Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I wipe the riled expression off my face when the unnamed man asks, “What’s wrong with her? They wouldn’t have let you keep her if she was healthy.”
My mind spirals for an excuse before the perfect one presents itself. “She’s diabetic. Type one.”
Once again, Dr. Leonard answers the stranger’s unasked questions. After logging into his computer to scour prescriptions issued to the Bobrovs since our arrival stateside, he murmurs, “It works. One child had nostrils bigger than the purchasing parent wanted. He was given back to the birth mother.”
When the stranger curses, I say, “So you can’t go in guns blazing. Not while Lera is in the house. She is Henry’s family, and he won’t let you kill his family.”
“As you are too, Katie.”
Dr. Leonard’s reminder shocks me. I thought the child I’m carrying would tie me to the mafia for life. I had no idea I was already embroiled in the controversy that follows the title.
I choke back a shocked huff when I realize how wrong my statement is.
I’m not pregnant.
Dr. Leonard said my uterus is empty.
“Why would they pretend I’m pregnant?” I stumble out, my shock too high not to seek answers.
Ghost’s ruse made sense. It was the only way he could keep me alive. But after his death, why was it continued?
“Have you had any tests since you discovered you were pregnant?” the stranger asks, suddenly curious.
I shake my head before recalling the scan Ghost conducted. “I had a scan around six months ago and a positive urine test shortly after that.”
“Urine is easy to taint,” Dr. Leonard announces, drawing my focus back to him. “What did you see during the ultrasound?”
“That,” I murmur when something on his computer monitor captures my attention.
His screensaver is an ultrasound video.
“That is a demo video that comes with all machines.” As he huffs out a breathy laugh, I recall Ghost mentioning the same months ago. I was too panicked about his anger to absorb what his comment meant. “It’s quite genius when you think about it.”
“Says you. There are millions at stake, not to mention the discomposure this could cause the Gottles.” After gripping my arm like every other man his height and size, he says, “I need to speak with Henry.” He drops his eyes to me. “Until I get word from him, you are to remain pregnant. Understood?”
After swallowing the brick in my throat, I nod.
I’ve fooled Kirill once, so I’m sure it won’t be hard a second time.
Kirill stands when the still unnamed man and I return to the waiting area. He looks worried, and it has me wondering if he knows my pregnancy is a ruse.
“It’s your lucky day.” The stranger nudges his head to Dr. Leonard who shadowed our walk. “He was Amelia’s doctor, so an invasive paternity test isn’t required. Your unborn child has a rightful claim to the Petrov syndicate.”
Kirill grins as if all his Christmases have come at once. “As I already told you.” He takes over the stranger’s hold, his grip more cruel, before he leads me to a waiting car. “I won’t hold my breath for an apology, though. Henry hates being proven wrong.”
He’s angry that they’ve been making him jump through hoops for months, uncaring that he does the exact same thing to everyone in his realm.
He’s a hypocrite.
And so am I.
I haven’t acknowledged my pregnancy once in the past several months, yet now all I want to do is crawl into a hole and cry. I’m grieving something I swore I didn’t want. I guess a small part of me hoped by some miracle that my child ended up being Ghost’s, and it would carry on his legacy.
See? I am a hypocrite.
I stop internally rationalizing my stupidity when a female voice murmurs, “Katie?”
When I sling my eyes in the direction the voice came from, I catch sight of a face I’ve never stopped scanning the crowd for the past almost nine years before my view is blocked by two of Kirill’s goons. They slip out of their SUVs in an instant and attempt to push Blaire back.
“Katie!” she shouts for the second time when I’m bundled into the SUV idling at the curb by the stranger wanting me to continue faking my pregnancy.
“I wouldn’t if you want to live.” The stranger locks his eyes with the gun Kirill is brandishing before nudging his head to Blaire following our SUV down the footpath. “She has sanction.”
“From who?”
My world continues being tossed on its head when the man answers, “The Popovs. She’s one of them.”
55
KATIE
Many hours later, I’m still working through my confusion as to how Blaire became a part of the association that kidnapped us but can walk free without goons shadowing her every move.
She followed our SUV for so many miles we had to lose her in a packed nightclub. And even then, it almost took a stampede to slow her down. The unnamed man caused a commotion by firing two shots into the air, then paid for his stupidity with a bullet to the knee.