Page 30 of Accidental Bratva Daddy

She shrugs, brushing off my concern. "Just a few scrapes. I'm fine. Thank you for protecting me.” Her eyes narrow slightly as she studies me. "How are you feeling? You lost a lot of blood."

"I've had worse," I assure her, even as I wince trying to sit up. Natalia is on her feet in an instant, her hands warm as she helps adjust my pillows.

"Easy," she chides gently. "The doctor said you need to take it slow for a few days."

I can't help but to smile. "Worried about me?"

Natalia rolls her eyes, but I don't miss the faint blush that colors her cheeks. "Don't flatter yourself. I just don't want to have to explain to your men why their boss bled out in his own bed."

Before I can respond, a knock at the door interrupts us. Dr. Petrov enters, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed and his white coat crisp despite the early hour.

"Ah, Mr. Volkov, you're awake," he says, striding to my bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been stabbed," I deadpan, earning a soft snort of laughter from Natalia.

Dr. Petrov's lips twitch in amusement as he begins examining my wound. "Well, that's to be expected. You're a lucky man, Mr. Volkov. The knife only cut through muscle. Nothing vital was damaged."

I nod, relieved but unsurprised. It takes more than a lucky hit from some rival goon to take down Luka Volkov.

The doctor finishes checking my bandages, apparently satisfied with what he finds. He turns to Natalia, who has been hovering anxiously nearby. "And how are you feeling this morning, Mrs. Volkov? Any nausea or dizziness?"

Natalia shakes her head. "No, I'm feeling much better, thank you."

Dr. Petrov nods approvingly. "Good, good. And the twins are perfectly healthy. The ultrasound showed no signs of distress from last night's excitement."

The world grinds to a halt.

Twins?

My head whips towards Natalia so fast I feel a twinge in my neck. Her face has gone pale, eyes wide with panic as they dart between me and the doctor.

“I—what?" I manage to choke out, my mind reeling.

The doctor's brow furrows in confusion. "The ultrasound you requested earlier," he says slowly, reaching into his bag to pull out a grainy black and white image. "Everything looks perfectly normal for twins at this stage of development."

Natalia takes the offered paper with trembling hands, clutching it to her chest. Dr. Petrov glances between us, clearly sensing the tension that has suddenly filled the room.

"I'll, uh, leave you two to talk," he says, edging towards the door. "Call if you need anything, Mr. Volkov. And congratulations."

The door clicks shut behind him, leaving a deafening silence in his wake. For a long moment, neither of us speaks. I stare at Natalia, trying to process this bombshell. She refuses to meet my gaze, her eyes fixed firmly on the ultrasound in her white-knuckled grip.

"You're pregnant," I finally say, my voice flat. It's not a question.

Natalia nods jerkily, still not looking at me. "Yes."

"With twins."

Another nod.

"And you weren't going to tell me?" I can hear the anger building in my voice, a mix of hurt and confusion that I'm not equipped to deal with at all.

Natalia's head snaps up at that, her eyes blazing. "I was going to tell you," she insists. "I just... I wanted to wait for the right time. I wasn't even sure I was going to keep them at first."

Her words hit me like a physical blow. The thought of her getting rid of our children—mychildren—makes something primal and possessive rear up inside me.

"And when exactly would the 'right time' have been?" I demand, struggling to keep my voice level. "After they were born? When they started school?"

Natalia flinches at the acid in my tone. "I don't know," she admits quietly. "When I found out they were twins, I knew I couldn't go through with an abortion. It made it too real, and I realized that despite myself, I wanted them. But I didn't know how to tell you. We're not... this isn't..."

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