Page 66 of Captive Vows
He’d killed to save me. He’d spent so much time and money to provide for me and show me the wonderful world of intimacy.
If I didn’t dwell on it and think too hard about it, these Dubinin men were becoming something like a family. One I’d found, rather than been born into. But if I were to actually have a baby and grow my own little family here with them…
Oh, God.
Dread claimed me again. I had to know. I glanced at the timer I’d set and resolved to wait the full time for the test, to ensure it could be as accurate as possible.
“One more minute,” I whispered to myself, as if hearing my voice would steady my nerves.
I had to know. Then I’d react. Whatever the results were, I’d survive. That was what I was best at.
While it was becoming easier to adjust and see Luka—and even the others like Emil, Ivan, and Alexsei—as family, that was it. Allen, too, I supposed. He was all right. But past that groupof men, the rest of their organization consisted of a bunch of strangers to me. Nameless yet there, always in the background and never for me to deal with personally.
Especiallythem.
Narrowing my eyes at my reflection in the mirror, I listened to the telltale sound of one of the maids moving throughout the hallway. Luka was the boss of a huge organization, and that included a hefty house staff here at his house.
I realized within my first month of being here that they’d never welcome me.
The maids. All the housekeepers. Even a couple of the cooks. They’d made it clear that I wasn’t a distinguished guest. With slight smirks and side-eyes, they’d given me the impression that I was a nuisance here, unwanted and rejected no matter how much I’d practically moved into Luka’s bed and stayed in his room with him.
I wasn’t eager to explore why they had such antagonism to me. From the gossip I overheard, when they assumed I wasn’t near to hear anything, they counted on my being gone soon. That I was just a pastime, a temporary fuck toy for Luka before he’d tire of me and get bored until he got rid of me.
They’d talk without a care when Luka and the others weren’t in the house. I heard it all, filing it away to better know who my enemies were and what I’d need to look out for. It hadn’t seemed to matter when Luka spent more time with me here. Near him, they’d be obedient. With him around, they wouldn’t dare to talk shit about me.
Like that, they were proving to be catty, mean girls. Jealous, perhaps, that Luka wouldn’t pay attention to them.
For the first couple of months of sleeping with Luka, I hadn’t thought much about it. I dismissed it, secure in Luka’s desire. I felt safe with even Emil’s tentative approval. Ivan and Alexsei seemed to assume I was here to stay for now, and I could fit in.
But the house staff were something else. They’d never be my family. I still didn’t have a friend here. And I could’ve used one with this panic that I could be pregnant. Instead of being able to ask one of the maids for a pregnancy test, I had to spend a couple of days hunting down a test kit in the guest bathrooms.
They had to be suspicious of even that. I knew they’d noticed me snooping.
So what? Fuck them. Find out what’s going on in your life and ignore them.
Pushing out a deep exhale, I straightened and reached for the test. The time was up. I held my breath as I turned the plastic stick over and saw that my life was definitely going to be different.
Pregnant.
I set my hand on the back of my neck and fought through the instant adrenaline rush.
Calm down.
It’ll be okay.
You’ll figure this out.
I staggered down to the floor, sliding against the wall of the vanity counter. Seated as my heart raced, I dropped the test and hugged my knees. Tucking my head against my folded arms wouldn’t hide the reality from me.
And I should’ve suspected sooner.
Last month, I spotted, and I assumed that was my period, out of whack from the stress of being here and how I’d nearly been gunned down at my audition.
Then this month, I was waiting for my period to show. As an athletic dancer, it wasn’t uncommon for me to skip a month here or there.
Luka knew when I’d spotted. But he hadn’t followed up to ask anything lately.
He has to know.
