Page 71 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

“What’s on your mind?” Penny asks as she rolls a ball to Samuel.

“How do you tell PK and KJ apart?” I ask. “They’re dressed the same. They look the same.”

Penny smiles. “Well, when they were tiny babies, Hannah used to use a permanent marker and keep a dot on PK’s foot, but since they’ve grown, KJ has had an accident and fallen, and now he has a scar at the back of his head. It’s the only way I can tell them apart.”

I nod. “That makes sense.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t seem well.” Penny catches the ball Samuel haphazardly rolls toward her and rolls it back.

“I’m not feeling great,” I admit. I haven’t felt great since I’ve been pregnant. The morning sickness should be renamed the all-time sickness. Everything gives me heartburn, gas, or a runny stomach.

I don’t want to tell Penny because she’s been pregnant and will probably suspect that’s what is wrong with me.

“Kervyn is meeting Igor tomorrow,” Penny says quietly. “I know you overheard us talking about it.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” I say, looking at her contritely. “It’s just… I got so used to having him around. He is my husband.”

“I know, but he did that as a power move to gain access to the Milov family,” she says quietly. “He didn’t love you.”

I disagree wholeheartedly, but I don’t want to argue with her. I look away and ask. “But what about you and Kervyn? You didn’t exactly fall in love the traditional way.”

“Yes, but I was pregnant with his child, and it wasn’t really a power move. I didn’t have ties to another family he was trying to take down. You know what I mean?” She touches my arm. “I know it can be all confusing, but I’m here for you, no matter what you want to talk about.”

I want to talk about Igor and how much he loved me—at least, I think he did. He was very passionate about me.

Still, there’s that nagging question in the back of my head. Did he know that my family didn’t know I existed? Surely he wouldn’t have kept that from me.

“Penny, I need to hear what Igor and Kervyn speak about tomorrow,” I say, looking at her pleadingly. “I need to hear what Igor has to say for himself. So, I know where I stand.”

Penny looks hesitant, but then she relaxes her shoulders and gives me a small smile. “I’ll keep everyone busy while you eavesdrop. I’m just worried you might be hurt by something that is said.”

“I’ll be hurt if I don’t know for the rest of my life,” I say. “I need to know.”

Penny nods. “Okay. The meeting’s at nine in Kervyn’s office.”

“Thank you,” I take her hand. “You’re a great sister.”

I sleep uneasily, worried about what I might hear at the meeting the next day. Igor is coming here, and there’s a part of me that wants to run to him and kiss him with everything I have. I want to tell him that we’re having a child and then leave with him. But I just found my family, a family that didn’t know before now I existed.

I can’t discredit them. They’re all trying to get to know and spend time with me. They’re all so sweet and loving. Family is everything to the Milovs; I don’t want to miss that. I want both.

I want Igor and my child and my brothers and their families.

I get up at seven and get showered and dressed before I go downstairs to the dining hall. Kervyn and Danil are there with Penny, Samuel, and Natasha, having breakfast. I sit down beside Penny, butter some toast, and bite into it.

We eat breakfast in peace, and as we’re leaving, Penny turns to me. “You should go lie down,” she says with a smile. “You’re looking a bit pale.”

“Yeah, I’m still not quite over that tummy bug.” I turn to Kervyn and Danil. “I’ll see you later.”

I head upstairs, but I stop once I’m just out of sight.

I wait patiently for my time to come back downstairs.

It feels like I wait forever until I finally hear Penny. “Danil, won’t you come with me and help me out back, please?”

“Kervyn’s in an important meeting,” he says.

“You won’t be missed, I’m sure,” she says. “Please.”

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