Page 86 of Dark Truths

“Does Sergei know?” Dad asks.

“No.”

“So, the engagement with Sophia?”

“Is real but one hundred percent undesired on both sides,” Dimitri admits before he glances at me, and I nod. “Not that it matters now.”

“And why’s that?” Michael asks.

No time like the present to share piece number two. “Because as of this morning, Dimitri and I were married.”

Rose can’t stop Michael this time. He flings himself across the room and lands a punch on Dimitri’s face before anyone can stop him. Enzo and Raphael jump up, each grabbing one of Michael’s arms to pull him back.

Dimitri rubs at his jaw, throwing my brother a dark look. “You could have hurt Gabriella, you idiot.”

Of course, Dimitri's more mad about the fact I was in the line of fire than being punched.

“Oh, believe me, I knew where I was aiming,” Michael seethes back. He shoves his brother and friend off before he stomps back to sit by Rose again.

“This is a fun fucking shit show in the making,” Enzo comments with a dry laugh.

Dad shoots the Viking a menacing glare, causing the man to visibly recoil before he shifts his gaze towards Dimitri and me. “You two are married?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“And I’m assuming Sergei does not know about this, either?” Dad ventures with a hint of dark sarcasm.

This time Dimitri answers, “No.”

Dad releases a slew of curse words in Italian before he turns away and runs his hands through his thick hair.

“Congratulations,” Rose says when the room remains quiet, and Lily echoes it.

“Thank you.” I smile and catch Rose’s eyes, snagging on the question in them. I wanted to wait to announce the pregnancy until I was at least out of the window of high risk. But that may not be possible with the way this is going.

“So why get married?” Mom asks, while keeping a watchful eye on her husband, who now leans against the mantle, staring down at the unlit fireplace.

I look at Dimitri, imploring him to see my fears and doubts. Because once this news is shared, there’s no taking it back.Maybe we should wait a little while longer. Maybe we shouldn’t say it at all.

Dimitri leans forward to kiss my forehead and whisper low enough for only me to hear, “I love you, angel.”

I close my eyes at his confession and squeeze them tight, trying to hold back the tears that threaten to spill. I can’t lose him. Because I love him too. But before I can tell him it back, he says to the room, “We got married to protect Gabriella because my name is Dimitri Clark,and I have been working undercover in the Bratva for the FBI.”

32

Dimitri

As I expect, when the weight of my words settles in, the air grows heavy with the number of guns aimed directly at me. What I didn’t expect, though, is Gabriella jumping in front of me, extending her arms out like a protective shield from her brothers.

“Move,” Michael orders his sister.

“No.”

Gabriella standing in front of me gives me an eerie sense of déjà vu, instantly transporting me back to when she did the same thing in the hospital after I saved her from the Irish.

“Gabriella,” Raphael warns her next.

“I said no.”

---