Page 67 of Brutal Bratva King

I get dressed slowly, trying to work out how to handle this situation.

Being pregnant isn’t that terrifying—it’s Rodion’s reaction to the news that worries me. I don’t want our relationship to change when it feels as though it is just starting to grow into something real.

He made it clear on our wedding night that he expected an heir—that was the entire reason he wanted me in his bed that night. I remember it like it was just yesterday.

Everything that has happened between us since then—the way he made me fall for him—the way he makes me smiles and feel—it could all just have been a plot to keep sleeping with me until I fell pregnant.

Now that I am—now that I have his baby—will he still treat me the same?

Rodion is waiting for me downstairs when I come down dressed and ready to go to the pharmacy.

“Are you sure you need to go to the store today?” he asks, sounding worried.

“I think getting out for a bit will be good for me,” I nod, trying to sound reassuring.

“I don’t like it. You know I can take the day off work and go with you.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t be silly. You have important things you have to deal with. If I need anything, I’ll call.”

“Do you promise?” he asks, cupping his hand over my cheek.

I nod.

“Good. I’ll be home as early as I can. If you want me to pick up some takeout for dinner on the way home I can do that?”

“That sounds perfect. Maybe some Chinese food.”

He laughs. “Anything you want, princess. I’ll see you later.” He leans down and kisses me softly, then walks out towards his car. I wait until he’s driven away before I climb into my own car and head into town to the nearest pharmacy.

All the way there, I have a paranoid sense that I’m being followed. But it’s just my own fear because I’m fully aware that I should not be keeping a secret like this from Rodion. He is my husband. No matter what else is going on—he is my husband. I married him. And if I’m carrying his baby, he has a right to know.

I sigh, gripping the steering wheel and twisting my hands over it. I’m so anxious. It’s a horrible feeling.

At the pharmacy, I keep glancing over my shoulder, but there isn’t anyone there. I’m alone.

I purchase two different kinds of tests, pay for them and then head back home. On the way I think that I should have bought something else just in case Rodion asks me what I got at the store, but it’s too late. I’m too tired and too stressed to go back now.

At home, I hurry upstairs to my own bathroom and with the door closed, I pee on both of the pregnancy test sticks, click their lids back on and then stare at them, unable to look away even though it seems to be making time move slower.

The alarm on my phone goes off, but I don’t even look at it or flinch.

The answer is right in front of me. I watched the lines fade into reality.

Both tests say the same thing. I’m pregnant.

I am one hundred percent, unquestionably—pregnant.

I switch my phone alarm off, wrap the pregnancy tests in the pharmacy bag and shove them to the bottom of my dustbin. For over an hour, I just pace up and down in my bedroom.

When I get too tired to pace, I lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

At some point, I fall asleep—thankfully—and I only wake up when I feel Rodion sitting on the edge of my bed and I hear him gently saying my name.

I open my eyes and blink a few times until I’m fully awake.

“Hi, princess,” he smiles down at me.

“Hello. “I grin.

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