Page 47 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

Reaching down to the second drawer, I pull out a white envelope stuffed with cold, hard cash—a kickback for Jeff’s work. “Thanks. This will be a nice holiday to Cabo.”

“Good. Enjoy it.” Jeff slams back the rest of the drink, knowing the drill. Informants don’t hang around. We have nothing in common, other than the exchange of information I need.

He holds the envelope up momentarily. “Check in with you down the line.”

“Okay. Good.” I wink at Jeff, and he stands up, shakes my hand, and heads out. Even if Emily decided she wanted to playvigilante, it wouldn’t have gone anywhere. Only back to Jeff, and then I would have to figure out what punishment to dish out to her. I’m relieved I don’t have to take that route. Satisfied with the result, I kick back in my chair, letting my cigar rest for a second with my hands behind my head. Jeff works undercover for the Bratva and has done so for over a decade. He’s been useful, and if he continues to be, the relationship will work on both sides.

He’s the reason nothing was reported back to the police when I essentially kidnapped Emily at the station. I can tell from the look in his eyes he liked Emily, but once I informed him, she was carrying my child, and we were to marry, he backed off.

One down and one more to go. I wait on my next guest in a slightly better mood given the result. A few minutes later, a rap at the door grabs my attention.

“Who is it?”

“Paul—Paul Butcher. Can I come in?”

“Yep. Come through.”

Paul enters in smart business casual: blue blazer, black T-shirt, jeans, and loafers with his face clean-shaven. “Evening, Ryurik. Nice to see you in the club setting. This place is absolutely huge.”

Arching my eyebrows at him, I agree. “Sure is. My baby. I brought this vision to life, and it’s all mine.” Holding out my arms, I hold up my drink. I might as well let him indulge because it’s going to be the last one he sees from me.

“Ah yeah?” he returns in a dubious tone, probably not knowing where he stands with me, and that’s the rocky ground I want him to crumble on. “I didn’t—er… I was worried after the ball we might not be on the same page.”

“Same page?” I add smoothly, the fire of hate burning a hole inside me. Emily’s held up her end of the bargain, and it’s time I hold up mine. Emily crying on my shoulder, withdrawn for days after seeing him is what I remember. And as our child blossoms, due any day now, I can’t imagine how a man could abandon their own so coldly, without any regard whatsoever.

“Yeah, you know. But we’re businessmen, and the world turns. Emily turned out good, and look! Hey, it’s a full-circle moment. The gang’s back together again. I don’t see the problem.”

Furious at his stupidity, I begin to realize he’s as dumb as the rest of his associates, just in other ways. “What drink?”

“I’m a scotch on the rocks guy. That will do me. You’ve got the good stuff up in here.”

Despising the man, I hand over the drink, thrusting it into his hand, the strong urge to backhand him taking over. “One scotch on the rocks,” I say loudly, the ice clinking together from the force. Paul wrangles with the glass, his face morphing from smug to baffled.

“Are you okay?”

Perched on the edge of my desk to the left of him, I shake my head, sipping my gin.

“No. What you did to Emily was wrong on too many levels. You’ve missed the point of what a brotherhood and the Mafia is built on.”

“Oh yeah? What did I miss? The way I see it is I did Emily a favor. She got to have a normal life. What kind of life was she going to have with me?” Paul points to himself, justifying his own bullshit.

“She knows who I am, and she married me. What are you talking about? Are you that much of a bitch you couldn’t protecther? That’s what the Mafia do. The Bratva have protective services from the military, to the police, the national guard, we’re everywhere. You had the means to take care of her!” I shout, my emotions getting the better of me.

“Hey there. Whoa. This is more so a matter between Emily and me. Her mother and I weren’t getting along.”

“But you knew she was having a kid, didn’t you?” I hiss, hating the man in front of me.

“Sure, but I lost touch, and things didn’t go as planned.” Paul shrugs his excuses coming thick and fast.

“You’re a shit liar, Paul. You abandoned your daughter and there’s no way around it. We won’t be collaborating. Not now. Not ever. I can’t trust a man who abandons his family.”

“Wait a minute. Let’s take a minute to breathe and think this through. Come on. This is business. It’s going to help family matters.”

Chuckling, I dig my fingers into the wood of my desk, gritting my teeth. “Nope. It’s not going to do that. You are doomed.”

“Doomed?” Paul’s face flushes bright red as I laugh, wishing Emily was here to witness her father’s downfall.

“Yes. Doomed is the right word. I’m going after all your businesses. Your casino arrangements. And it’s already underway. You’re going to be bankrupt by the end of next year.”

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