Page 107 of Pregnant Bratva Wife
But first, Autumn. I needed to be here when she arrived.
Autumn had just left the war centre. Caspian had told me she’d insisted on staying to monitor our route back, refusing to let anyone shut off the live feed until she saw Megan and us drive through the gates.
I needed to explain what had happened, what we’d discovered. I didn’t know how she would take it—if seeing her sister like this would push her away from me again. The thought made my chest tighten.
I heard the front door open, followed by the sound of quick footsteps. Then she was there, breathless, eyes wide as she took in the scene.
“Megan!” She rushed to her sister’s side, dropping to her knees beside the couch. “Oh God, Megan.”
Dr. Brandt stepped back, giving her space. “She’s stable, Mrs. Lebedev. The drugs will take time to leave her system, but she’ll recover.”
Autumn’s hand trembled as she brushed the hair from Megan’s forehead. “Thank you,” she whispered.
The doctor left to give us some privacy. Said he would be outside.
“I should have been there,” Autumn said softly, not looking at me.
“You were where you needed to be,” I replied. “Safe.”
She finally turned to me, tears shimmering in her eyes. “You brought her back.”
“I promised I would.”
She stood up slowly, and I braced myself for her anger, disappointment, and withdrawal. Instead, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, burying her face against my chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I held her carefully. “Autumn. The loan sharks weren’t after you or Megan. They’re tied up with my enemies. If I’d never interfered, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I’ll give you time,” I said softly. “After all this. To figure out what you want. What’s best for you and Megan.”
She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her blue eyes fierce despite the tears. “I don’t need time, Federico. I know what I want.”
My heart stuttered in my chest. “Autumn—”
“I want you,” she said simply. “I think I’ve always wanted you, even when I was fighting it. Even when I was so angry I couldn’t see straight. I love you. God help me, I love you.”
I stared at her, unable to process what I was hearing. “After everything? After what I did? After Megan got in trouble because of me?”
She nodded. “After everything. Because of everything. The man who manipulated me into marrying him wouldn’t have risked his life to save my sister. Wouldn’t have respected my need to be part of the rescue. Wouldn’t have put my family on par with his. You’re not that man anymore, Federico. You’re a man I trust.”
I cupped her face in my hands, hardly daring to believe this was real. “I love you,” I said, the words I’d been holding back for so long finally breaking free. “More than I thought it was possible to love anyone.”
“I know,” she whispered, rising on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine.
The kiss was gentle. This was something new. Something built on truth, on trust, earned the hard way.
Behind us, Megan stirred on the couch. Autumn broke away, turning back to her sister. But she kept her hand in mine, fingers intertwined, anchoring me to her.
“We’ll get through this,” she said quietly. “All of it. Together.”
I looked at her—this fierce, beautiful woman who had crashed into my life and changed everything. My wife. The mother of my child. The keeper of my heart.
“Together,” I agreed.
Chapter 26 - Autumn
Our living room was a mess of spilled drinks, loud laughter, and overlapping conversations. Someone had cranked the music just enough to make people talk louder, and Beatrice was waving around her mocktail like it was a gavel.
“—and that is why I will never again do tequila shots with Dante.”
