Page 4 of Pregnant By the Bratva

I shake my head. “Too easy. They’d expect that. No, we hit them where it hurts most—right at the core. We’ve already taken their biggest clients. Now, we’ll make sure the rest of their empire crumbles from the inside out. We turn their own people against them, show them that loyalty to the Prestons is a death sentence.”

Violet nods, her voice quiet but firm. “And what about Sophia Preston? She’s a weakness, Ivan. Kace keeps her out of the dark, away from all of this.”

A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “She is a weakness. And weaknesses are meant to be exploited. Not through brute force—no, that would be too crude. We use her as leverage, as a way to get under Kace’s skin. He thinks she’s safe, untouched by the darkness of this world. We’ll show him just how wrong he is.”

Kirill’s smirk widens. “You want to drag her into this? That’s bold, even for you, Ivan.”

I meet his gaze, unwavering. “Boldness is what this situation requires. The Prestons have played their hand—they think money is all it takes to weaken us. They don’t understand that our strength goes far beyond that. We’re going to hit them in a way they won’t see coming, and when we’re done, they’ll wish they’d never crossed us.”

Maxim leans in, lowering his voice. “I’ll start making arrangements. We’ll need to move carefully, make sure there’s no trace back to us.”

“Do it,” I say, my tone final. “Keep your eyes on New York. They’ve hidden well, but everyone makes mistakes. The moment they slip up, we’ll be ready.”

Kirill’s expression darkens, the anger simmering just below the surface. “Of course.”

I don’t hesitate. “No time like the present. Get on with it now.”

A murmur of agreement ripples through the room, but I can see it in their eyes—the hunger for revenge, the need to restore our honor. The Prestons think they’ve won by taking our money. They don’t realize they’ve only set the stage for their own destruction.

I push back my chair, the sound of it scraping against the floor, echoing through the room. “This isn’t over. It’s just the beginning. When we’re done, the Prestons will be nothing more than a memory—a lesson in what happens when you dare to challenge the Bratva.”

As the meeting adjourns, the men and Violet rise from their seats, the tension lingering in the air like the aftermath of a storm. Maxim exchanges a brief nod with me, already focused on the task ahead. I watch him leave, his steps purposeful as he heads out to put our plans into motion. The others follow suit, each with their own role to play, their loyalty unwavering.

Kirill lingers behind, his eyes following the last of the men out of the room. Once we’re alone, he gestures for me to join him in the hallway. I follow him out, the door closing with a heavy thud behind us. The dim lighting of the corridor casts long shadows, making the space feel even narrower.

Kirill stops a few steps away from the meeting room, turning to face me. His expression is serious, but there’s a hint of something else in his eyes—something softer, more reflective. It’s not a look I’m used to seeing from him, and it catches me off guard.

“Ivan,” he begins, his voice low and steady, “I’m glad you’re stepping up. We need that now more than ever.”

I hold his gaze, searching for the meaning behind his words. Kirill has always been the one in charge, the one who’s led us through the darkest times. His presence has been a constant, an unshakable force that’s kept the Bratva together. Lately, something’s changed. He’s pulled back, let me take the reins more and more.

“I’m just doing what needs to be done,” I reply, though I know there’s more to it than that.

He nods, his expression softening slightly. “You are. Since I married Violet….” He trails off, as if searching for the right words. “Things have shifted. I’ve taken a step back. Not because I don’t care, but because I’ve found something—someone—that matters more.”

I know what he means. I’ve seen the change in him since Violet came into his life. She’s grounded him in a way nothing else could. Where there used to be nothing but rage and a drive for vengeance, there’s now something else—a desire to protect, to build a future. It’s made him softer in some ways, but I know better than to mistake that for weakness.

“I get it,” I say, my tone understanding. “You’ve been leading us for years. You deserve to have something for yourself.”

Kirill’s eyes flash with gratitude, but he doesn’t let it linger. “I trust you, Ivan. You’ve proven yourself over and over again. I need you to keep doing that. The Prestons won’t stop with this. They’ll push, they’ll try to find any crack they can exploit. We need to be stronger than ever.”

I nod, the weight of his words settling on my shoulders. “We will be. I won’t let them take what’s ours.”

For a moment, we stand there in silence, the bond between us stronger than words could ever convey. Kirill may have taken a step back, but I know he’s still with me—still ready to fight if it comes to that. And I’m ready to lead, to ensure that our enemies never forget who they’re dealing with.

He claps a hand on my shoulder, a rare gesture of affection. “We’ve got this.”

“We do,” I agree, feeling the resolve harden within me. We’re in this together, as we’ve always been.

Chapter Two

Sarah

The exam hall is quiet, filled with the soft scratching of pencils and the occasional rustle of paper. I move through the questions with practiced ease, each one simpler than the last. The math is straightforward, the logic almost insultingly basic. I answer each question in quick succession, barely needing to pause to think. It’s almost laughable how easy this is.

When I reach the last problem, I double-check my work out of habit. Perfect. I glance at the clock on the wall—there’s still plenty of time left, but I’m already done. No point in sticking around. I gather my things, careful not to draw too much attention as I stand and walk to the front of the room.

The professor looks up as I approach, a polite smile on his face. He takes the exam paper from me, scanning the first page briefly. “Thank you, Miss Preston,” he says, his voice warm with approval.

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