Page 34 of Surprise Bratva Daddy

She gives me a guilty look, and my heart skips a beat. I’m holding the book in my hand, looking down at the gold lettering, but it feels like I’m looking at it through a telescope from a hundred miles away. My throat is dry, and my hands are clammy. This isn't happening.

I blink hard, and I can feel my heart pounding in my ears. A wave of heat rushes over me, and it's like I'm burning up from the inside.

"What does this mean?" I ask, my voice coming out shaky.

"What do you mean?" she asks, furrowing her brow. "What does the book mean? I told you, I was just curious."

I scoff, shaking my head. "No, you're lying to me and I don't like it. You're reading a book about children, which means you're pregnant."

Her eyes widen, and she looks surprised, but I know better. She's not shocked that I discovered the truth so quickly.

"Monroe, you're pregnant with my child," I growl. "Why did you hide this from me? Where has your trust gone? Have I not proven to you that you can trust me?"

"I'm not pregnant," she blurts, but guilt is painted all over her face.

"Yes, you are," I insist, tossing the book onto the table. "You're a terrible liar, Monroe. Now, tell me the truth. Why are you reading a book about child development? How long have you known?"

"I don't know anything," she replies, shaking her head as tears come to her eyes. "I haven't taken a test yet. It's possible I'm not even pregnant."

She might still be in denial, but I'm not. It all adds up. We've been having sex without a condom for weeks, and now she's starting to feel sick int he morning. She refused a doctor because she was scared of what they'd tell her. Of what they'd tell me, more likely. She doesn't want me to know that I'm going to be a father, and it breaks my heart.

What do I have to do to gain her trust? I've tried everything, and yet I've failed. It makes me feel like less of a man, not worthy of her affection.

"I can take a test," Monroe says softly, putting her hand on my arm. “I was scared. You understand, Zane. This is all very new to me, and I’m terrified of what it means for my future. For our future.”

“Have you even considered our future?” I ask, unable to hide the anger in my voice. “Or are you just saying that so I don’t freak out?”

“It’s all I think about, Zane,” she insists.

I raise me hand, and she flinches. “Oh, but you’re still scared of me? You think I would hurt you, after everything I’ve done to protect you? I’ve been beyond patient with you, even with millions of dollars on the line, and this is how you react. I’m disappointed.”

“You’re disappointed?” she asks angrily, taking a step back and bumping into the table. “I should be the one who is disappointed, Zane. You took me from my life, and now you act like I owe you something. But I don’t owe you anything. Not the flash drive data, not my love, and not the baby if I have one.”

“Don’t say that,” I growl, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward me. “The only person I want is you. I won’t let you leave. I don’t care about the flash drive anymore if it means I lose you.”

She dissolves against me, sobbing into my chest. “I didn’t mean it,” she says between sobs. “I wanted to tell you so bad. I’m sorry.”

I feel like the bad guy now, but that’s who I’ve always been. I’m too tough on her when she needs me to be soft. I don’t know how to be anything else, and it’s no wonder she doesn’t trust me.

“Don’t apologize,” I say, holding her shoulders as she cries. “Look at me. Don’t apologize. I’m the one who needs to say sorry. I’ve been far too hard on you. That’s not what you deserve.”

She looks up at me, her beautiful eyes glistening with a mixture of sorry and hope. It hurts me deeply to see her sad like this, and even more so because I know I’m the cause of it. I should be better. I have to be.

“I think I should take a pregnancy test so we know for sure,” Monroe says, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I think that’s the best thing to do.”

I nod slowly. “I agree, but just know that I support you either way. We’re in this together now, whatever happens.”

Her lips twitch upward in a smile. This time, it’s genuine. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. I think it’s time we talked about something else, too. Something very important.”

I pull my head back, confused as to what she’s talking about. “What is it?” I ask.

Her smile fades, and her eyes become serious. “The flash drive. I wasn’t lying when I said I know what’s on it.”

23

Monroe

I’ve been waiting longer than I really should, but now that I’ve admitted that I’m potentially having a baby with Zane, I might as well tell him everything. I’m in it for the long run, whether that was my initial choice or not. It doesn’t matter. I have to see this whole thing through to the end.

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