Page 51 of Forbidden Vows

It makes sense. Twins run in the family. My father was a twin, my grandmother before him. There’s a set in each generation. I guess it’s my turn now, and I’m elated.

“I’m going to get huge,” Eileen murmurs, tears welling in her eyes. “I already feel ginormous.”

“Honey, you’re beautiful,” I say, gently squeezing her hand. “And I’ll be with you, every step of the way. I can’t carry the twins for you, but I can carry you.”

“You’re going to be fine,” Dr. Hartman says. “I think we should plan for a C-section, though, to remove some of the strain anatural birth can put on your body. In your case, Mrs. Karpova, it is probably the safer option.”

“Yeah, we can do that,” she absently replies.

“You can always change your mind,” the nurse reminds her.

Eileen gives me a wondering look. “Are you okay with that?”

“Honey, it’s your body. You’re doing all of the work. I support you fully, no matter what you decide,” I tell her. “I just want you to be safe, healthy, and happy, so we can raise our twins together.”

“Could you be any more amazing?” She releases a shuddering breath while the nurse cleans her up and the doctor prints a copy of the ultrasound. “This is way more than what I expected.”

“You’re not alone,” I remind her.

“Twins, Anton. We’re having twins.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

I’m overwhelmed, too, but there’s no turning back time—not that I’d want that, anyway. I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I’m right where I need to be, and so is Eileen. One way or another, we’re going to figure this out.

Knowing we’re having twins ups the stakes even more, though. There’s a side of me that has stayed hidden over the past couple of years. I didn’t see a need for unnecessary bloodshed, so I stifled a most primal instinct.

I may have to let the dark side loose again in order to keep my wife and our babies safe.

Chapter 18

Eileen

“Iguess when God decides to throw a challenge my way, He goes all in, eh?” I laugh nervously as we arrive home.

“The very definition of fuck around and find out, right?” Anton replies, making me laugh harder.

“Oh, we sure did,” I manage, as I sit on the edge of the bed.

I’m already tired, and it’s not even noon. He goes over to the window and pulls the curtains wide open, letting the sunlight in. The room is bathed in a soft golden hue as I take a deep breath and try to gather my senses. Yet my thoughts continue to shoot in every direction, jumping from one extreme scenario to another.

Anton, however, is calm.

I soak in his presence, because it’s the only thing that keeps me grounded when my worst-case scenarios get the better of me. “Twins. Crazy.”

“Double the trouble,” he replies, and kneels in front of me, his hands resting on my knees. “We’ll handle it.”

“Will we? Anton, we’re practically strangers.”

The shadow of a smile dances across his lips. “Not in the biblical sense, we’re not.”

“It takes so much more to raise a family,” I say. “Don’t get me wrong, I like what’s happening here, despite the circumstances. There’s no denying the chemistry, and I’m sure given enough time, we can grow together. But we don’t have a lot of time to do that, do we?”

“Just because we skipped a few steps doesn’t mean it won’t turn out alright,” he says. “I have faith in you, in us. Don’t you?”

“I want to.”

“What ‘s giving you pause, then?”

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