Page 30 of Knocked Up by the Bratva

We sit in silence for a few minutes, the weight of my decision hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Maeve pulls back, her face set with determination. “Alright, let’s think this through. You’re going to get Chiara what she needs, and she’s going to give you a new identity. Then what? Where will you go?”

I shrug, feeling helpless. “I don’t know. Anywhere but here. Maybe I’ll go overseas. Europe, or even South America. As long as it’s far away from Timur, I don’t care.”

Maeve frowns. “You know he’ll look for you, right? He’s not just going to let you disappear.”

“I know,” I whisper. “If Chiara is as powerful as she claims, she can help me stay hidden. At least, long enough for me to start a new life.”

Maeve doesn’t look convinced, but she nods anyway. “Just… promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t trust anyone too quickly, especially someone like Chiara.”

“I promise,” I say, though deep down, I know I’m walking a tightrope. One wrong step, and I could lose everything.

Maeve stands up and heads toward the door, but pauses, turning back to look at me. “I’ll help however I can, Jen. Just… don’t shut me out, okay?”

I give her a small, grateful smile. “I won’t. Thanks, Maeve.”

As she leaves the room, I take a deep breath and glance over at the envelope containing my pregnancy results. I know I’m doing this for the baby, but the thought of what I’m about to do… betraying Timur, disappearing without a trace—it all makes me feel sick.

I don’t have a choice. Not anymore.

If I want to protect my child, I have to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming someone I don’t recognize.

Chapter Fourteen - Timur

The letter of resignation sits on my desk, taunting me with its crisp, impersonal lines. Jennifer’s words are simple, professional. She thanks the company for the opportunity, cites “personal reasons” for her departure, and ends it with the usual pleasantries. Nothing about the note should bother me—employees come and go all the time—but this… this is different.

I feel the weight of Oleg’s stare from across the desk. His silence is heavy, his expression unreadable, but I know he’s thinking the same thing I am.

“What are you going to do?” Oleg finally asks, leaning back in his chair, his eyes narrowed as if he’s trying to read my mind.

I don’t answer. The truth is, I don’t know. Jennifer leaving the company, vanishing without a trace—none of this makes sense. I thought I had her under control. After what happened with Russel, I expected her to come to me, to realize there’s no escaping me. I made that clear enough.

Now… she’s gone.

Oleg crosses his arms, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. “What do you feel for this woman, Timur?”

I glance up at him, feeling the irritation rise in my chest. “What kind of question is that?”

He raises an eyebrow, not backing down. “You’ve been different since she came into the picture. Distracted. I’ve never seen you like this. So, I’m asking—what is she to you?”

I grit my teeth, annoyed by the question and the implication behind it. What do I feel for Jennifer? Lust? Anger? Possession? All of those things, maybe more. It’s like she’s gotten under my skin in a way no one else has, and I hate it.I hate that she left without a word, that she somehow slipped away when I wasn’t paying attention. I hate that the idea of her being gone makes me feel… unsettled.

But do I feel anything for her? I don’t know. Or maybe I just don’t want to admit it.

“I don’t feel anything,” I say, my voice colder than I intended. “She’s just an employee who decided to run. I’ll find her.”

Oleg doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push the matter further. He knows better than to press me when I’m like this. Instead, he shifts in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him as he leans forward.

“If she ran, there must be a reason,” he says. “If you want her back, we need to figure out what that reason is.”

I nod, but before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door. One of my men steps inside, his face tight with urgency. “Sir, we’ve got a problem.”

I tense, knowing what’s coming before he even says it.

“Jennifer hasn’t been to her dorm or classes in the past couple of days,” he continues, his tone cautious. “We’ve checked all her usual spots, talked to her friends, but no one’s seen her. It’s like she vanished.”

A cold wave washes over me, but I keep my expression neutral, not wanting to betray the flicker of concern that sparks inside me. She’s gone. Completely?

“How long?” I ask, my voice sharp.

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