Page 123 of Sinful Scars

“Lucia, I’m pregnant.”

I figure it’s as good a time as any to admitthe truth. After all, it might be the only way for me to help convince Alexei to spare Lev’s life.

Lucia freezes with her mug halfway to her mouth.

For a second, I’m worried she’s going to drop it, but then she sets it back down on the table.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I’m pregnant.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

The crease between Lucia’s eyebrows gets deeper as she’s silent for a moment.

“And Lev is…”

“He’s the father.”

“Christ, Elle, what thehellwere you thinking?” She gets up, pacing. “Yousleptwith the man who was stalking you?”

“Clearly.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t act like this isn’t a big deal.”

“Because it isn’t!”

“Elle—”

“Now can you see why I need to be in there with him? He’s the father of mychild,Lucia. I can’t let them hurt him. I’ll never be able to forgive them if they do.”

“Fuck, this is not good.” She runs her fingers through her hair as she glances at the door.

“They need to know the truth. If Alexei knows I’m pregnant?—”

“You have to understand, I’m caught in the middle here. I don’t want to take sides, but ultimately, this man killed my husband’s parents, and I’m not sure that’s something Mikhail and his brothers can get past. And quite honestly, Elle, I don’t want to have to ask them to.”

“He couldn’t have done it. Igor’s been exploiting Lev’s weaknesses for years for his own gain.”

“We don’t know that.”

“What the hell happened to innocent until proven guilty, huh? It seems to me the Koslovs just want a scapegoat, and Lev is an easier target than Igor.”

“That’s not fair?—”

“What they’re doing to him right now isn’t fair!” My voice cracks, and I’m suddenly unable to hold back the tears any longer.

I bury my face in my hands as I’m overcome with grief.

Lucia moves to sit in the chair beside me, and when she places a hand on my arm, I don’t shake it off.

“Do you love him?”

I lower my hands and look up at her with tear-filled eyes. “More than anything.”

She glances over at the door again before nodding once.

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