Page 209 of Gilded Cage (Kovalyov Bratva 1)

If only all of this was so easy.

If only one simple touch could fix everything.

* * *

We drive like that for another couple of hours before Artem pulls into a large mall off the interstate. The parking lot is huge but he manages to find a space close to the building.

Reluctantly, I let go of his hand and we walk towards the mall together.

As we enter, I catch a glimpse of our reflections in the reflective windows outside the building.

It amazes me how normal we look together, like an everyday couple spending their weekend in a mall. Nothing remarkable about us. You can’t see my dead brother in my eyes, or the ghost of the man I killed lurking just behind my every thought.

It’s just Esme and Artem.

Simple as that.

First, we head to the pharmacy on the first floor. I stock up on vitamins while Artem hovers over me looking anxious.

“First time parents?” the pharmacist asks, looking between the two of us.

“Yes,” I smile.

She nods. “It’s normal to worry,” she says. “But try and eliminate as much stress as possible. That’s the key to a healthy pregnancy.”

I almost laugh, but I hold it back just in time. We leave the pharmacy a few minutes later with a bag of vitamins tucked under my arm.

“Eliminate stress, huh?” I say. “That should be easy.”

Artem doesn’t even crack a smile, though. It has me slowing my pace a little.

I reach out and place my hand on his forearm.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he says gruffly.

He tries to keeping walking, but I stay put. He’s forced to turn.

“Are you gonna start lying to me now?” I ask.

He sighs. “I guess, when it comes to the baby’s health, I don’t have much of a sense of humor.”

I take a step forward, right into his space in that familiar way you do when you’re comfortable with someone. I don’t even think about it—I just do it. I’m not sure what that means for us.

“The baby’s fine,” I tell him. “Strong.”

“How do you know that?” Artem asks.

“Call it mother’s intuition,” I answer carefully. “If something were wrong, I’d be able to tell.”

Artem nods slowly.

I realize how badly he needed to hear those words.

Without even thinking about it, I take his hand and we continue walking.

57

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