Page 50 of Code of Captivity

“You do realise someone else will take over?”

“I do, but it won't be you.”

The world was cruel, but we all had to pull our weight. The flesh trade made me feel sick. After many discussions and with enough information that his men reported back to him, Adrik didn’t hesitate to close it all down. The only reason it took so long was that vulnerable young women needed to be placed back into society.

“What do we tell the kid how we met?” I asked, rubbing my belly.

“I will be telling them the truth. You sent me a dirty email,” he said with a smirk.

I gasped but realised it was true. The email I sent with the malware attached to it had been a titty link.

“Well, technically I sent it to one of your employees,” I said with a smirk of my own.

He frowned before he smiled. “I caught the rabbit, though.”

“The poor kid is going to be traumatised before he or she comes out,” I said with a sigh.

“Viktor is going to be the godfather. The kid never stood a chance,” he said dryly.

I frowned because that was true.

“How about we ask Rurik—”

“No. Not him. He isn't normal. Who does that much good in the world? I’m telling you, he does it just to stick it to people like me. No, we stick with Viktor. Better the psycho we know and trust.”

I shrugged. “At least the baby will be well-protected with all the psychos around it.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to bring my laptop up here?”

“Yes—no. You have your meeting today.”

“I can send Viktor up.”

“No, I will end up stabbing him with your dagger. Then we need to go through the shortlist for potential Godfathers again,” I said nodding at the dagger he still slept with.

“Bunny, you couldn't even aim a pillow at me. I’m sure Viktor will be safe.”

“You can go now,” I said, pursing my lips together tightly.

With a grin and a kiss, he left as quickly as he came, lingering in the doorway with a final glimpse before vanishing.

“It’s just you and me now, kid,” I said to my bump, smiling when I felt him or her kick. “I should write a Bratva parenting guide next. What do you think?”

I opened up my laptop and began my research, but at the back of my mind, I wondered how Adrik would greet our child into this world.

Adrik

Two Weeks Later

I never imagined that I could feel such unadulterated love and devotion like this, but as I cradled my tiny daughter against my chest, this was all I could feel. Poor Bunny was exhausted and slept, knowing I held our daughter. When she continued to fight sleep, she confessed that she didn't want the nurses to take Alya. Her reasoning made the hair at the back of my neck rise. The thought of anyone harming our innocent daughter made me physically sick.

As I paced the room, gently speaking to Alya I would stop and stare at Ania in awe. She created this tiny being. Alya came from her mother. I was there—I witnessed it all—but I couldn't believe a monster like me could create such an innocent being, completely untainted.

With a sigh, I parted Alya’s blanket to touch her miniature fingers, uncurling them to see her nails again. She was perfect, and like her mother, she was mine—mine to hold, love, and protect. I didn't feel deserving of such a precious gift, but I was a selfish man when it came to all things Bunny.