Page 63 of Tattooed Vow

I stare out the window as the city passes in a blur, one hand unconsciously resting on my still-flat stomach. Somewhere inside me, a new life is growing. A life that is half me and half Dimitri. This life will be born into a world of danger, power struggles, loyalty, and betrayal.

Can I bring a child into this world?Should I?

“What are you thinking?” Talia asks softly, her voice too low for the men in front to hear.

“I'm thinking about when you told me you were pregnant with Angelina,” I reply honestly. “You were so scared getting caught up in all this Bratva business. But you still chose to embrace it—the pregnancy, the family, all of it.”

“I did,” Talia acknowledges. “But my choice doesn't have to be your choice. We're different people with different hearts.”

“How did you know it was the right choice?”

“I didn't,” she says simply. “I just knew I loved Aleksandr, and despite all the complications and dangers of his world, I wanted his child. It wasn't rational, it was visceral.”

As we approach the Avilov estate, my anxiety begins to mount again. The gates swing open, revealing the sprawling property that has become my home over the past weeks.

“Talia,” I say as the car comes to a stop. “I need you not to tell Aleksandr. Not yet.”

She studies my face before nodding. “I won't lie to him if he asks directly, but I won't volunteer the information.”

“Fair enough.” I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “I need a few days to think.”

“Take all the time you need,” she says. "But sis? Secrets have a way of coming out in this family. Especially life-changing ones.”

I know she is right. In the Bratva, information is currency, and it is only a matter of time before Dimitri learns about my clinic visit.

As we walk toward the main house, I see Aleksandr standing on the terrace, his powerful frame silhouetted against the afternoon sun. Even from a distance, I can feel his penetrating gaze assessing us, checking for any signs of trouble. His eyes soften visibly when they land on Talia, and the transformation is still remarkable to witness.

Talia gives my hand one final squeeze before releasing it. “Go rest. I'll handle Aleksandr's questions.”

Grateful for the reprieve, I enter the house and go straight to the guest bedroom.

“A baby,” I whisper, testing how the reality feels when spoken aloud. “Dimitri's baby.”

The words sound strange on my tongue, neither wholly terrifying nor wholly welcome. Just...real. Undeniably real.

I think of Dimitri as I'd last seen him, fierce and determined as he pored over maps and security reports with Aleksandr, planning Morozov's downfall. I think of the tenderness he only shows me, the vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior. Will he be a good father? I have no doubt. Despite his dangerous profession, Dimitri has a protective nature and a strong sense of family.

But am I ready to be a mother? To tie myself to the Avilov Bratva permanently through the most unbreakable of bonds? To raise a child in a world where violence is currency and power is measured in blood?

A soft knock at the door interrupts my spiraling thoughts.

“It's me,” Talia's voice calls softly.

I wipe away tears I didn’t realize I was shedding and clear my throat. “Come in.”

Talia enters, carrying a tray with tea and crackers. “I thought you might need something gentle for your stomach.”

“Thanks,” I manage.

She sets the tray down and sits beside me on the bed. “Aleksandr knows something's up, but I told him it was a personal female matter, and you'll share when you are ready.”

“And he accepted that?”

A small smile touches Talia's lips. “He won’t push when I use that tone.”

Despite everything, I find myself returning her smile. “The perks of being thepakhan'swife.”

“Indeed.” Her expression grows serious again. “How are you feeling? Really?”

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