Page 47 of The Bratva King's Pregnant Bride

Suddenly, Artem’s head shot up; he looked around, seemingly confused, then signaled for his men to pull back. Mike, too, retreated, leaving Michael’s body laying in a growing pool of blood.

The video went dark, and I turned to Maya. “I have this tape because it could incriminate my men.” I took her hand. “There’s no justice out there on the street. There are politicians who would use this to put me away, while people like Mike are left to roam the street. Yes. I am bad, but I control myself—I’m a danger to danger itself.”

Maya sobbed, but didn’t pull away when I took her in my arms as I continued.

“You must understand that your brother’s death was associated with the Bratva and the Red Jackets. He was caught in a fight between us. We termed it ‘street violence’, or ‘gang clash’—whatever label the media likes to slap on these things. In other to protect my men, the CCTV was removed.”

I pressed my lips into a tight line as Maya continued to weep. “This is just how we do things. We make people and whatever could link us to them vanish.” Putting a hand under her chin, I looked into her eyes. “However, we always come through for our own.”

Maya’s tears had not slowed. She was listening, but she wept; I imagined that, for her, it must be almost like her brother had died a second time—only this time, she had seen it happen.

Suddenly, Maya shoved away from me with fury in her eyes. “Who the hell do you think you are? Who are you to deprive my brother of justice?”

Her words surprised me. Many I’ve known in my world have died for far less, but one thing was certain: There was always justice. It may have taken a while, but I had, in fact, avenged her brother.

“I did give your brother justice, Maya,” I said gently. “You yourself were there the day I killed Mike.”

“The law has a due process. There’s a trail. There’s—”

“A jury and a judge, and lawyers debating back and forth over what was caught live on camera, only for an obvious criminal to occasionally go free? No.” I shook my head. “There’s no justice in that, Maya. If Mike was alive, he would tell you the same thing. If you had tried to press chargers, he would be out before a fortnight, and guess who he’d be coming for next?”

I saw the answer in her eyes before I even said it. “You.” I sighed. “This is how we get things done. Kill or be killed: It’s the rule of our world.”

Maya wailed and threw herself at me, pounding her fists against my chest, but I barely felt it. Her body shook, and whatever work I had thought of accomplishing that day went out the window.

“I’m mad—I am so mad at you for hiding this whole thing from me!” Maya sobbed.

“Understand, Maya,” I said, “that I was just getting to know you. Did your name sound familiar? Yes, it absolutely did. But it didn’t immediately click.” Taking a deep breath, I admitted, “I had to look you up to know what I was missing, and there it all was, plain as day. The truth of your association with the deceased.”

I wrapped my arms around her, trapping her in my embrace. “I just want you to be certain of one thing: If I kept anything from you, it’s because I wanted to protect you. We alone knew how your brother died, and we know what we said and did to have it stay so. Gang violence was our best bet—it’s the truth, mostly—but the Bratva is above the street, so there was no way it would have been associated with us.”

She looked up at me, and I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “However, I do wish I’d told you sooner. I’m sorry that I didn’t. I seriously thought nothing would come of this.” I raised a hand, gesturing between us. “But with each day, you keep drawing nearer to my heart, and it all makes sense. Your brother was truly innocent, but unfortunate—like many others before him and those who will come after him. Forgive my methods, but I did what I had to do to protect the brotherhood.”

She sniffled. “You’re selfish. You only care about yourself and your needs, no one else’s.”

My arms tightened around her in a momentary warning. “I don’t need to defend myself to you. If I’d known you’d be this childish, perhaps I would have just—”

At that moment, I heard the sound of rushing water as the skirt of Maya’s dress grew damp, and liquid rushed down her thighs.

“What just happened?” I asked, taking her shoulders and holding her at arm’s length.

“No, no, it’s too soon,” Maya said through teary eyes.

“What’s too soon?”

“My water broke!” Maya shouted, panting.

I sobered immediately, helping Maya lower herself onto the chair.

I shook off my shock and confusion, reached for my phone, and called for an ambulance.

My mind became consumed with one thought: Maya’s going into labor—the twins are on their way.

Chapter 20 - Maya

Nervously, my eyes darted from side to side as I the sterile scent of the delivery room stung my sinuses. Numb from the waist down, thanks to the effects of the medication I had earlier been given, I still felt the occasional ache and pull. I winced, biting my lower lip to stifle the cries that wanted to escape my lips.

Next to me was Dominik, his hand clasping mine like an anchor, a reassurance that I wasn’t alone. His grip was tight and he didn’t let go, and I clung to him. I was certain my death grip, strengthening in spurts thanks to contractions, would’ve injured a lesser man, but no matter how tight I squeezed, he wasn’t bothered. He only worried about me.

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