Page 48 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

Paul coughs in disbelief, anguish on his face. “What? Bankrupt. You can’t do that.”

Sneering, I lean close to Paul. “Oh yes, I fucking can. In fact, I’ve already started. I think we call that a jackpot.” Standing up, I cross my arms, waiting for him to catch the immediate cue to leave.

“Can’t we work out a deal? You can’t punish me for something that happened years ago.”

“Looks like that’s exactly what I’m doing. The door. You. Out.” The command is direct, but Paul follows it, his head visibly blown apart by the blow I’ve just delivered.

Nothing more is said as Paul walks out the door, closing it behind him. A lazy smile rises over my face. The night is young and fresh, and so far, I’m two for two.

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Emily

I’m not expecting Ryurik to come back for the night. He has a huge weekend at Blindside for a DJ competition, and I’m in no shape to be anywhere near a club. I’m happy enough to settle into the mountain of pillows I’ve created and watch movies all night. It’s been a fun couple of days with Stacy, Kiara, and Laura hosting a baby shower for me. I would have planned it better, but I procrastinated about it as I didn’t know if I wanted one.

I’m glad I went through with it in the end.

Happy enough, I dip my hand into my popcorn wondering if I did the right thing by not turning Ryurik in, but it doesn’t take long for me to snap out of the murky waters I’ve been swimming in. Willy Dee double-dipped. I figured he was too lost in the notoriety of being undercover. Maybe he stayed on the right side of the law for the most part, but when did he get shaken down by the dark side?

There’s the investigative part of me that wants to take a drive out to the address on the paper and dig to see if the body is there.What if Ryurik moved it?Why would he leave such important information out in his private office to be seen? And the door being open seemed even weirder. In all the time we’ve spent together, I’ve never known him to leave the door open like that.

Finding a rom-com, I nestle under the pillows getting comfortable, trying to let the past go. There’s nothing I can do about the murder now. And I can’t tell Jackson about Willy. It’s a secret I’m going to have to take to the grave. The movie starts as I crunch on my popcorn, letting it go. I’m about to give birth and the only thing that matters is me delivering a healthy baby.

About ten minutes into the movie, Olga comes in with snacks and drinks, and I’m surprised I’m not already about to fall asleep. I’ve got a short attention span these days, and if I sit down for more than ten minutes, I’m liable to go into nap mode.

A funny scene in the movie gets me laughing and snorting, but it’s the voice out of the blue that causes me to jump and almost lose the full bowl of my popcorn. “I’ve never heard you snort like that before. Must have been something really funny,” Ryurik says in a light tone, my bowl separating from the popcorn, kernels flying into the air.

“Omigod! Ryurik, what the hell are you doing back here?” I shout, still shocked about him sneaking up on me to the couch. Ryurik laughs loudly, scraping up the popcorn from the floor and moving the tray table to the side. He nestles in the nook beside my feet, tugging at them.

“Sorry, sorry, you look as snug as a bug. I didn’t mean to disturb you. You look really cute wrapped up in there.” He rubs the side of my thigh as my eyes narrow at him.

“You haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”

“What, don’t you want me here?” Ryurik tugs at my toe playfully.

“No, I didn’t say that. You told me you would be working late and not to expect you unless I called you about my water breaking,” I gently remind him.

“Oh yeah, I did say that, didn’t I?” Ryurik’s wearing a cocky grin, and I’m doing my best to work out why. “But I’m here. With you,” he adds, his voice tuning down an octave as his hand slides up underneath the blanket, sitting on my thigh. Pausing the movie, I wiggle my toes on his leg.

“What are you doing?” I ask him in amusement. There’s news. There has to be, because he’s being too playful and nice.Normally, there’s a silent, but very distant wall he puts up as a shield.

“Wanted to feel you,” he whispers, his eyes softening.

“Can you please answer my question?” I ask in earnest, done with the game he’s playing.

“Hmm. No game. I wanted to come home early to spend time with my lovely wife. We don’t have too much time together before you pop.”

“No. I guess not. That’s nice of you.” There’s a wariness in my tone as I slot the pieces of the puzzle together. I spoke to Jeff a couple of days ago and didn’t turn in the evidence. This has something to do with it. It’s the only thing I can come up with for why he’s acting this way.

He rubs my leg a few more times prompting me to sit up. Ryurik takes the opportunity to snuggle up and close to me, taking off his jacket. “God. Did you just get out of the shower, you smell so good.”

“Yes. No, a little while ago I had one. Ryurik, what’s going on?” I press as he kisses my collarbone wrapping his arms around me.

“Nothing’s going on.”

Jeff. Him not reporting what he saw. If that had been Milton or Brady they would have, but Jeff didn’t. He knew about the forced marriage, and I never said a word about how I met Ryurik or him forcing me to do anything.

“Was Jeff a setup?” I ask quietly, the room swirling.

“What?” He kisses my cheek, his cologne wafting through my nostrils.

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