Page 29 of Surrogate for the Bratva
“Yeah, that’s right Romanov. Watch your back.”
I smiled. “I always watch my back, but you better be careful Romanov because when the time comes my face will be the last fucking thing you see.”
He wanted to say more but wisely the old man kept his mouth shut and got the fuck out of my restaurant.
I needed to do something about Voronov, and I needed to do it yesterday.Soon, I promised myself.
“Ready?” Maxim appeared at my side, a stern expression on his face.
“For? The old man is angry but not stupid enough to start a war.”
Maxim’s lips twitched. “You are meeting April for her sixteen-week checkup. You forgot.” It wasn’t a question which was good because I would never admit that I had forgotten.
“I’m ready.”
***
The drive to the private doctor’s office was short, which gave me no time to prepare for the appointment. The red brick building was inviting, and I strolled inside as if I owned the place, mostly because I did until the loan was paid off.
Since there was no longer a need to keep my identity secret, I wanted to be as involved as I could in my child’s life. It should’ve been Maria here with April.
“Hey.” April looked up from e-reader and offered up a shy smile. “Maxim said you might come to the appointment.”
I nodded, unable to tear my gaze from her. She wore a pale green shirt dress that clung to her tits and hips.
“Nervous,” she guessed.
“Maybe,” I admitted and dropped into the seat beside her. “You?”
“Hell yes,” she answered honestly. “Not about the baby, but this is all pretty weird. I know what I signed up for but days like today make it real.”
I laughed. “More real than morning sickness?”
April laughed. “Surprisingly, yes.”
“April Stone?”
April quickly got to her feet and headed toward the nurse dressed in lavender scrubs. “I’m April.”
The nurse’s gaze flicked to me and intensified with appreciation as she looked me over. “Hi April. And Dad.”
I put a hand against April’s back and guided her forward. There was no need to explain our situation to the staff.
“The doctor will be with you shortly,” the chipper nurse said before closing the exam room door on her way out.
“You develop a fan club everywhere you go, don’t you?” April’s tone was full of amusement and for a moment it reminded me of Maria. “I’m only teasing,” she added in response to the blank look on my face.
“It’s fine,” I told her and took her hand in mine. “Women like handsome men but more than that, they love rich men.”
She laughed again. “And you are both.”
“You said it yourself, I am a catch.”
She bumped her shoulder with mine as she started to undress, replacing her clothes with a cotton gown. “I said youseemedto be a catch.”
My smile grew along with hers. The woman had an uncanny ability to make me laugh and smile more than I ever did. “I don’t hear a difference.”
She laughed again but it was interrupted by the petite female doctor with straight black hair who greeted us both with a warm welcome and a handshake. “How are we feeling?”
