Page 83 of Forgotten Vows
No, I hadn’t found her.
She ran back to me.
I would spend the rest of my life making sure she didn’t regret that choice.
“I also wanted to plan to move once we’re married,” I told him before the women reached us.
“Oh, don’t tell her that.” Luka laughed lightly. “Gabriella is overjoyed to have Raisa here.”
“It’s not like we’d go far. But we need space.”
Luka nodded. “I understand. It’s the same as what Alexsei decided, wanting his own space for him and Misha. But wouldn’t you just move back to your place?”
“That depressing bachelor pad?” I shook my head. “No. I want us to look together, all three of us. Lev’s opinions will matter too, especially since he and Raisa were on the go for so much of his childhood. I want us to find a home together. But I’ve been waiting until Konstantin isn’t a threat anymore. That’s why I haven’t pushed to leave with them yet.” We were safest here.
“I understand. It’s like déjà vu. Gabriella was safer here.”
“So really, instead of hurrying my wedding to Raisa,” I argued lightly before the women reached us, “it should be more of a hurry to find Konstantin and kill him. So Raisa and Lev don’t have to go through the same thing of worrying about leaving this house.”
Luka’s gaze was cold and serious. “I agree. But until we can lock down a location on him…”
“It’s time for a wedding,” I finished for him.
I can’t wait.
34
RAISA
When I entered Gabriella’s room this morning and saw Andre playing quietly and calmly in his playpen, I narrowed my eyes and wondered why Gabriella had made such a fuss last night about my ‘helping’ her with the baby today.
He seemed fine to me.
Not seeing Gabriella in the room she shared with Luka, though, I walked around a bit. “Gabreilla?”
She hurried out of the bathroom right then. Flustered and with her face rosier than usual, she opened her eyes wide. “Oh, hey.”
“Huh?” I furrowed my brow. “Oh, hey?” I parroted, mocking her. “Why are you acting so weird and surprised that I’m here? You asked me last night to come and help you with Andre, who, and I don’t want to jinx it, but he’s looking pretty content over there.”
She shook her head and ran to me. Taking my hands, she swallowed hard. “No, it’s not that. That was an excuse to get you here.”
“Okay…” I tilted my head to the side. “You’re being weird.”
“This is me being nervous-excited.”
I tried to puzzle her out. A fleeting memory of her declining coffee yesterday morning stood out. I snapped my fingers and pointed at her. “You’re pregnant.”
Her mouth hung open. “You can’t justtelllike that.”
“But are you?”
“I think I am.” She smiled awkwardly. “But I don’t know. I wanted you here as support while I take the test. The last time I went through this…” She looked away and ran her hand over her long brown waves, kind of shoving the thick mass out of her face. “I was terrified and alone and worried and then that stupid maid dug through the trash to get the test stick and used it against me to almost get me killed and?—”
“Whoa. Easy.” I smiled. “Yes, I’ll be here with you for this.” My lips curled up higher, excited for her. “Go on! Do you have a test?”
She nodded. “Guard the door while I do it,” she said with an excited squee.
“Guard it?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like this is bad news. Luka will be thrilled.”
