Page 7 of Secret Baby and the Bratva

“Yeah, we will. We have a son. When was he born?” Personal obligation and judgment cloud my excitement. I do my best to keep accusations and resentment out of my voice, but I’m pretty sure I fail.

“He was born today.” Yulian is killing me with his trickle of information.

“What time today?”

“Does it matter?” The catch in Margot’s voice hints that she knows it matters.

“What time?” I repeat slowly.

Yulian and Margot’s silence tells me what I need to know. She is fully aware of the significance. Her eyes move toward a piece of paper—the application for the birth certificate. I pick it up and note the baby was born hours before Harper’s.

“We won the challenge.” My tone softens as I turn back to her. Too many questions remain, but I’m ready to celebrate our victory. “We will take care of you.”

She shakes her head. “I can take care of myself.”

“That’s ridiculous. We can take care of you. We want to take care of you.”

“Why the hell would she turn us down?”

“I know who you are, I know what you do, and I need time before I decide how involved my baby can be.”

“Our baby,” I clarify, filled with a sense that I know the baby is mine specifically. There’s no telling feature, it’s something I sense.

“Yes, ours.” She casts her eyes down.

“How do you know what we do?”

“Don’t be mad. I’m friends with Harper. I’m sorry. I swore her to secrecy. It is all my fault. But I can’t do this right now. I promise I will explain everything.”

“Margot,” Yulian says. “May I hold him?”

I’m irritated I didn’t think to ask, but that might be too big of a life change for one day. I’ve never held a baby. It looks safer to hold one the way she has it bundled up than when they’re all sprawled and wiggly.

Her hesitation makes her preferred answer clear.

She tucks a loose edge of the blanket into a fold. “You have to promise you’ll give him back. Please don’t take him from me.”

My heart crushes at the fear in her voice. She fears us. My earlier thought is right. A woman doesn’t want to be involved in my world. How can I accept my family’s changes, convince this beautiful woman I love her, and remain true to myself?

Yulian steps forward. “You have our word.”

She nods, then looks to Feliks.

Her attention turns to me. I may be a callous ass who’s afraid to hold his own child, but I’m not a moron. “We won’t do anything. We’re in this together now.”

She hands the bundle to Yulian. He looks like he was made for holding babies, although the kid looks a lot smaller in his arms than in Margot’s.

The universe shifts. My world ceases to make sense. What’s right, what’s wrong, none of it works. How the hell do we move forward as a family when the mother of our child doesn’t trust us?

Five

Feliks

Yuliangentlypatsthebaby’s back. Damn, he looks like he’s done this before.

“I don’t want to come on heavy-handed, Margot, but consider what we’re offering. We’ll take care of you. Move in with us and all of your needs will be met.”

“I can meet my own needs.”

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