Page 109 of Hunter

“Why?”

She sighs, looking down at her hands. “We’ve got so much going on. I didn’t want to take away from what’s important.”

I stand, crossing the space between us, and gently cup her face in my hands. “Sophia, you are the most important person in my life. Everything else—everything—falls to the side. You’re my priority. My number one choice.”

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, but she shakes her head. “Your mind has been preoccupied with Elena, with everything else happening. I just wanted things to settle down before I told you.”

I nod slowly, understanding her logic. She probably had this whole moment planned out in her mind, how she’d tell me. Knowing Sophia, she wanted it to be perfect. She’s right—my mind has been all over the place.

“It’s funny,” she says suddenly, her lips quirking into a faint smile.

“What is?”

“I know there’s a one percent chance of birth control not to working, but I never thought I’d be part of that one percent.”

Her words sting, but I don’t let it show. She doesn’t know the truth. That one percent wasn’t chance—it was me. I switched out her birth control with sugar pills. The idea of Sophia pregnant with our child had consumed me. I fought it, but the thought of her belly rounded, our baby growing inside her… It drove me to cross a line I’ll never admit to. I know how insane it sounds, and if she ever finds out, it’ll be the first time she considers murder. But it’s worth it. She’s worth it.

“How do you feel about this?” she asks, her words rushing together. “We’ve only talked about kids briefly, and I know you want more than one, but how do you feel about having a babynow? The idea of having kids isn’t the same as actually having one.”

I stop her rambling with a soft kiss, brushing my lips against hers. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

I stand, lifting her with me as I do, and gently press my hand to her stomach. “This baby is going to be loved, so loved, so full of happiness.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and I wipe it away with my thumb. “I love you so much, Sophia.”

“I love you too,” she whispers. For the first time in weeks, I feel like I can breathe. Everything has felt like it has been crumbling around us lately, but hearing her say those three words—it’s like my world has been made whole again. I kiss her again. Again. Soft, tender kisses, one after another, until she pulls back gently, her hands on my chest.

“Not the right time,” she says, her voice laced with regret. “There’s something you need to know about Elena.”

I pause, my brow furrowing. “What is it?”

She sits back down, her expression growing serious. “Let me tell you everything that happened before I came to rescue you.”

I exhale a heavy breath once Sophia finishes speaking. “That’s why Jennifer mentioned using Elena when she hit a wall.” It hits me like a punch to the gut. I’d heard her say Elena’s name, but it didn’t really sink in before. Now, it makes sense.

“Have you ever encountered the organization she was talking about?” Sophia asks, her voice full of concern.

“No, I haven’t. I have no idea who they are.” I try to steady my voice, but there’s a part of me that knows this is the beginning of something far more dangerous than we ever anticipated. “Maybe Luca knows. Your dad mentioned his father worked for them.”

Sophia looks down, biting her lip. “Do you think Jennifer will be safe?”

I frown, the weight of her question sitting heavy on my chest. A tenseness in my stomach starts to form. “I’m not sure what kind of men we’re dealing with. Let’s proceed carefully from here on out and consider them very dangerous. I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe.”

“What do we do now?” Her voice is steady, but I can feel the fear in her words.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to think clearly. “Let’s call Jennifer, Luca, and Andrei. We’ll make a plan. We need to figure out what we’re up against.”

I can feel the uncertainty of the future squeezing around me, making it hard to breathe. What if I can’t protect Sophia and our baby? I have no idea who these people are, and something about Jennifer’s behavior nags at me. There’s a sense of doom that tightens in my chest. I close my eyes, hoping for a moment of clarity, but all I feel is constriction in my lungs.

Sophia’s soft touch against my face breaks through the tension. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re not alone. We’ll get through this together.”

Her words and her touch calm me in ways I didn’t think possible. I inhale deeply, her scent filling my lungs like a breath of fresh air. “I’m scared, Sophia,” I admit, my voice cracking as I pull her close. “I feel like I’m in way over my head. I thought finding the person behind this would solve all our problems. But now…now there’s an even bigger monster waiting for us. I never imagined this would be the reality.”

She hugs me tighter, her presence a grounding force. I take in her sweet vanilla scent as I bury my face in the crook of her neck. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to get us out of this mess.”

“We all have a role to play in this, Maxim,” she says softly, her voice unwavering. “You’re not alone. We will get out of this together.”

I can’t find the words to respond. The fear gnaws at me, relentless. I’m not sure if all of us combined will be enough to get through what’s coming, but I know one thing for certain. If it comes down to choosing between Sophia, our baby, and myself, I would give my life for theirs without hesitation.

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