Page 71 of Forced Bratva Prisoner

We have a late lunch on the yacht, and I find myself constantly returning to the thought that I want children one day.

After lunch, sitting on the deck staring out at the ocean, I’m dreamily thinking about how my life has changed. When I was living with my father, having a child was something I never considered would ever be a possibility, because I would never bring a child into that kind of world. But now things are different for me.

Suddenly I sit up straighter in my chair and gasp.

Chiara looks up from the book she is reading and throws me a look with her brows furrowed. She drops her sunglasses. “What’s going on?” she asks.

“Um.” I just realized that I am a week late for my period. All this thinking about kids, and only now I realize I’m late.

“Um what?” She puts her book down and tilts her head. “Sasha, what’s wrong? You're worrying me.”

I glance around to see if anyone else is in hearing distance.

“I think I missed my period,” I whisper.

Chiara’s mouth drops open. “You’re kidding. Are you serious? Do you think you’re—"

“Shh. Not so loud. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Okay, it's okay. We’ll just stop at a pharmacy on the way back to the house later.”

“I don’t want anyone to know,” I whisper urgently.

“No one has to know anything for now,” she reassures me.

For the rest of the yacht trip I can hardly sit still. I walk around the deck, smiling, avoiding people, looking anxious, feeling anxious—Leon eventually comes up to me and takes my arm, pulling me to the side away from everyone else.

“What’s wrong, Sasha? You’re pacing like a caged lion.”

“I’ve never been on a family holiday before—like this, I mean. I’ve never been around so many people who care about each other and enjoy each other. It’s—it’s a lot.”

“Okay, but it's good, though. A lot good? Not a lot bad?” His brows knit together.

“It’s amazing. Like, really amazing.” I smile, my heart thundering in my chest as I stare up at his bright blue eyes. He might be the father of my child. And I might be falling in love with him. Oh my gosh, it’s terrifying and exciting at the same time.

“Do you want to come and have a drink with me? Try and relax a little? We are headed back in the next hour, so come and sit with me and enjoy the last bit of the trip?”

“Okay, I feel like an iced tea. Maybe peach?”

“I’m sure we can find that for you.”

I follow him through to the front deck, where some of his cousins are sitting with their wives. Chiara and Maxim are there, too. She shoots me a wide grin.

I manage to contain my nervous excitement until the yacht reaches the docks again and we are all stepping off onto solid ground. Everyone is bubbling with energy and talking about what we should do tomorrow.

“Ride me with us,” Chiara says to me as we walk towards the cars.

“No, she’s riding with me,” Leon responds before I can say anything.

“Oh, come on, let her ride with us.” Chiara pouts a little, but Leon is not budging.

“She rides with me. End of conversation.”

I bite my lower lip. There goes that plan. Chiara pulls me close and hugs me, quickly whispering in my ear, “I’ll stop at the pharmacy.”

A wave of relief washes over me, because I can’t possibly wait another day to find out what is going on. I need to know now if I am pregnant or not.

“Thanks,” I whisper back.

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