Page 35 of The Bratva King's Twins

Finally, I wiped my mouth once I felt it was over and tried to regain my bearings. Grossed out by the aftertaste, I tried to ignore it as best as I could and gathered my things before heading toward the SUV waiting down the laneway.

I was somewhat dizzy as I went, wondering why I felt so gross, and what could’ve caused it.

We didn’t eat anything out of the ordinary recently, and regardless of how hard I tried to think about it, I couldn’t come up with a reason.

But there was something.

I had been pretty tired recently, and hardly able to finish reading without falling asleep whenever I got home after riding. Yet I had been chalking that up to how busy I had been with the horses. It made the most sense to me.

Ever since Ari and I started connecting, I stopped feeling sluggish and gross due to being stuck in the house. Instead, I was doing a lot better until recently.

As I approached the vehicle while the driver sat with his legs hanging out of the open door, it hit me.

That night when we first had sex. I couldn’t remember using any protection.

We had been too riled up and too desperate to even consider it. Plus, I had no idea where I was in my cycle at the time.

There was no missing the worry that swept through me, forcing a wave of adrenaline through me.

Making that connection made everything feel far too real far too fast, and I could hardly stand how it felt to not know.

I could already picture myself going back home and not being able to stop thinking about it, questioning if it was true. I wouldn’t be able to sleep, and the thought of approaching Ari about whether I was pregnant or not was too humiliating. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure.

I had to get my hands on a test sooner rather than later.

“Are you all right, Mrs. Levov?” the driver asked, poking his head out.

Blinking through my stupor, I shook myself out of it and nodded. “Y-yeah, I’m fine. I was just hoping we could stop at a convenience store nearby. There’s a few things I need to grab.”

Even through his black sunglasses, I could see his apprehension, as if considering whether or not it was a good idea.

“The boss said I was to make sure you get here and make it right back afterward, but I don’t see how another stop would hurt,” he murmured, then gave me a final nod. “I’ll find the closest one.”

Forcing a smile for him, I tried to make it seem like I was okay even though I felt the complete opposite. The panic was looming over me, and I still felt horrible after vomiting, but I had to hold out until I was alone again. I didn’t need the driver tipping Ari off about it.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” I said, climbing in.

On the way back to the city, I couldn’t think about anything else. My head was a mess as I considered everything, whether I was pregnant or just making myself believe that was the case.

I imagined having to swallow my embarrassment to let him know if I was carrying his child, and the thought alone scared me. Even if he was my husband, and that wasn’t the worst thing to happen to a couple, I didn’t know what he would think about it.

Would he hate me for strapping him with a child? Would he learn to resent me for how my body would inevitably change? Would he even want to keep it?

The confusion of it all wouldn’t let my head work straight, but before I knew it, the driver pulled into a convenience store parking lot and looked at me through the rearview mirror as he parked and killed the engine.

“I’ll be waiting right here. Just make sure you come right back out.”

I nodded as I climbed out, acknowledging him, though my mind was somewhere completely different.

Walking numbly to the door, I made my way inside and urged myself to find the nerve I needed. I considered grabbing a few things and forgetting about the test since I would inevitably find out eventually.

But as I thought about how much not knowing would bother me, I knew I had to.

Glancing out the window, I caught the driver watching me from his place by the SUV. Of course he’d be keeping his tabs on me.

To not look too suspicious, I browsed through the cold beverages and grabbed one that looked all right before checking out the candy section. I grabbed a few bags, and then made my way over to the small section of feminine products.

I snagged one of the tests and headed over to the counter to pay.

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