Page 12 of Secret Baby and the Bratva

“Okay.”

I glance through the window of the restaurant, making sure Lilia and her guard haven’t come our direction, then I wrap my arm around Margot’s shoulders and guide her away.

Nine

Yulian

Iwouldn’thavethoughtoccupying a four hundred square foot space with another adult and an infant would be my idea of the perfect life, but it is...almost. The ridiculousness of staying in this cramped space, the bassinet being used for sleeping, diaper changing…everything. I love how Margot doesn’t need more, but I want to give her more.

She’s exiting the bedroom, holding Maverik, when her foot catches the open seam in the carpet. She clutches him tightly with one hand and reaches with the other, grabbing at nothing as she stumbles.

It’s impossible to be far away, so I’m easily able to save the day. Holding her close, I pull her into my chest, gently pinning Maverik between us. It’s the most intimate act we’ve had since reconnecting. My adrenaline is pumping. Her breaths are heavy.

But Maverik stirs and the moment is gone. He’s such a good baby, I can’t be irritated for long. He’s perfect, just like Margot.

“I can’t believe I almost dropped him.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t.”

“Yeah, but Ialmostdid.” She looks down at the split in the carpet. “I guess we need to put duct tape on it or something.”

“Or we can tell the landlord it’s not acceptable. This place may have cheap rent, but it’s a safety hazard, Margot.”

“Yeah, I’ll see what I can do.”

“How about this: You come up with a list of rules you need in place to feel comfortable moving in with us.”

She shudders and carefully steps away from the nearly disastrous scene. I move with her and guide her to the couch. Sitting closely, wrapping my arm around her, holding her against my side, I kiss the top of her head. Kisses have become commonplace among us. But holding her, this isn’t something we’ve done much of. A few touches here and there, a few hugs. But I’m holding her.

“Margot, we need to talk about this. You can’t raise a child here.”

“I’ll talk to the landlord.”

“You have another place. You have a home.”

Unable to resist, I hoist her to sit sideways across my lap, Maverik still in her arms. I embrace the two of them.

She settles in, accepting her place with me. I could get all sappy about how beautiful the moment is. I could continue with carpet and home discussions. But I’m consumed with something else.

“I love you, Margot. I can’t let you live like this any longer. Move in with us. Give us a chance. If it doesn’t work, we’ll help you find somewhere else to live, just not here.”

I stop myself from saying more, from telling her that if she continues to resist, we’ll be forced to get a paternity test so one of us can officially claim our rights to time with Maverik.

Her words are soft as she stays snuggled into my chest. “I get my own bedroom.”

“Hell, you can have a whole suite. You name it.”

“I want my own bedroom and I want Maverik to have a room. And my room should be near his.”

“Done. I can show you the rooms we have available and you can pick.”

“And,” she asks tentatively, “what would the expectations be…intimately? Would you expect me to sleep with you because I live in your house?”

“You can sleep anywhere you want. If that’s in your bed alone…” Tension rolls through me. “you get it, but I don’t want that forever, Margot. I feel this bond between us, it’s growing. It wasn’t a one-night stand that happened to produce a baby tying us together forever. You don’t believe that, do you?”

She stares at our little one, and just when I think she’s not going to answer, she says. “I wanted it to be a one-night stand, but it wasn’t. I have so many feelings for the three of you, but I want to wait like the doctor said.”

“Sakharok, my sugar, my sweetness, that means everything to me. And of course, we’ll wait for you. We waited nine months.”

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