Page 71 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
They stood and hugged them both tightly. “Thank you for coming. I’ll miss you.”
“We’ll miss you too,” Vera said with a warm smile.
“This isn’t goodbye,” Kira added, blowing me a kiss as they turned to leave.
I watched them go, already feeling their absence. I missed them the moment the door closed. Their excitement about the baby…their support…it meant the world to me. And now, more than anything, I wanted to share that same feeling with my brothers.
Lev stepped back into the room.
“Are you okay?” he asked, eyes sweeping over me like he expected Vera and Kira to have hurt me.
“I’m fine. Thank you for letting them come.” Then I added hesitantly, “I’d like to see my brothers, too.”
“No.”
I blinked. “What do you mean, no? You let Kira and Vera in, why not them?”
“They’re different. Your brothers will try to use you. Especially Artyom. I won’t allow that.”
“Then forget Artyom, what about Yegor and Zahkar? They’re not threats. You saw that yourself at the house.”
“They’re aligned with him. They help run their faction. It’s not safe.”
I let out a bitter, humorless laugh. “Why am I even asking? You're not my master, Lev. I don’t need your permission to see my siblings.”
His expression turned to stone and the temperature in the room dropped with it.
“If you think I’ll let you put yourself and our child at risk because you’re feeling sentimental, think again. In our world, being sentimental gets you killed.”
A flash of pain crossed his face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. His cold, unreadable mask slid back into place. He stepped closer to the bed, bracing his hands on either side of my hips, his eyes locking with mine.
“When we leave this clinic, you’ll have security with you, everywhere. And if you try to run, Katya, the dungeon that you joked about when we first met? That can still be an option.”
My stomach twisted. My tone matched his stoic one as I spoke. “You think that scares me? I don’t care anymore! I’m done letting you dictate who I can or can’t see. I’m pregnant. Iwant our child to know their family…all of them. You’re being selfish.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m being careful. There’s a difference.”
“You’re being controlling,” I snapped. “And you’re not even trying to hide it. You didn’t show up for the ultrasound. You disappeared after finding out I was pregnant, and if it weren’t for Vera and Kira, I’d still be alone.”
“I was overwhelmed. I needed time to think.”
My anger flared. “And I'm not? I didn’t need time to think? This child is in my body! Mine! I was terrified, Lev. And still am. Yet, you left me to deal with it by myself.”
He reached for my hand. I pulled away.
“Don’t.”
His hand dropped slowly, and he took a few steps away from the bed, the silence stretching between us like a noose.
I pressed my fingers to my temples, rubbing slow circles as the throb of an oncoming headache settled in. Arguing with Lev was like slamming into a brick wall, pointless and exhausting. I decided to change the subject before I lost what was left of my sanity.
“What are you going to do?” I asked softly, looking at him. “About the baby…and me? We both know I wasn’t part of your plan.”
“We’ll talk when we’re home.”
I tilted my head. “Why not now? Is your answer going to magically change tomorrow?”
Lev sighed. “Katya, not everything has to be a fight.”
