Page 105 of The Bratva's Christmas Bump
“And I promised myself that if I survived, then I would tell you and I really don’t want you to be mad because this feels like something I should tell you, but I’m also scared because…” She trails off and glances up at me. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because you’re trusting me.”
She laughs briefly and rolls her eyes. “Maxim… I’m pregnant. That’s why I followed you into the pizzeria last month, because I’d been looking for you forweeksand you were a ghost. Then I saw you and I thought fate was finally helping me, so I came to tell you that I was carrying your baby. Everything just sort of got fucked after that, but I… I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes flit repeatedly up to my face as if she’s almost too scared to look at my reaction. I lean forward and cup her face with my free hand, then tilt her up to look at me.
“I love you, Hollie. So much. I fell for you so fucking hard and almost embarrassingly fast, so this?” I tilt my head and glance down at her abdomen. “This isamazing.”
“You’re not mad?” she whispers. “That I hid it?”
“Not at all. If anything, I’m thankful you finally trust me,” I say, kissing her softly. “A baby, Hollie. Our own little nugget is growing inside you… I can’t believe this. I’m going to be a father!” Laughter bubbles up inside me and I kiss her repeatedly. There’s no point in telling her that I already knew. Revealing that would likely reduce her trust in me, and I value that more than anything else.
“I’m going to be a mom.” Hollie laughs, kissing me back while tears twinkle in her eyes. “It’s also why I want to go to dinner with my parents and not the banquet.”
Leaning back, I study her face. “Are you sure? That job is an amazing opportunity for you.”
“I know, but I want this baby and I don’t want to be pregnant on a cruise. My current work gives me the freedom I’d lose on a cruise, and I want to be here with my family, present while raising our baby.” She slides one hand over her belly and smiles softly. “There’ll be other cruises.”
“Are you sure?” I squeeze her hand gently. “Your dream is important too, Hollie.”
“I know. But my life back then when I wanted out of New York is so different to the life I have now. This is the one I want.” Her gaze meets mine and she slides her fingers between mine, gripping tightly. “Because I love you and this is what I want.”
“My life won’t get any safer,” I warn her gently. “I will do everything I can to keep you and our baby safe, I swear it. But I need to make sure you understand.”
“I understand.” Her smile wavers as her eyes sparkle. “You love me. I love you. That’s all that matters.”
Several hours later,Hollie’s discharged from the hospital with very strict warnings that she return thesecondshe feels off, and we arrive at her parents’ house while they’re halfway through dinner. Her mother is ecstatic to see her and her father, despite his bruises, welcomes me with a firm handshake.
“Thank you,” he says firmly. “Thank you for bringing her back.”
“Of course.”
I watch from the doorway as Hollie sits at the table and tells her parents she’s pregnant. Her mom dissolves into excited screams while her dad claps me on the back and congratulates me. Despite his knowledge of the truth, her mom still appears blissfully unaware of the truth about me and thinks Vinnie was just some crazed person high on drugs who chose a random home. That lie solidifies when she learns how far along Hollie is, which further strengthens our previous tale about how we met. She seems more accepting of our sudden wedding now.
Food is shared, music plays, and Hollie’s mom chatters excitedly about the arrival of a baby. Watching her family close in around her, my heart is full. Rex and Stu are eventually invited inside, and I call Toto at the hospital to lovingly mock his absence. We’ll have another party just for him when he’s back on his feet. The dinner’s in full swing with empty wine bottles filling the table by the time the doorbell rings a little after eleven at night.
It puts everyone on guard until I answer the door.
“Dad?”
He stands on the doorstep wrapped in a thick coat, with several of his own guards filling the front lawn. “Maxim.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Rex told me you would be here. I wanted to leave some men here so you and yours can relax. And also… to bring you this.” In his outstretched hand rests a small black box. Behind me, the dinner resumes once everyone is satisfied the unexpected guest isn’t a danger.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Taking the box, I pull the lid apart. A sparkling ring covered in red gems rests in a gold band. It’s dainty and sparkly, and achingly familiar. “This…” I squint back up at Dad. “This was Mom’s?”
Igor nods and clears his throat. “The things you have done for Hollie… I can see you are serious. I’m sorry. It will take me time, I know, to make up for what I did, but you should have this. If she really is the one for you, then I know your mother would want you to have this. It was in her family for generations and you… you deserve it. You are my future, Maxim. You and your wife should?—”
He’s cut off as I throw my arms around him in a very tight, very brief hug that’s over as quickly as it starts. As I step back, I swallow the lump of emotion in my throat and close the box. “Thanks, Dad.”
He nods once, silently.
