Page 46 of Bought By the Bratva

Looking at her, I felt confused. “Congratulate me on what, doctor?” I asked.

Her brows rose as she replied. “Oh, you didn’t know? You’re pregnant, Nadia, and I see you are about eight weeks along.”

My heart stopped as her words rang through my mind. “This can’t be,” I mumbled as I felt the tears starting to roll down my cheeks.

“Excuse me?” she asked, looking concerned at me. “Have you been eating and getting enough sleep?”

Shaking my head, I stood up quickly. “Thank you, but I have to go,” I huffed as I turned and ran from her office. Once outside, I found a large tree that I could lean against. I was heaving as I tried to catch my breath, but my chest felt like it had collapsed.

My tears were now flowing freely as I cried. Going down on my knees next to the tree, I rested my head against it. I didn’t know what to do. I was all alone, and now this. After a while, I managed to calm myself down. I stopped crying and got up.

The night was slowly nearing, and I had to get home. Returning home, I heard them still celebrating for no reason. With them all in the kitchen, I would be able to sneak back in. I didn’t want them to see my puffy red eyes.

I had just entered and closed the door behind me when Makari, my middle cousin, stepped out of the kitchen. “Hey, there you are. Come back and join us. We were just wondering where you went?” he huffed. I could smell the beer on his breath and had to close my nose.

Looking at him, I wondered if I would make it sitting by them in the stench. “I’m actually tired; I think I’m going to bed,” I said as I tried to pass him.

‘Nonsense,” he proclaimed loudly as he grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the kitchen. “You’re home, and we’re celebrating.”

Taking shallow breaths, I sat down. I didn’t feel like fighting or explaining things. The three men were chattering about some new mission they had received. I kept my head down, and my mouth shut, hoping I would be able to sneak out and go to bed.

Before I could make a move, Vadik slammed his fist on the table as he spoke. “What’s wrong with you? You look worried or sick. Are you sick? Have you brought a virus back with you?”

Glaring at him, I wished I had. But there was no virus, only a baby. “I’m fine; there’s nothing to worry about,” I replied. “I went to see the doctor. I have a slight cold. I just need some rest. So, if you don’t mind, I would like to go lay down.”

Vadik looked over his shoulder at the other two before nodding. Getting up, I grabbed a glass of water, and I left the kitchen quickly before they changed their minds. Sitting down on the side of my bed by the window, I took a sip of water before placing the glass on the nightstand.

I stared out at the sky as the stars started appearing. I sat there a long time trying to focus. My mind was a mess. I had no idea what I was going to do. Hugging my pillow, I fell to my side as tears still came pouring out.

At some point, I closed them as they burned. I wanted to forget everything. I wanted my life to disappear. I couldn’t tell my cousins. They would not understand. In the early morning, sleep finally found me.

I didn’t know how long I had slept when I was rudely woken by Vadik screaming at me. Sitting up in shock, I rubbed my eyes. “What the hell?” I asked, trying to focus on him. “I’m ready; what must I do?” I was still in a daze and must have been dreaming.

Shaking my head, I felt sick again. As Vadik continued screaming at me, my head started aching again. “What were you thinking? You had one job. One job only! What did you do?”

I couldn’t grasp what was going on as Pavel added his voice to the seemingly screaming match. “What the hell were you thinking? Why didn’t you tell us? You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Getting up, I turned to face them. Lifting my hands, I tried to find some understanding as I spoke. “What did I do?” I swallowed hard, hoping it didn’t have anything to do with my failed mission.”

“Are you not pregnant with that bastard’s child?” Makari chipped in.

I felt my face turning white. Looking down at the floor, I wondered how they had found out. “Sorry,” I mumbled, moving forward. “I need the bathroom. It’s too early for this. Can we talk about it later?”

“No!” Vadik spat, grabbing my arm. “Is it true?”

“It’s no big deal,” I replied softly.

“No big deal?” he huffed turning me to face him as he shook me by my shoulders. “No fucking big deal? It is a huge deal, Nadia! You are not keeping that thing.”

Feeling my tears building up again and my eyes stinging, I pulled back, turning to get out of his grasp. “This is my choice. It’s my body, not yours,” I shot back at him. My anger rose as I tried pushing through the three of them. “I need to get to the bathroom unless you want to bring in the mop!” I added, shoving them out of the way.

Vadik walked close on my heels as I moved to the bathroom. Stepping in, I turned and shut the door on his face. Locking it, I leaned back as the first tears dropped.

“You will not keep it! Do you hear me?” he shouted, slamming on the door. “You will get an abortion today. I have already scheduled the appointment. We will not raise another bastard child!”

Stepping away from the door, I turned and stared at it. What did he mean? Was there another reason for them hating me? Sitting on the toilet, I tried to wrap my mind around everything that had been said.

I didn’t know what Vadik meant by his last statement. But I knew I wasn’t a bastard child. He was just full of shit. It dawned on me that I would never have any form of life if I stayed. My cousins didn’t respect me and never would. They didn’t care, and neither did Abram.

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