Page 27 of Unexpected Bratva Baby

He kisses me softly. “We’ll continue this conversation later, I promise. For now, make yourself comfortable. I shouldn’t be too long.”

With that, he rises and dresses quickly. I watch him transform from the passionate man I was just intimate with into the powerful businessman I first met. It is a startling change, and it leaves me feeling unsettled.

As the door closes behind him, I flop back onto the pillows with a sigh. The contrast between Mikhail’s moments of intense focus on me and his sudden distractions is puzzling. Rolling onto my side, I breathe in Mikhail’s scent lingering on the pillow. Whatever he’s hiding, I choose to believe in what we have. With time, I hope, he’ll open up to me completely.

It’s going to drive me crazy if I don’t address the other situation though, so I get dressed and slip out of his penthouse. I don’t know when he’ll be back, and I need to do all the mundane chores of life, like laundry, so I head home, stopping by the pharmacy on the way to grab morning-after pills. I don’t fully relax until I’ve taken them while standing by my kitchen sink a while later.

Then I text him to let him know I decided to go home but will see him tomorrow. It’s late before he replies, and I’ve already been asleep for a while.

I missed coming back to find you in my bed. It’s too cold without you now.

The message makes me smile as I sleepily key a reply before returning to sleep.

10

Mikhail

Ipace the length of my office, the plush carpet muffling my footsteps. Sergei stands at attention, his face a mask of stoic professionalism as he delivers his report. I ball my hands into fists. “Are you certain?” I ask, controlled despite the anger simmering beneath the surface.

He nods. “Yes, boss. Our sources confirm it. Valdés believes we were behind Mendoza’s death despite our precautions.”

I turn to face the windows, counting to ten to maintain composure. The city glitters below, oblivious to the storm brewing in the underworld. “And he’s made his move?”

“He has.” Sergei’s voice carries a hint of concern. “He’s become bolder. We’ve received surveillance photos of Phoebe.”

My blood turns to ice. I spin around, fixing Sergei with a piercing stare. “Show me.”

He hesitates for a moment before pulling out an envelope from his jacket. I snatch it from his hand, tearing it open. The photos spill out onto my desk, and my heart constricts.

Phoebe, walking Masha down the street. Phoebe, laughing with a coworker outside the coffee shop. Phoebe, stepping out of her apartment building, unaware of the danger surrounding her.

“When were these taken?” I demand.

“Over the past week. The message is clear, boss. Valdés is targeting her to get to you.”

I slam my fist on the desk, the sharp crack echoing through the room. Sergei doesn’t flinch at my rare outburst of temper. “Unacceptable. We need to neutralize this threat immediately.”

Sergei shifts his weight, a sign of discomfort from my usually unflappable lieutenant. “It’s not that simple, boss. Valdés has gone to ground. We can’t locate him or his inner circle.”

I close my eyelids, taking a deep breath to center myself. When I open them again, my mind is clear and focused on the task at hand. “Very well. Increase surveillance on all of Valdés’ known associates. I want our people in every corner of this city.”

“Yes, boss.”

“And Phoebe...” I pause, the words catching in my throat. “Double her security detail. Discreetly. She can’t know she’s being watched.”

Sergei raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s wise? Perhaps it’s time to tell her the truth about who you are, and in what she’s involved.”

I shake my head firmly. “No. Not yet. I need time to figure out how to protect her without losing her.”

“As you wish,” he says, his tone neutral. “Is there anything else?”

I wave my hand dismissively. “No. That’ll be all for now. Keep me updated on any developments.”

He nods and exits the office, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the damning photos spread across my desk.

Hours pass while I pour over reports, make calls, and formulate plans. The sun dips below the horizon before fading to inky darkness. My eyes burn from staring at screens and documents, but I push through the fatigue.

I’ve built an empire on calculated risks and strategic moves. I’ve outsmarted rivals and outmaneuvered law enforcement, but now, faced with a threat to the one person who’s brought light into my shadowy world, I’m at a loss.

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