Page 96 of Cruel Russian Monster
Lev couldn't wait until Vera and I had our baby, just so they'd stop spoiling Alexi as much as they did. Kira said it wouldn’t make a difference. Alexi was the first of the cousins, and, as she put it, that made him king.
Like the other women, she was hoping for a girl. So was Vera.
Me? Not really. The idea of some little punk trying to charm my daughter made my blood pressure rise already.
But if I did have a daughter, I wouldn't be mad about it.
What I wanted was simple: a healthy baby and a healthy wife. That was all I needed.
I looked across Lev’s lounge.
Artyom was at the bar, talking and laughing with Mariya and Katya. In one corner, Kira and Ninel were animatedly telling a story as Zahkar propped up Vera against him, and they laughed.
My wife was glowing.
At six months pregnant, I couldn’t get enough of how she looked or how she felt under my hands. And her sex drive? Insatiable.
The first few months had been hell, though. Her morning sickness was brutal, and at one point, Dr. Decker had to hook her up to IVs.
The women visited Vera every day. That helped me breathe easier when I had to leave for work. And when I couldn’t be there, Tomas kept an eye on her.
I was sitting with Lev, Yegor, Avit, Marten, and Pyotr around the table. The beers were empty, and the conversation had moved from business to life.
The changes between our factions? They were real.
And the fact that Artyom was sitting in Lev's lounge, sipping a drink and chatting with Katya?
That said everything.
“So when are you guys leaving?” Yegor asked quietly, looking at Vera.
“As soon as we leave here.”
“Have you told her?” Avit asked.
“Nope. She'll find out when she gets there,” I grinned.
“And what if she doesn't want to go?” Marten asked.
All the guys looked at him.
“What woman is going to say no to a trip where she gets to shop?” Pyotr asked.
The other guys chuckled.
“Definitely, not Vera,” Yegor laughed.
“Have you contacted our allies in the places you have layovers?” Lev asked.
“I have,” I said, looking at Vera. “And the best doctors in each place.”
“Sounds like a good move.” Lev said. “Get as much rest as you can, because when that baby comes, you won't be getting much of it.”
“Pffft,” Pyotr scoffed. “Jaroslav has enough babysitters here to fill that quota. My advice would be to get as much sex as you can. Because even though you'll have baby sisters by the time you crawl into bed at night, you'll be too tired…to well…lift anything.”
The guys laughed, and I shook my head.
“Now that is some good advice,” Lev said.
