Page 25 of Bratva Beast

My hand is in his, and I stop moving. He pulls me gently to my feet. “I can do this without you.”

“No. You can’t.” He leads me into the pharmacy. “Do you need something for your stomach?”

“Uh. No. I didn’t want to have this conversation until I was sure one way or another.” I keep my head from turning to look at him as I walk us to the women’s health aisle.

“What are you looking for?” His eyes scan the shelves as we walk. His hand stiffens in mine as I move to the end of the aisle and select the best pregnancy test for early testing.

Cynric snarls, his eyes popping out of his head. “Is that a pregnancy test?”

I stare at him with a laser glare and slowly nod my head as I walk the small pink and purple box to the counter. The clerk scans the box without the slightest reaction that this could be life changing for me. I hold my breath as I pull my credit card through the reader. Stress weighs on Cynric like clouds full of rain. She bags my purchase, and we walk out with more distance between us than we have had in weeks.

Bogdan opens the back door for me to climb through, giving Cynric and his pale color the side-eye. “All okay, boss?”

“Just get us the fuck home.”

My heart is racing. My stomach flips like a fish in the bottom of a boat, and I can’t lessen the loud waves in my ears. I’m not a stranger to stress. I wouldn’t be nearly done with med school if I didn’t have a clear understanding of how my body responded tostimuli. We step inside the penthouse, and the aura surrounding us is electric. Cynric is ready to explode.

“How the hell are you pregnant?”

“Contrary to popular belief, birth control is only ninety-nine percent effective.”

He blows out his breath, catching the end with a frustrated groan. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” I hand him the bag and walk the test into the front bathroom. I close the door. I go through the motions to use the test, berating myself for having sex at all. What was I thinking? I don’t need a baby going into an internship. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The words echo in my brain.

“Well?” He demands from the other side of the door.

“I don’t know yet.”

He groans. “Why not?”

“The test takes a few minutes. I’ll share the results when they’re done.” I set the test on the side of the sink and put the seat cover down on the toilet.

The door opens, and Cynric steps in. The small powder room is barely big enough for one person, let alone someone the size of Cynric. He leans against the counter. “Didn’t you know you were late?”

My brow raises, and I stare at the number two of Papa’s bratva. “I don’t always have a period. I didn’t think the nausea was a pregnancy symptom.”

“I remember my mother talking about being nauseous when she found out she was pregnant with the twins.”

“Oh. Okay.” I continue to flip my wrist to check the time. “I didn’t plan this.”

He bends down and pulls up my chin so I’m staring at him. “I know you didn’t. You wouldn’t do that.”

His comment drops my stress a degree, and I take a cleansing breath. “Whatever this says, you’re not responsible for me or any baby.”

His eyes flash, and a sly smile creeps up his lips. “That’s where you’re wrong. You are mine. Any child you carry is mine. I didn’t plan to claim you, but now that I have, I’m looking forward to having you round with my child. Papa will be pissed, but it won’t be the first time.”

My voice catches in the back of my throat. Not the life affirming declaration of love I would have hoped for in another life. My phone beeps telling me it’s time. I pick up the test and hold it out for both of us to peruse. It’s positive. I wait for an explosion, expecting to hear Russian expletives, but instead I’m pulled into gentle arms and held while he whispers Russian words about love and family.

He murmurs. “Thank you.”

I lean back, staring at the Beast and sigh. “For?”

“Giving me a family.”

“You can’t be happy about this?”

He cocks his head and smiles. “Amazingly happy, I should add.”

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