Page 51 of Knocked Up by the Bratva

I guide her to the living room, offering her a seat on the plush sofa. “Would you like some tea? I was just about to make myself some.”

“That would be lovely,” she replies, settling into the couch with the same grace she does everything.

I head into the kitchen, quickly preparing the tea and trying to calm my nerves. Katya has always been kind to me, but there’s something about her presence tonight that feels more intimate, more… personal. Like she’s here for more than just a visit.

When I return, she’s looking at a framed photo of Tyler on the side table, a soft smile playing on her lips. “He’s a beautiful boy,” she says as I hand her the tea. “So much like Timur when he was a baby.”

I nod, sitting across from her. “He definitely has his father’s eyes.”

Katya sips her tea thoughtfully, then sets the cup down. “I’m glad Timur found you, Jennifer. I can see the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him, even if you try to hide it.”

I shift uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. Katya has always been perceptive, but it’s still strange to have her point out something I’m barely beginning to understand myself.

“He wasn’t always like this, you know,” she says after a pause, her voice softening. “This hard, this… brutal.”

I blink, surprised by her words. “What do you mean?”

Katya looks down at her hands, her expression thoughtful. “His father’s death changed him. Timur was a different man before it happened. Losing his father… it hardened him, made him ruthless. It’s part of why he’s become who he is today. Deep down, there’s still a part of him that feels, that cares.”

Her eyes meet mine, and I feel a strange flutter in my chest. “I think that part of him has found its way back because of you.”

I swallow, unsure of how to process what she’s saying. “Because of me?”

Katya nods. “You and Tyler. He won’t admit it—he’s far too stubborn for that. I see it, though, He’s protective of you in a way I haven’t seen him be with anyone else.”

I shake my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I don’t know if I can believe that. He’s… he’s done things, Katya. Things that make it hard to see him that way.”

Katya reaches across the table, taking my hand in hers. “I know, but love changes people. It may not happen overnight, and it may not be easy, but I believe Timur can be the man you need him to be. For you and for Tyler.”

I sit there, holding her gaze, my mind swirling with everything she’s said. It’s hard to reconcile the brutal, unyielding man I know with the image Katya paints of a softer, more caring Timur. As I think about the moments I’ve shared with him, the way he’s been with Tyler… maybe she’s right.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

Katya squeezes my hand gently. “Just give him time, Jennifer. He’ll come around.”

Katya leans back into the couch, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “You know,” she begins, her voice soft but filled with a hint of nostalgia, “when Timur first met you, he actually told me about it.”

I blink, surprised. “He… he mentioned me?”

Katya nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Yes, and that in itself was unusual. Timur doesn’t talk about women. Ever. Not to me, not to anyone. He keeps his personal life extremely private, even from family. So when he brought you up, I knew you were different.”

I sit there, absorbing her words, trying to reconcile them with the Timur I’ve come to know—the one who’s ruthless, controlling, and often hard to read. The idea that he talked to his mother about me is hard to process, but there’s something about it that makes my heart ache in a way I don’t expect.

Katya’s eyes are warm as she continues. “He didn’t go into detail, of course. Timur’s never been one for expressing his feelings openly. The fact that he even brought you up… well, I knew you’d gotten under his skin. He told me about a woman he met at a party, how she was different from the others, more reserved but intriguing. He didn’t say much more, but it was enough for me to see that he felt something.”

I glance down at my hands, feeling a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. Could Timur really have been affected by me from the very start? I’ve always seen him as this unshakable force, someone who takes what he wants without hesitation, someone who isn’t vulnerable. Hearing this—hearing that he might have felt something from the moment we met—it softens the edges of my anger and fear, just a little.

Katya must sense the conflict in me because she reaches out, placing a gentle hand on mine. “I’m not saying he’s perfect, Jennifer. He’s far from it. I’ve known my son his whole life, of course, and I can tell you this—if Timur lets someone into his heart, it’s because they mean something to him. You’ve done that. You’ve become important to him.”

I look up at her, my throat tightening. “It doesn’t always feel that way,” I admit quietly. “Sometimes, it feels like I’m just… trapped. Like I’m here because of Tyler, not because Timur wants me.”

Katya’s expression softens. “He may not show it in the way you expect, but Timur’s actions speak volumes. He brought you here, into his home. He’s doing everything to keep you and Tyler safe. Those aren’t the actions of a man who doesn’t care. As much as it might seem like you’re here because of the baby, it’s more than that. I think Timur needs you in ways he doesn’t fully understand yet.”

Her words hang in the air, and for the first time, I find myself questioning my own perception of Timur. Could it be that, beneath the tough exterior, he really does feel something for me? Something deeper than control and possession?

“I don’t know,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s hard to see him as anything other than… ruthless. Especially after everything that’s happened.”

Katya smiles gently. “I know it’s hard to believe, but people can change, Jennifer. And sometimes, love is the thing that drives that change. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s never easy. If anyone can bring out the softer side of Timur, it’s you. He won’t admit it, but I think you’ve already started.”

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