Page 79 of Pregnant Bratva Wife
The next morning, I found myself smiling into my coffee cup as Federico entered the kitchen. He was already dressed for work in a crisp suit that made me think decidedly unprofessional thoughts.
“Morning,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of intimacy that hadn’t been there before yesterday.
“Morning,” I replied, feeling my cheeks warm at the memories flooding back.
He poured himself coffee, leaned against the counter, and studied me over the rim of his cup. “Coming to the casino today?”
I tried to keep it casual, not wanting to let my plans be known. “I’ll be in a little later. I have some things to take care of first.”
He shrugged and smiled. “I’ll see you there, then.”
After he left, I called Megan, needing to hear her voice. I was happy, and I missed her.
“Hey, sis!” she answered, sounding happier than she had in months. “Perfect timing—I just aced my biochem exam!”
“That’s amazing!” I felt a rush of pride. “I knew you would.”
We chatted about her classes, her friends, and the research project she was excited about. For once, I didn’t feel worried. Megan was thriving. My debts were paid. And all of it was because of Federico.
Federico was becoming something I hadn’t expected.
After hanging up, I packed a picnic basket with Federico’s favorites—some sourdough, a selection of cheeses, sandwiches, and cut fruit, along with those little Italian cookies he thought I wouldn’t notice him sneaking.
I wanted to surprise him, to thank him in some small way for everything he’d done for us.
When I arrived at the casino, I was practically bouncing with excitement. The security guards knew me by now, nodding me through without question.
As I approached Federico’s office, I heard raised voices from inside.
“We need more money,” a stranger bellowed. “What you gave us wasn’t half of what we deserved.”
“I paid fair and square,” Federico insisted.
I slowed my steps, not wanting to interrupt what sounded like a tense business discussion. But then I caught a glimpse through the glass door, and my blood froze.
Sitting across from Federico was a face I knew all too well. One I dreaded. One of the loan sharks who had threatened Megan before our marriage. Igor Petrov.
The same man who had once cornered me outside my apartment and detailed exactly what would happen if I didn’t pay up.
I ducked behind a column, heart hammering. What was he doing here? Meeting with Federico?
“...not what we agreed on,” the man’s voice carried through the door. “YOU SAID fifty grand to orchestrate the scheme, but said we would discuss it after.”
Scheme? What the hell were they talking about?
“You should have said sobeforeyou did your part. The fifty stands,” Federico replied coolly.
“The scheme worked perfectly,” the man argued. “You got what you wanted, didn’t you? The girl married you without a second thought.”
My stomach dropped.
“You’re going too far,” Federico’s voice hardened.
I pressed a hand to my mouth, bile rising in my throat.
They had orchestrated something. The threats. The stolen five grand from Megan’s dorm room. Marrying me?
Could it be that it had all been planned?
