Page 55 of Unexpected Bratva Baby

“Shh.” He pulls me close again. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you or our child.”

Our child. The words send a jolt through me, reminding me of the tiny life growing inside me. A life now in danger because of who its father is. I pull away from Mikhail, wrapping my arms around myself. “How can you say that? How can you promise to keep us safe when your world is so dangerous?”

He flinches before his expression softens. He reaches out, taking my hand and leading me to the plush sofa. We sit, our knees touching, and he doesn’t let go of my hand. “I’ve lied to you in the past. I’ve kept things from you, but please believe me when I say that protecting you and our child is now my highest priority.”

I search his face, looking for any sign of deception. All I see is sincerity and determination. “I want to believe you, but how can I trust you after everything?”

He takes a deep breath. “Let me tell you a story… About my father, and how I came to be who I am today.”

I nod, settling back into the sofa.

He seems distant as he begins to speak. “My father was a hard man. Brilliant in business, and ruthless with his enemies, but he was not a good father. He saw me as a disappointment and too soft for the world we lived in.” Mikhail seems lost in memory. “When I was twelve, he took me on my first...job. We went to collect a debt from a man who had borrowed money from thebratva. The man couldn’t pay.”

I tremble, guessing where this story is going.

“My father handed me a gun. He told me to shoot the man, to prove I was worthy of the Sokolov name.”

“Did you?” I whisper, dreading the answer.

He shakes his head. “I couldn’t do it. I dropped the gun and ran. My father was furious. He beat me severely that night, telling me if I was weak, I would never survive in our world.”

My heart aches for the boy Mikhail had been. I squeeze his hand, offering what comfort I can.

“That night changed me,” he says. “I swore I would become stronger, smarter, and more ruthless than my father ever was. I would prove him wrong.” He turns to me, looking sad but resigned. “I’ve done terrible things, Phoebe. I’ve hurt people and killed people, but I’ve also built something. I’ve created anempire that provides for thousands. I protect those under my care.”

“Including me?” I ask softly, feeling reassured though I should probably be disgusted by his confessions.

“Especially you,” he says fiercely. “You and our child are my future. A chance at something I never thought I could have. A family. Love.”

The raw honesty in his voice makes my breath catch. I see the boy he was, the man he’s become, and all the layers that make up Mikhail Sokolov. “I’m scared. This world you live in is so different from anything I’ve known.”

He brings our joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. “I know, but you can do this, and I’ll be at your side.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. He puts his arm around me, holding me close. For the first time since the incident at the community center, I feel safe. “What happens now?” I ask.

“We prepare,” he says, his voice taking on a harder edge. “Valdés has made his move. We must respond and continue with the plan I outlined before. We do our best to continue to undermine him.”

I tense, remembering the violence at the community center. “Will there be more fighting?”

Mikhail sighs. “I wish I could say no, but Valdés won’t stop until I deal with him, either by undercutting his standing and power or by killing him. I’ll do everything in my power to keep the violence away from you.”

I nod, accepting his words. This is his world, dangerous and complex, but it’s my world now too if I’m going to be with him—and I can’t imagine leaving him. “I believe you.”

I close my eyes, savoring the closeness, and realize something has shifted between us. The fear and resentment that had been clouding my feelings for Mikhail have receded. In their place is a new understanding and a deeper connection.

This isn’t the life I imagined for myself, but the alternative is to live without him, and that isn’t really an option. I can’t imagine going back to the life I had before when I’m aware of how much he loves me, and how deeply I love him. This is it, for better or worse.

A couple of days later,I pace back and forth across the penthouse living room, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet with each step. Masha trots beside me, her nails clicking on the marble floor when she veers off the rug. She looks up at me with her big brown eyes, head tilted in confusion at my restless energy.

“I know, girl,” I say, pausing to scratch behind her ear. “I’m not sure what’s going on either. Your daddy just told me to be waiting for him.”

The elevator dings, and I freeze. Masha’s uninjured ear perks up, and she bounds toward the sound. I follow more slowly, smoothing my hands over my dress and taking a deep breath.

Mikhail steps out, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. He smiles when he sees me, and all my nervousness melts away. Irush forward, throwing my arms around his neck. He catches me easily, lifting me off my feet in a loving embrace.

“Phoebe,” he murmurs into my hair. “I’ve missed you.”

I pull back slightly, suddenly self-conscious about my enthusiasm since he was only gone a few hours, but he doesn’t let me retreat. He cups my face in his hands, capturing my lips in a kiss that makes my toes curl.

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