Page 68 of Brutal Bratva King

“Did you have a good afternoon sleep?”

“I actually feel a lot better,” I say, stretching my legs out. Jeepers. I really needed that sleep.

“I have takeout for us downstairs, but if you want, I can bring them up here and we can have dinner in bed?”

“I’ll come down.”

Throughout dinner, I do my best to force myself to smile and be talkative, but inside, I am a churning wreck of nerves and anxiety. I don’t feel as exhausted as I did before—but I am still terrified of what is going to happen when I tell him that I am pregnant with his baby.

Chapter 21 - Rodion

Anya has been so distant lately it’s really starting to worry me.

She keeps telling me she’s fine, but I can see something is wrong.

I think it might be because I’ve been spending extra time at work with the threat of the rivals pressing down on us. But even with that going on—I have decided to take a break for a few days and take Anya out of the city—somewhere beautiful and peaceful where we can just spend some time together and forget about whatever is stressing us.

Before I tell her about the getaway, I arrange everything.

The private jet is booked and the cottage on the edge of the forest lake is stocked with firewood and food before we even get there. I want everything to be perfect and I don’t want her to have to worry about a single thing.

The last few mornings, she has been asking for tea instead of coffee so before she wakes up, I head down to the kitchen to make her a cup.

I’m excited to tell her that we are going away—and I’m really excited to spend some valuable one-on-one time with her. I’ve missed her these last few days. I’ve missed being close to her, hearing her laughter, and seeing that gorgeous smile of hers.

***

I stand next to the bed, looking down at her peaceful, beautiful face.

“Princess,” I say softly, easing her awake.

“Mm,” she mumbles, rolling over and burying her face into the pillow.

“Princess, your tea is here.”

“Tea?” her voice comes from somewhere in the pillow, muffled and distant.

I put the tea down on the bedside table and gently roll her over, brushing her hair from her eyes and kissing her cheek until she wakes up.

“What time is it?” she asks.

“Past nine. You slept late. I would have left you to sleep longer, but we have a plane to catch.” I grin.

She squints at me, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “A plane?”

“We are going away together. Just you and me.”

It’s not a long flight to the cabin, but Anya seems distant and awkward the entire time though.

“Don’t you like flying?” I ask, confused about what is upsetting her.

“I don’t mind it at all.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lean her against me, sitting quietly with her for the remainder of the flight. I’ll go out of my way to make her smile again. Once she has settled in at the cottage I want to try and get her to tell me what is bothering her. If she talks to me, I can find a way to help her.

We arrive at the cottage in the late afternoon, with the sun streaming long warm beams of light through the trees. “Oh my word. This place is straight out of a fairytale,” Anya says, standing out on the wooden deck and looking towards the lake.

I step close behind her and wrap my arms around her stomach. She flinches for a moment, then sinks into my embrace.

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