Page 43 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

I won’t give the baby up. It’s part of me now. It carries my DNA, but I don’t know about bringing it into Danil’s world. He said he didn’t want children, and I want to stick to that. If I can raise the half a million dollars I owe him before I start showing, I can move to another state, and he’ll never know about the child.

Fuck.

What do I do?

This whole week, he’s been treating me like an absolute queen, and there’s nothing I can’t ask for. Nothing in this world. It’s made me wonder if I’m falling for him after everything he’s done. How can I go from despising this man to falling for him and having his child?

I go onto the Internet to search for ideas, and the things that pop up are not making me feel better. I poop while I’m giving birth? Gross. Labor pain is the worst pain you can experience? I do not have a high pain threshold. Acne. Weird smells. Sweat. Weight gain. Swollen feet.

Those would be all reasons why I didn’t want to bring a baby into this world. I can’t tell Danil. I need time to think. I search for the closest maternity clinic, and once I find one, I phone and make an appointment for later today.

Shit, do I tell Penny? No, she’ll tell Kervyn, who will tell Danil. I love my best friend, but I think it’s best I keep this to myself for now.

I am panicking. I don’t know what else to do.

My phone rings, and I jump slightly. It’s Penny. Shit.

“Hey, bestie,” I answer the phone in my most cheerful voice. “What’s up?”

“You okay?” she asks. “You never call me bestie?”

“I’m trying a new thing. Work with me here,” I say to smooth things over. “How can I help?”

“Well, Kervyn wants to take his mother to the theater tonight, and I’d like to go with them, so I was wondering if you could babysit?” she asks.

“Sure, I don’t mind at all. What time should I be there?” I need all the practice I can get.

“Around six thirty should be fine. Uh, bestie.” She giggles. “Nah, I’ll stick with Ash.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll see you at six thirty. I better go. I’m going to be late for work.” After I hang up, I wrap the pregnancy test in its wrapper to put it in my handbag to dispose of anywhere else but in a place the Milovs will find.

I put my blazer on over my blouse and hurry downstairs.

Danil is having his morning coffee as I come in. I sit down and butter some toast. I look at what’s on the table and start compiling a bacon sandwich with my toast.

“Hey, gorgeous, actually eating more than toast today?” he asks.

I give him a look, and he raises his eyebrows and says, “Sorry for noticing.”

“I just crave bacon today,” I say.

“And I’m happy you’re eating more than toast on the go,” he retorts.

I finish making my sandwich and turn around to walk out. I pause at the door. “Danil, I’ll be home late tonight.”

“Why?” he asks.

“Penny called now and asked me to babysit little Samuel so they could go out with Mama Milov. I couldn’t say no,” I smile at him. “Don’t worry, we’ll be plenty safe.”

“Want me to come keep you company?” he asks.

“No, that’s okay. I want some one-on-one time with my godson.” I take a bite of the toast and wave.

I’m out the door and in my car in no time. This bacon is satisfying a craving so badly. I just needed something savory and salty.

I eat my sandwich while I drive to the gallery, and once I’m there, I get busy getting my usual things out of the way. Once I’m alone in my office and work has slowed down, I call Charlotte, one of my side hustles.

“Hello, Asher. I was wondering if you were going to call me back,” she says as she answers the phone.

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