Page 31 of Secret Bratva Baby
He clenches his jaw, the muscles feathering across his face. His fists are clenched in his lap, too.
“Yes,” he says tightly.
I’ve spent such a long time over these past few days trying to figure out what the hell is going on and what landed me in this situation. It wasn’t anything I’d done, not directly—except for the fact that I chose to date a man in the mafia.
Although I didn’t know that at the time.
Would I still have dated him if I knew?
He didn’t give me the option to make that choice for myself.
My head continues to spin with confusion and anxiety.
I stand up, unable to talk anymore.
“I need some time to think,” I say calmly.
“Rose, don’t you have questions? Don’t you want to talk some more?” He stands as well, reluctant to let me leave, but clearly not about to force anything.
I shake my head. “No. I need time. Please, just give me some space. I’m tired, I’m overwhelmed, I’m scared—and I’m really confused.”
He nods. “I understand. Please know how sorry I am for all of this.”
Luka’s eyes stay on me as I walk away from him. I can feel them piercing into me, the longing in his gaze heavy on my back as I step into the house.
I need to be alone right now.
Upstairs in the coral and green bedroom, I climb beneath the covers next to my daughter. I’m suddenly drained of every ounce of energy I had. I set my head on the pillow and wrap my arm around her delicate body. There isn’t any point in fighting sleep so that I can think; I’m past the point of having control over it.
As soon as I close my eyes, I drift off into restless dreams and confusing ideas that taunt my thoughts.
Chapter 9 - Luka
I watch her walk away. Her hips sway, and my eyes trace over her perfect figure. She doesn’t turn back to look at me as she disappears from view.
I can’t be angry that she doesn’t want to talk to me now. The things that I told her are a lot to take in. She needs time to process.
Just like I need time to process the fact that Lily is my daughter.Mine. And I missed the first three years of her life.
A deep ache sits in my chest, a scar that formed over the past hour. Rose had every right to hide her from me.
In fact, she didn’t even need to hide her. I made it impossible for her to tell me, even if she wanted to.
I’m an asshole. Why didn’t I check up on her? Not even once?
I thought I was keeping her safe by staying away—but then how did my rivals find her?
I’ve ruined things so badly. And I don’t know if she is going to be able to forgive me for any of this. Even now, now that she’s back in my life, the only reason is that someone wanted to kidnap her and use her against me. It’s my fault.
I saw the way her eyes glazed over when I told her who I really am.
She’s in shock, trying to process it.
Or she’s terrified of me now and doesn’t know how to handle it.
Either way, I can’t force her to talk to me. I can’t make her accept me for who I am. It has to be her choice. I have to wait.
The sky gets darker as I watch it, looking up at the stars, trying to convince myself I made the right choice four years ago. But the guilt is too much, and when I do drag myself up to bed, I’m heavy and exhausted. Lily doesn’t even know I’m her father. Is Rose willing to let me be a father to our daughter, or will she want to get as far away from me as possible?
