Page 26 of The Bratva King's Pregnant Bride

Mike lowered his eyes, affecting embarrassment. “This may come as a surprise to you, Maya, but my intention is to use you to lure Dominik out. I’ve watched long enough to know you mean something to him. I mean, he doesn’t care for anyone except his business, which I had been planning to hit—only, they’re so massively well-protected I’d have immediately drawn unwanted attention to myself.”

He tilted his head to the side. “He cares for you, however—which, by the way, I think was his first mistake—so messing with you will get his attention, but this time, I’ll be three steps ahead, and I’ll be choosing the battle ground.”

This guy really liked to hear himself talk. What did I know—or care—about what color his jacket was? And what did he know about my relationship with Dominik?

“What makes you think he’ll come for me?” I asked, hoping to downplay my role in all this. “I mean nothing to him.”

Mike shook his head. “It’s sad to think you don’t even know your worth. You’re the mother of his child.” His grin grew even wider at my swift intake of breath. “Yes, I think you mean the world to him. Every king needs an heir—and you, my dear Maya, happen to be carrying a potential Bratva heir inside you.”

I gulped. He knows. Cold dread swamped me like a murky tide. Immediately, fear for my own safety dissolved into a need to protect the tiny life I was nurturing within me.

“It’s fifty-fifty, really,” Mike went on. “If he doesn’t come for you, he’ll certainly come for his child. At least this way, he’ll be forced to listen to my demands.”

A manic gleam appeared in his eyes, and his creepy smile grew downright frightening. “And if he tries to fuck me over… well, then it’s ‘goodbye Maya’, as I’ll definitely kill you.”

I gulped as he raised a gun, pointing it in my direction. His tone, however, was still genial; the whole thing seemed surreal.

Am I dreaming? I must be dreaming—this is a nightmare, Maya. Wake up!

Mike chuckled, obviously enjoying whatever he read on my face. “You do as I say, help me get his attention and make sure he plays it straight. Honestly, the stage wasn’t yet set for this, but thanks to that”—he jerked his chin towards my belly—“our timeline has accelerated.”

“Please, please,” I begged, not sure what I was asking for.

Mike gestured to his men, and they shoved the rag back in my mouth. Then, he snapped his fingers, and one of them threw me over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry.

This Mike—clearly an old foe of Dominik’s—was unpredictable, obviously unafraid to exploit the most vulnerable of assets for his selfish gains.

And there, my silent battle against the gnawing fear encroaching upon my heart intensified. I knew that I had to be brave—not just for myself, but for the new life growing inside me.

I prayed that Dominik would come for me… if not for my sake, then for that of our unborn child.

Chapter 10 - Dominik

“How are we doing?” I asked Artem, who sat across from me at the gleaming mahogany table.

I stared at my phone, impatient. I was expecting a very important call, one that should be coming in any moment from now.

Artem glanced at the tablet in his hand. “So far, the money seems to be rolling in, with no issues from usual corners. Senator Dan wishes to inform you that, starting from today, he will work more diligently to minimize red tape. He promised to influence more lawmakers to be sympathetic to your wishes—and he thanks you for your contribution to the nation’s economy.”

Chuckling, I shrugged. “I help him win an election, and he thinks he’s the only one I have. He seems to forget that I already have influence in the senate.”

Artem leaned back, studying me. “How do you feel about becoming a father?”

Momentarily nonplussed by the abrupt change in subject, I looked to the window; returning my gaze to the walls of the office, I stared at nothing. “Fuck if I know. I suppose I feel humbled and proud at the same time. It just feels like there was nothing that could get to me—nothing—until this.”

That was it. I had given some thought to the prospect of marriage; however, I’d always told myself that, in time, I would be ready—only, time kept going by, and I still wasn’t ready.

It was like a fight with fate, but fate had the upper hand, surprising me with punches and almost knocking me down, breathless.

Artem eyed me curiously. “Surely, the prospect of being a father is a happy one?”

I just nodded and looked back down at my phone.

There came a knock on the door, followed by its gentle opening. One of my men poked his head in, saying, “Boss? We have an emergency.”

I beckoned, and he moved aside to let someone in—a man, breathing hard, his eyes glued to the ground. Immediately, I recognized him as Igor, the man I’d tasked with sending groceries and necessities to Maya. I could tell he’d been running by how he panted, the sweat glistening on his brow.

Artem swiveled in his chair to face the newcomer.

---