either. I wouldn’t put it past him to hurt Sophie.”
“She’s a child. He wouldn’t hurt a child.”
“You’re sure?” I narrow my eyes.
Her soft whimper punctuates the silence. “I don’t know.”
I’ll leave the negotiations to my brothers, Riordan and Kieran, before we go back and make our relationship public.
“Ana, consider this. Your father is unhinged over your disappearance. You need to give him peace that you’re safe.”
“I know.” She sniffs and looks at me with red-rimmed eyes.
I go to kiss her, but a little shadow catches my eye.
“What’s this?” Sophie asks from the doorway in her pajamas, hair all messed up, and holding her stuffed pink flamingo.
It’s a surprise because I ordered the furniture from the concierge desk, while Sophie showed Ana the stuffed bear she wanted. A few diapers and pacifiers didn’t make Ana living here real.
Furniture does.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. Come here.” I open my arms for her. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What?” Her eyes light up.
“After Ana has her baby, they’re going to stay with us for a while.” I wait for Sophie to smile, but she…doesn’t.
“Oh.”
Ana begins biting her nails.
“Oh?” I tug on her pajamas. “You’re not excited about having a little baby in the house?”
She smashes the flamingo into her chest. “Are you going to play with the baby and not me?”
“Oh, Sophie.” I pull her into my arms. “Honey, don’t worry about that. We’re gonna—”
“Sophie…” Ana’s hand swirls on her belly. “The baby’s kicking. Wanna feel it?”
Sophie’s eyes fly open wide. “Does it hurt?”
