Page 27 of The Bratva's Nanny

There was no point in lying. “I was hoping to use the pharmacy,” Alix said.

“Why?”

She felt her cheeks start to heat. “I’m … late.”

“Late?”

She put a hand on her stomach. “You know, late late. I was going to get a pregnancy test.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

She rolled her eyes, feeling like the world had shifted beneath her. “I can’t prove it now, can I? I’m late and I know it could mean I’m either really stressed or very much pregnant with your baby.” She laughed. “I bet you don’t even believe me, do you?” She felt tears fill her eyes. “And this isn’t helping because aren’t women who are pregnant, emotional, even more so than usual, because if that is the case, then ta-da, I might be pregnant.”

Dmitry didn’t say anything. He glared at her.

“We’re going back to Sofia. We’re going to finish this day, and then we’ll get you a test and we’ll deal with it.”

Alix didn’t like how he said he’d deal with it. What did that mean? Would he force her to give up her child? How could she have gotten herself into this mess?

Chapter Nine

Dmitry stared down at Alix later that night. Sofia had already been put to bed, which had been a task and a half. She was still so excited about going to the theme park. He’d known something was wrong with Alix, but he didn’t exactly know what.

Going to the theme park had been a risk, but he’d wanted to take Sofia out at least once that summer. He recalled his own father taking him to the theme park once. That had ended in disaster as they had a rat intent on taking out his father. It was one of the last times he recalled going out as a family. His father spent more time training him for the life he was going to be part of. He didn’t blame his dad for it. Their world was not kind, but cruel.

“I wasn’t going to leave,” Alix said. “All I wanted was the pregnancy test.”

“I believe you,” he said.

He didn’t even hesitate as he said that. At first, he had been suspicious but again, Alix hadn’t given him any reason to doubt her.

“You believe me?”

“You have no reason to lie to me.”

Alix licked her lips. “And what about the baby?”

“I know I’m the father.” He hadn’t told her that on the night he had intended on taking out George, in an effort to save his own life, George had told him he hadn’t slept with her. That as far as he’d known, Alix had been a virgin.

Alix hadn’t been a virgin. But she hadn’t been with George. He couldn’t blame her for taking a lover many years ago.

Alix burst into tears. “Why didn’t you say anything? I’ve been thinking that you’re mad at me, that you want to kill me.”

“I am mad at you,” Dmitry said. “Do you have any idea what you did? You put your life at risk. With George on the loose, they know I have you. They know who you are, and that puts you at risk. They could have taken you, raped you, killed you. If they even for a second thought you carried my child, they would have used you and my kid, Alix. Going out on your own was a stupid fucking thing to do. So yeah, I was angry with you.” He shook his head. “But I won’t kill you.”

Alix sniffled. “I’m sorry.”

“Good. Don’t ever put your life at risk again.”

“You’re being unfair now,” Alix said. “It’s okay for you to tell me I should come to you, but I don’t know what any of this means. Remember, I’m just payment for my ex-husband so you don’t kill him. I’m a nanny to your child. I know I’m in no way wife material!” She stopped and pressed her hands to her face. “I don’t know what having a child means for you, for us. We’re having fun.”

“I will always take care of you and our children.” He ran a hand down his face. “Don’t you see what I’ve been doing? I’ve not used a condom between us. I’ve not insisted on you taking anything. Iwantedto get you pregnant, Alix.”

“You did?” Alix asked.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Why?”

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