Page 36 of The Bratva Queens' Kings

Lana nods, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. There's a thankfulness there, mixed with the storm of emotions I know all too well. Fear, anger, uncertainty.

As Lana sits on the edge of the bathtub, her hands trembling slightly, I can see the weight of everything that has transpired bearing down on her.

"I don't understand how it all went so wrong," Lana whispers.

I crouch down to meet her gaze, trying to muster the strength we both need. "When you play the game we're in, the rules can change overnight. We just...didn't see the signs."

She huffs, a ghost of a smile touching her lips, the wit we all depend on still there, beneath the surface. "Missed the signs? I almost got killed today."

I take her hand in mine, trying to offer some semblance of comfort in a world that suddenly feels so cruel and unpredictable. "But you didn't. You fought back, Lana. You're stronger than anyone I know," I say, my voice filled with conviction.

Lana's smile fades as quickly as it appeared, the reality of our situation settling back in. "It's not just Twitch... It's everything. The betrayal, the constant looking over our shoulders. I'm tired, Julia."

Her admission, raw and honest, strikes a chord. "We're all tired. But we've got each other's backs. That's how we've made it this far."

"Yeah, by the skin of our teeth," she retorts, her sass seeping through the cracks of her façade. "Feels like we're holding on by a thread."

"And yet, here we are, still holding on."

Lana's eyes glisten with unshed tears as she looks at me, a mix of gratitude and exhaustion written on her face. "Thank you, Julia. For being here, for helping me through this."

"I'll always be by your side, Lana." I reply, squeezing her hand gently.

As we sit there in the bathroom, the water slowly turning from pink to clear, the silence is no longer suffocating.

"I'll make him pay, Julia. I swear on everything I hold dear, Roman will regret the day he decided to cross me," Lana seethes.

Inside, my heart aches. Doubt gnaws at me, whispering that Roman isn't our enemy, that this is all a terrible misunderstanding. Yet, confronting Lana with my suspicions now would be like dousing her raging fire with gasoline. She's not in a place to hear it, let alone believe it.

So, I nod, offering silent solidarity. "Let's focus on the check-up first," I suggest gently, steering her towards the immediate concern. "We need to know you and the baby are safe."

Lana's gaze softens momentarily at the mention of the baby, "You're right. This little one doesn't need the stress." But then, her jaw sets, and I see the resolve harden once again. "But after that, Roman will have nowhere to hide."

The night wraps around us like a cold embrace as I escort Lana to the hospital. Lana, with her eyes lost in thought, keeps glancing down at her barely-there bump, a silent storm raging behind her calm exterior.

"Don't worry, Lana," I start, trying to weave comfort into my words. "Luca's on it. He's making sure the house is as fortified as a fortress. Just Grigori, me, and Luca inside. The rest of the guys are on lookout. We've got cameras everywhere now, even hired extra security."

She nods, her hand instinctively resting on her belly. "I just hope my baby is okay..."

"Your baby will be fine," I reassure her, my voice soft but firm. "We're doing everything to make sure of that."

Lana manages a weak smile, her eyes telling a story of sleepless nights and whispered fears. "It's just...everything feels like it's falling apart."

I reach over, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey, we've weathered worse storms, haven't we? This baby," I nod towards her belly, "will be a fighter. Just like their mom."

A small laugh escapes her, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "A fighter, huh? I guess they'll have to be, with this family."

The car moves smoothly, flanked by security. I glance back briefly, noting their vigilant eyes scanning every shadow. "Luca's beefed up security. Cameras everywhere, guards on rotation. It's Fort Knox back at the house."

"Feels like we're in a war," she murmurs, looking out the window.

"In a way, we are."

Lana turns to me, a flicker of the old fire in her gaze. "I'm scared, Julia. For my child. For all of us."

"I know," I admit. "But fear keeps us sharp. And we have each other. We're not alone in this."

The hospital looms ahead, a beacon in the night. Lana looks at it, her expression hardening with resolve. "Let's do this. For the baby."

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