Page 9 of Secret Baby and the Bratva

When she sets her mug of tea down, I reach out and cup her shoulder. I’m stronger, more confident when I’m with her. It’s one of those things you can only understand when you experience it.

My gaze lingers, our eyes locked. I squeeze her shoulder.

“Thank you for being so kind, all of you. I don’t mean to be difficult with my rules and waiting to find out who the father is.”

“We agreed to this. My brothers and I are in this as a family, regardless of who the father is. If you’ll have us, we’re all here for you.”

She looks at her laptop, shakes her head, and pauses for a moment as she logs in. “You’re so different than what I thought you were going to be like. Harper told me you were changing your ways, but I needed to spend time with you, see that it’s real.”

“We want the world to be a safe place for you and Maverik.”

“I feel safe. Seeing each of you…” She finally looks up, her eyes shifting from me to the baby. “You’re so kind and gentle when you’re with him. A little rough around the edges sometimes, particularly Maxim, but you leave work at work, and you don’t run around shooting everything up like I feared. I know, it’s crazy. I want you to know I appreciate that.”

“When we say we’re here for you, we mean it.” I gently brush her hair over her shoulder. “You’ve got a final to tackle right now, though, so you can officially graduate.”

She smiles and leans her head into my hand. Did she mean to do that? I cup her jaw gently and lift her chin a little higher. “I’m proud of you.”

“I haven’t graduated yet.”

“You will.”

“I didn’t expect to feel so nervous just because the company said that if I graduate with a 4.0, I’m hired.”

“We’ll talk about you being hired later.”

“I’m taking the job, Yulian. I can work from home.”

“Promise we’ll have a conversation. None of us doubt your ability to get a great job.”

“I have to know I can take care of myself and provide a simple life for my child. I need that security.”

“And your degree will give you that.”

“Yeah.”

“Then blow the lid off the final.” I kiss the top of her head.

I couldn’t be happier that the mother of our child is so determined to be able to provide for him, but for fuck’s sake, she’s making this complicated. This simple life she desires sure takes a lot of work.

And keeps her from being tied to us any more than she has to.

Seven

Feliks

MybluejeansandT-shirt feel funny, so different than my normal starched shirts and slacks. But the only way we could convince Margot to let us throw her a party was that it remain low-key, and we not come in looking like we’re Secret Service agents in suits, even though we don’t wear ties.

No gifts—another promise she made us make. She’s very demanding, and we’re accepting the irony that while we’re here to celebrate her graduation, she’s giving us the biggest gift of all.

This is the first time she’s allowing us all to come over at the same time.

I’m stifled by how small the apartment feels when we add my two brothers to it. Somehow it was cozy when it was Margot, Maverik, and me. One more reason she needs to move in with us. Soon our toddler’s going to need space to run and play. I rub my foot over the open seam in the carpet. This isn’t going to work. If she won’t move, we’ll have to pay to get the place remodeled.

I never would’ve thought my brothers and I would fight over who gets to hold a baby first, but in accepting the uncertainty of who the father is, we’ve all bonded with him as if he’s our own.

It truly feels like this is meant to be.

Maxim wins the battle and settles Maverik on his forearm. He’s become quite comfortable with babies. It’s probably good he got to do it with only Margot present or we would have laughed our asses off at watching the big lug be so gentle.

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