Page 37 of Bratva Beast

I should have known this was coming. I’ll never escape them. “Where are we taking him?”

Papa takes out his phone and dials someone, speaking in quick Russian. He’s arranging for us to stay at a safe house until Aguilar’s crew is accounted for. I swallow down the stress that’s enveloped me.

Chapter 10

CYNRIC

I put my feet over the edge of the King-size bed in the large primary suite in the new penthouse I purchased down the street from my old one. My side is almost completely healed, and I can’t wait to get back to my job. My father, my woman, and my brothers have treated me like I’m an invalid. Well, not Thane. He’s been banished. Isabella’s show of strength during the raid turned the tide with my father and our bratva. She’ll naturally take the position as my wife and be what my mother was for my father. She’ll keep her career, but still have a role in our bratva.

Footsteps approach the bedroom, and I can’t help but smile. “Cynric? Are you ready?”

Smirking, I stand up. “Yesterday, you wouldn’t let me leave the bed, and today you’re rushing me to go.”

She smiles. “As I recall, it was you that kept us in bed all day. And you said you wanted to go to my doctor’s appointment.”

My heart picks up speed. “Yes. Then lunch.”

“Sure. But I don’t want to be late, so chop chop.”

An hour later, the doctor finishes her exam and smiles at us from her little round stool. The room has flat gray walls with various flowers painted in a crooked line across the center of the walls. My feet rest on the linoleum floor as Isabella squeezes my hand. The doctor hands Isabella a small stack of papers. “I’m sure you know the drill. Keep taking the prenatal vitamins. Make sure you continue to eat small meals that will continue to help with the last of the nausea. Hopefully that will end soon. Everything looks great. Set up an appointment for four weeks.” She casts her gaze at me. “Will we be seeing you for every appointment?”

I nod. “That’s my plan.”

“Outstanding. Have a nice day.” She steps out of the room, and I stand up slowly, making sure not to jar my side.

“How’s the pain?”

I glower at the question. I do feel pain. That’s new, I didn’t use to notice pain. Loving her, I’m losing my edge.

Isabella nudges my good side with her elbow as we exit the office. “You’re thinking too much. You’re still you, Cynric. Just better.”

I laugh. Laughing isn’t a typical thing for me. Nor a typical thing for anyone I know except her. The darkness I dwelled in seems to have lifted.

“Want that lunch you mentioned?”

I snicker. “When do I not want food?”

“Sometimes you’re busy.”

“I’m not too busy to take the mother of my child to a meal.” I purse my lips and search for softer words. Giving up, I yell. “You need to fucking marry me.”

Isabella’s eyes widen. “That’s not a proposal.”

“I’m just going to bring the damn judge to the penthouse to marry us.”

She grimaces. “Have you heard from Thane?”

“No. He’s around. He pissed me and Papa off, so he’ll have to stay clear for a while.”

“I don’t want there to be friction.”

I pull her arm gently and press my finger under her chin to raise her gaze. “Your position is rock solid. Thane made a mistake, and he’s paying for it. He’ll learn and be better for it.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but he’s always been a bit cold and unpredictable for me.”

“That shit has ended. He will be respectful and protective of you, and if he isn’t, you can knee him in the balls, and I’ll banish him for good.”

She frowned. “That’s not what I want for our family.”

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