Page 8 of Vengeful Embers

Irina nods. “You know about the miscarriages. All four.”

I exhale, nod. “Yeah.”

“We’re thinking about surrogacy,” she says. “We’ve already started the process.”

“Oh?” My eyes widen. “I think that’s a great option for you.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Gavriil says, leaning his elbows on his desk. “Irina and I would like to ask you if you would consider being our surrogate.”

“You were the obvious choice,” Irina says quickly. “We both love you dearly and trust you.”

My breath catches. “Me?”

Irina reaches out, takes my hand. “You’re smart. Healthy. You’re already like family to us.”

“We’re not asking for an answer now,” Gavriil says quickly. “Take the night off. Think about it. We know it’s a big ask.”

I open my mouth, then close it. The yes is right there. I don’t even know why. Maybe because I love them. Maybe because I feel like I owe them. Maybe because saying yes makes something in me feel… needed.

“Yes!” I say, impulsively. I saw how this last miscarriage had almost broken Irina. “I want to do this for you both.”

“Tara, while my heart has just done a double-take at your answer,” Irina’s eyes glisten, and she reaches for my hand, “Gavriil thought you might say yes right away. And it fills my heart with joy. But we want you to be sure.”

“Think it over tonight and give us your answer tomorrow,” Gavriil tells me.

“Go out tonight. Have some fun,” Irina encourages me with a naughty glint in her eyes. “Call that sexy doctor of yours.”

“Oh, no,” Gavriil groans. “Not Steve. Can’t you go out with Sasha or one of the girls?”

“Gavriil,” Irina says with mock outrage. “Don’t be jealous.”

He throws up his hands. “I just don’t trust a guy who waxes his chest and drives a Porsche on a resident’s salary.”

“I want to do this for you,” I tell them, standing. “But I’m not going to say no to a night off as it’s been a rough day.”

“Then go home, soak in the tub, order in, and binge-watch a television series,” Gavriil suggests. “Then tomorrow you’ll be fresh and you’ll be able to make a grounded decision.”

“Or, go have a hot, steamy night out with Dr. Steve,” Irina encourages.

I laugh, hugging each of them. “I might just go crash my mother’s anniversary dinner.”

“No, don’t do that!” Gavriil discourages. “It’s a romantic night fortwo.”

I sigh. “You’re right!” I grin at Gavrill. “A night out with Dr. Steve, it is then.”

As I head toward the staff hallway, I nearly crash into a man. He is tall, built like a solid wall of muscle, ruggedly handsome with sharp, piercing blue eyes, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, and looks intense.

“Can I help you?” I ask, eyeing the hallway sign that reads: Staff-only.

His voice is smooth. Polished. With a Russian accent. “I was looking for the bathroom. My apologies.”

I nod, relaxing. “It’s out front, not back here. I know the sign can be confusing.” I shake my head, muttering. “I’ve told Gavriil to change it like a hundred times.”

“Thank you,” he says, giving me a quick nod before walking away.

I pull out my phone, fingers already flying over the keypad as I send a message to my friend with benefits, Steve.

Are you free tonight?

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