Page 81 of Immaculate Corruption (Romanoff Bratva)

Lauren senses my embarrassment and gives me a kind smile. “It’s okay. I understand.”

She’s lying, but still, I’m grateful.

“He hasn’t had any of his vaccinations. He hasn’t even had a check-up.” I shake my head. “It’s been a crazy couple of months. We had to flee the hospital where he was born.”

Lauren gasps and claps a hand over her mouth. “That was you?!”

I frown. “Huh?”

“The woman and child who fled from a hospital in New York City under gunfire. No one was able to confirm any details like your name or the baby’s name—probably because the mob wiped it all clean—but I saw that story.”

“Oh. Yeah, that was me.” I let out a long breath and drop my face in my hands. “I don’t know how my life has come to this point. I swear, I was a normal person a few months ago.”

Lauren lays a hand on my arm and squeezes. “What is normal, right?”

“Normal is wanting to protect your child from the evil in the world,” I blurt. “In that regard, I’m the most normal mom there is. It’s all I want.”

She wrinkles her nose in a smile. “There is good in the world, too, Arya. I’ll get the word around. If you leave me your number, I’ll call you if I hear back.”

Tears well in the backs of my eyes, but I blink them away. “Thank you.”

As I walk out, I remember something Ernestine told me the day we met.

Accept kindness. It’s the only way we can make it through this world.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe there’s still some hope for a happy ending.

28

Dima

Being back in my mansion is strange. I thought I’d be returning here as a conqueror. The world at my feet once more.

Instead… well, it’s not quite that.

I wander from room to room, wondering what’s missing. Everything is exactly the way I left it, so how can something be out of place?

Then I realize what it is.

Arya should be here.

The thought rises unbidden in my mind, but once it’s there, it sticks. She wanted to go to Chicago. After everything I’ve put her through, I didn’t want to stop her. Still, I wish she had stayed. I fucking hate the way we left things.

I reach for my phone on the end table and punch in Arya’s new number. She answers right away.

“Did you find him?” She’s breathless, excited, and my heart sinks.

“No. I was just calling to see how things were going.”

It’s a dumb question. She would have called me right away, of course. But maybe she’s not the only one hoping for a miracle.

“I have a doctor friend who is willing to ask around and see if anyone has seen Lukas or Vera. But otherwise, nothing.” She hesitates. “You may have been right. I’m not sure if Lukas is going to be here.”

“We don’t know anything yet. We just have to give it time.”

“Every second is another second Lukas is without us. I can’t… I can’t take it anymore, Dima. I’m missing his life. I’m barely his mother anymore. Do you know I realized today I don’t have a single picture with Lukas? I never took one.”

She’s starting to spiral downward. To fall to pieces. “Enough, Arya. You can’t take the blame for this. It’ll destroy you.”

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