Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Was he insane?
“Had I known that you were pregnant, malysh, I would have moved hell to make sure you were safe, healthy, and protected from everything and everyone—even yourself.”
I flinched when he used the Russian word for baby like he did when we were together. But hearing what he was saying, I couldn’t stop myself from rising to the bait and snapping at him.
“Protected from everything and everyone—would that have included you? Because, by my math, apart from a bomb exploding behind me, you’re the one who’s caused me the most harm.”
The only outward show of regret or upset at my words was a slight flickering of his eyes. Apart from that, he wore the same expression as before.
“If you’d allow me to explain, Nell, you’d understand by now that I had no choice at the time. But if I’d known my sons were inside you, I would have made sure you were safe, every hour of every day, and I’d have found a way out of the bullshit nuptials.”
“I didn’t even know I was pregnant when I found out you were getting married. As far as I knew, we were going on vacation together to discuss how to tell our families about us, and spend time together where we didn’t have to hide. I had no idea your ring was on another woman’s finger and that I wasn’t the only one in your bed.”
This time it was my turn to hold my hand up when he went to speak. “No, I want you to listen and understand why I don’t want you in our lives,” I told him firmly.
“One of the first things I did after I found out I was pregnant, was to ask them to run tests, to make sure I hadn’t caught a sexually transmitted disease from you, on the same day I found out I was over four months pregnant with twins.
“Can you imagine how dirty, embarrassed, and hurt I felt doing that? Thinking that, for four months, I’d potentially carried something that would hurt my unborn babies, and that it had come from their father?
“Trust me, you can’t imagine how I felt, or how relieved I was when it came back negative.”
“That’s because I wasn’t sleeping with both of you at the same time.”
His words made me speechless for a moment as I warred between feeling relieved and not believing him. But then one of the feelings won the war.
“I don’t believe you,” I whispered, “and you taught me to feel that way with your actions. All of the promises, the plans, and the pretty words were a lie. Because if you felt for me even one-tenth of what I felt for you, you wouldn’t have done what you did.”
“I had no choice, Nell,” he growled, shifting slightly like he was going to get up, but then Hendrix made a small noise and he settled back down again.
“It wasn’t my decision to do it, but the alliance between the Fedorovs and Azarovs would save the lives of thousands of people, both here and in Russia, and not just within the Bratva. We have enemies who’d stop at nothing to kill all of us.” He looked at me meaningfully, but it was lost on me.
“With two of the most powerful families tied together, they’re unable to take the risks they were planning to.”
I could understand that duty, but every word felt like a sword through my chest.
“Well, I’m glad it worked out so well for you. And what you’ve just said confirms what I’m saying: we have no place in your life. So, I’ll allow you ten minutes with Hendrix and Walker to say goodbye. After that, Hunter will update you when you want one.
“And when the day comes when I can trust a man again, I’ll choose well for them and for me, so you don’t have to worry about that. Until then, I have the protection of the MC, so we’ll be fine.”
His eyes had been blank as I started talking, but by the time I was finished, they were on fire.
“Like hell, you will,” he bit out. “If you’d let me finish, you’d have heard me say that I told my father I was already with someone. He likes you a lot, but the arrangement had already been agreed on. The day before the wedding, I gave Donna the option to cancel the wedding. She chose to proceed. I also told her that I wouldn’t—”
The door opening beside us interrupted whatever he was going to say, and in it was the nurse who’d brought the boys through to me earlier.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, grinning. “I have good news for you. The doctor in charge of your handsome boys has reviewed their charts, and it looks like you can take them home on Friday.”