Page 80 of Baby for the Bratva

“In your panties, maybe,” he says, smirking as his eyes wander down my pocketless dress.

I laugh. “The only stick I want in there is yours, thank you very much. My purse is a safer place.”

“But not easy to access,” he warns.

“Good thing I won’t be needing it,” I reply as I open the latch to my polka dot purse and place the gun inside. It’s so crass and bulky beside all my slender tubes of makeup, but I’d rather have it and be able to go out than be stuck in here all day.

“Just be safe… please. I can’t have guys following you around for obvious reasons, but I’ll have Dima and a few others nearby in case there’s trouble,” Yuri says, his eyes pleading for me to reconsider.

I groan. “Can it be someone other than Dima?”

He’s surprised by my statement, folding his arms and cocking his head to the side. “Why is that?”

“Um, not to be rude, but he’s a little weird,” I say.

It’s funny that Yuri doesn’t see that Dima acts like a robot. He’d stand out in a public place more than Yuri would, and that’s saying something. I’m certain he’d attract anyone who was looking for someone involved in the Bratva, and I wouldn’t trust Dima not to be right next to me when that happened.

Yuri rubs the stubble on his chin, thinking about all the ways Dima could be weird. “Ah, I still don’t see it. He’s fine.”

I laugh. “There’s no way you don’t see how weird he is. The guy is like a robot. Normal people don’t act like that.”

He considers my words for a moment, then shrugs. “I guess I won’t send him if he makes you uncomfortable. Just know that I’ll have four to five guys following you at all times.”

“Great, that makes me feel really safe,” I reply, laying on the sarcasm as thick as I can.

Yuri shakes his head in annoyance, but that’s the end of our conversation. I pick a pair of sunglasses to wear, brush my hair into a tight ponytail, and plant a kiss on Yuri’s lips. “I’ll be back before it gets dark.”

“I know,” he says. “I’ll be watching.”

Ominous statement, but when hasn’t Yuri acted that way? He’s so protective of me that it feels like he spends most of his time worrying when he should be conducting his business. I’m the biggest distraction in the world for him, and even though it makes me feel powerful, I don’t want him following me to the local pharmacy and knowing I grabbed a pregnancy test.

Super fast. Super secret. That’s the only way I’m going to be able to pull this off.

I sling my purse over my shoulder, cringing a little when I remember there’s a gun in it. I hate to think what would happen if I were caught with it at a café in Colombia, so I can’t forget it’s in there. Honestly, I feel like it’s more of a liability than a protective asset.

But I’m not going to argue with Yuri, especially not when he’s already agreed to let me get some sun on dry land. I’m thankful to be getting off the boat again. I won’t be going on another cruise for a long time after this.

A small bout of nausea hits me again as I join the crowd that’s departing the ship, but the fresh air from outside allows it to subside. I spot Molly’s bright orange hair in the mess of sweaty tourists, and I jog up to her.

“Don’t leave without me,” I say, flashing a warm smile in the sunlight.

Her eyes widen and she jumps toward me for a hug. “Oh, you made it! I was terribly afraid I wouldn’t see you before we got back home.”

I pat her back, feeling the warmth of her sun-kissed skin. “I wouldn’t do that to you. I promised you lunch.”

She leans back, pointing a finger gun at me. “Right, and you’re paying for the drinks.”

I’m about to agree, but then I remember that I can’t drink alcohol. I give her a guilty smile. “Could we skip the booze this time?”

She wrinkles her nose at me, pulling her head back. “Skip the booze? Are you nuts?”

“Possibly pregnant,” I admit.

She gasps, but I push her along so we continue with the crowd leaving the boat. “Don’t make a scene,” I whisper. “Yuri doesn’t know about it yet.”

38

Stella

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