Page 94 of Pageant

Okay, it’s technically possible after having sex with both Konstantin and Elyah, but it’s not freakingpossible. I won’t even contemplate it’s a possibility, even though I haven’t had my…the last time I had my period was…

My feet drag on the sidewalk, and I stop dead. My last period was nearly three weeks before I arrived in Milan. I remember, because I was worried that I might be bloated on the catwalk so I double-checked the dates. I’m not a little bit late.

I’m four fucking weeks late.

“No,” I moan, clutching my stomach. “Please, God, no. Not now. Not like this. Notthem.”

If I am pregnant, what the hell am I going to do? Do I want the child? I walk mindlessly down the street, my eyes blurry and my head buzzing with white noise. I can’t have Elyah’s or Konstantin’s baby. Ican’t. It’s too crazy. I’m on the run and I can barely keep myself safe, let alone a vulnerable little baby. How would I get it a birth certificate? A passport? What if someone takes the child from me and hurts it to get revenge on me? I picture Konstantin and Elyah ripping the baby from my arms. They wouldn’t do that, would they, to their own son or daughter?

My throat constricts and my chest feels tight, and I realize I’m about to fall headlong into a full-blown panic attack. I reach out blindly and brace my hand against a stone wall as spots rush and dance in my vision. Breathe, Lilia. First things first. Get a test.

Thenpanic, in the privacy of your hotel room.

Looking around me, I see I’ve walked away from the main street, and turn back to find a pharmacy. After a few gestures at my stomach, I make the attendant understand what I need and hand over some folded euros. With the pregnancy test shoved deep in my handbag, I head for my hotel. It’s just a handful of blocks away and I keep my sunglasses on until I’m in the elevator heading up to my floor.

It’s dark inside my room. I close and lock the door and reach for the slot with my plastic door card that will switch on the lights.

“You really thought you could outrun me, Lilia?”

Fear thrills through me and I whip around. A deep voice with a heavy Russian accent rumbles in the darkness. Someone is sitting in the armchair on the other side of the room, his body in shadows and the outline of his head and long legs just visible.

Alarm bells ring in my head.My chest fills with panic, and I can’t feel the tips of my fingers.

With a shaking hand, I shove the door key into the slot and the lights flick on. I see two of the coldest eyes I’ve ever known staring back at me.

I’m in the presence of a monster.

How did he find me? It should be impossible when I’ve been so careful. My hand flies protectively to my stomach and splays over something that I don’t even know is there. Keeping it safe fromhim.

Two more men step into view, their eyes narrowed with hate. One has his tattooed hands thrust casually into his pants and a proud smirk on his lips.

Every nerve in my body screams at once.

Run.

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