Page 61 of The Enemy's Defector
Just don’t push them and be open.
That seemed easier said than done when I was prevented from fully being part of the family. I had yet to meet Sloane. Anastasia was away. And Grigory was too temperamental for Nik to bring me to him to see him. The poisoning had altered him and his personality was volatile now, so perhaps keeping me from Grigory was more for my safety than his.
Besides the awkwardness of trying to fit in, I was vexed and overwhelmed with the medical services. Now that we weren’t on the run and I was privy to all that Nik had, that included thorough medical care.
A team of a doctor and nurse came to the building for my first prenatal checkup, but I wasn’t on board with keeping everything at “home”.
I smirked at Nik as he stood near the foot of the bed in a guest room on the main level while I sat there and waited for the bloodwork to be sent in. The doctor—who was sweet—and the nurse—who was chipper—were fine. But I wasn’t content with this plan I had no say in.
The moment both of them stepped out of the room, I glared at Nik. “All I’m saying is that when the time comes, I’d rather have this baby in a hospital.”
He shrugged. “Tough shit.”
“No. Tough shit foryou,” I corrected. He wouldn’t bully me or control me just because that was what he was used to. “I can deal with having the checkups and appointments here with them traveling to do these things on your turf, but I am having this baby in the hospital.”
“The hell you are.” He furrowed his brow, watching me stand, then shook his head as if I were a pain in the ass. “I don’t understand why this has to matter so much in the first place.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, defensive in this pose. “Most women would appreciate this. Not having to go for frequent appointments. Doing things on your schedule. No waiting rooms.”
“It’s not the matter of convenience,” I argued as I crossed my arms.
“I don’t care.” I pushed past him and stormed out of the room. “I’m not having this baby at home. If I have to drive to the hospital myself, then I will.”
He stormed after me, not letting me have the last word. I wasn’t sure where the hell I was even going, but moving away from him seemed like the sanest option.
“The fuck you will,” he argued. “Stop and think for a second how this makesmefeel.”
I growled, spinning to glower at him. “How you feel? Howyoufeel? You came inside me and that’s it. I’m the one carrying this baby. I’m the one being pregnant. I’m the one who’s delivering this child. It’sme. My body and health care. You’re a spectator for now!”
He loomed over me, not giving an inch. “I’m not denying that. But stop and think about how I feel at the idea of taking you to the same fucking place where I was kidnapped. Consider for a second how I have to grapple with the concern about your being taken at that same parking lot. That I could be taken from you again.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, cut the crap. You had your phone with you the whole time you were in captivity. Yes, you were taken, but youchoseto stay captured, all for spying on those who schemed against you.”
He gritted his teeth, seething.
“And don’t you dare talk down to me about letting me out of this house. I was with you as we ran. I protectedyou”—I jabbed my finger at his chest—“I took a bullet for you. I killed for you. So don’t even think about acting like I’m some helpless damsel in distress who can’t handle this life, Nik.”
He stepped away for a second then rounded back at me. “You are my wife now. You can’t act like you have to have your way just for the hell of it anymore.”
“Who says I am?”
“Me! I bring you here and offer you the best care—at home, at your convenience—and you can’t be grateful for my protection?—”
I growled, shoving at him with both hands. Guards tensed behind him, ever-present in the background. “Fuck your convenience, Nik. How do you think you’re going to protect me when I start bleeding to death during delivery? Huh? Are you going to set up an operation room and stock it just in case? What about when the best surgeon struggles to keep me alive? What then? You’re going to employ multiple experts to come here and handle the situation?”
He furrowed his brow, stepping back. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about trying to meet you in the middle, Nik. I understand I’m a ‘guest’ here until I get everyone’s approval. I understand that the guards standing right behind you aren’t fully convinced I’m not a threat and an enemy just because I was a Kozlov, that if I dare to speak up and fight with you, they might try to detain me.”
He whipped around to glare at them.
“And Iamgrateful that you married me and brought me here to keep this baby safe. But try to get your head out of your ass and not be so domineering for one damn second to realize that not having standard medical care in a hospital might feel likea death sentence to me when my mother died giving birth to me. That having this baby will already be scary enough that I’d feel much more comfortable near the best resources to keep me alive.”
Spent with that rant, I huffed out one last breath and stormed away from him.
He could let that sink in his dense head. Of course, he’d be protective. But he had to listen to me too.
I didn’t get far.
After whirling around, I stopped short at the sight of Lucy and another woman standing next to her. The leggy blonde raised both brows at me while my former maid frowned.
