Page 65 of Unexpected Bratva Baby

I shake my head, my voice muffled against his shirt. “No, I’m okay. Just shaken.”

He tightens his arm around me. “I’m sorry you had to see that,moya lyubov. I never wanted you to be caught in the middle of this.”

I pull back slightly, looking up at him. His face is etched with concern, a bruise already forming on his jaw where Valdés struck him, and his nose is still trickling blood. I reach up, gently tracing the contour of his face with my fingertips. “Is it truly over?”

Mikhail nods. “Yes,dorogaya. The threat from Valdés is over. He’s gone, and his organization will crumble without him.”

Relief washes over me, so intense it makes my knees weak. Mikhail must realize it and guides me to the bed, sitting down beside me. “What happens now?”

He sighs, relaxing slightly. “We rebuild. We strengthen our position in Miami and make sure no one tries to fill the power vacuum left by Valdés, and most importantly,” he says, his free hand coming to rest on my belly, “We prepare for our future.”

I cover his hand with mine, feeling the slightest swell of our growing child beneath my palm. “I can’t believe how close wecame to losing all of this,” I say, leaning my head against his shoulder.

He turns, pressing a kiss to my temple. “But we didn’t lose it,lyubov moya. We’re here, we’re safe, and we’re together. That’s what matters.”

I nod, letting his words sink in. We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in our thoughts. The gentle hum of the yacht’s engines and the distant lapping of waves against the hull create a soothing backdrop.

I convince him to come with me into the bathroom to clean up. I wince when he almost casually wrenches his nose back into alignment. “Ewww.”

He laughs. “It’s not the first time I’ve had a broken nose, and I’m not wasting half the night waiting for Dr. Falkav to get to me.” He methodically cleans his face as he shares that.

“Fair enough, but still…ewww.” He laughs again as I take his hand and lead him back to the bedroom. Once on the bed, I say, “This isn’t exactly how I imagined our wedding night would go.”

Mikhail chuckles. “No? You didn’t envision a shootout and a dramatic showdown with a rival mafia boss?”

I laugh, the tension of the night finally starting to dissipate. “Strangely enough, no. I was thinking more along the lines of sparkling cider and rose petals.”

Mikhail stands, pulling me up with him. “Mrs. Sokolov, the night is still young. How about we start with getting you out of this ruined wedding dress?”

He moves his hand to the zipper at the back of my dress, slowly sliding it down. The tattered fabric falls away, pooling at myfeet. He looks at me, his eyes darkening with desire. “You’re beautiful.”

I shiver at his touch, my skin tingling. “So are you, Mr. Sokolov. Although,” I say, reaching up to loosen his tie, “You’re a bit overdressed for the occasion.”

He grins. “We can’t have that, can we?”

We undress each other slowly, savoring each touch and each kiss. It’s a reaffirmation of life and our love after coming so close to losing it all. When we finally come together, it’s with a passion born of relief and joy, and the promise of a future together. Afterward, we lie tangled in the sheets, my head resting on his chest. He traces lazy patterns on my back, sending pleasant shivers through me.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, his voice soft in the quiet room.

I prop myself up on my elbow, looking down at him. In the dim light, his eyes are a deep, mesmerizing blue. “I’m thinking about how surreal this all is. A few months ago, I was just a girl working in a coffee shop, dreaming of opening my own Scottish cultural center. Now, I’m married to the head of the Russian mafia, pregnant with his child, and I just survived a shootout on our wedding day.”

He cups my cheek, brushing his thumb across my lips. “Do you regret it?” he asks, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

I press against his touch, shaking my head. “Not for a second. It’s been dangerous, and terrifying at times, but it’s also been the most exhilarating, passionate time of my life. I love you, Mikhail, danger and all.”

A smile spreads across his face. “I love you too, Phoebe.”

He pulls me down for a soft and tender kiss. When we part, I settle back against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “What’s next for the Sokolov family?” I ask.

He touches my belly again, resting his hand protectively over our child. “First, we need to finish our honeymoon. We’ll need to start planning the nursery.”

I smile at the thought. “I can’t wait to see you as a father. You’re going to be amazing.”

“We both will be,” he says, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “We’re a team,lyubov moya. Always.”

As we lie there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I let myself embrace contentment. The danger probably isn’t gone forever—I’m not naïve enough to believe that—but for now, we’re safe. We’re together, and we have a future to look forward to.

The gentle rocking of the yacht and the warmth of his body lulls me toward sleep. As my eyelids drift closed, I send up a silent prayer of thanks for this man, this life, and the adventures that lie ahead.

---