Page 26 of Knocked up by the Mafia

Did he say again?

“Okay, that is fucking it,” I scream at him. “I am fucking done with this fucking apartment and hiding and fucking everything.” I storm toward the bedroom to get my coat and put on shoes. “I want to see my brother and sort this out.”

“You go to your brother, you better fucking stay there,” Daniel roars behind me. His words sting, and I glare at him as tears well up in my eyes. I put my coat and shoes on as he fusses in the baby room, I grab my cell phone, and as I leave, I shout, “Fine. I won’t come back.”

I slam the door as hard as possible and start down the stairs. I slow down, though, when I nearly fall over. I listen, but Daniel isn’t following. A panicked part of me wants to go back up, but the angry, stubborn Russian part of me pushes me on. I grab a cab and give him my brother's address.

I message Evgenii to let him know that I’m on my way to visit and that he’ll have to cover my cab. Then I sit back and burst into tears. I hate that Daniel and I are fighting so much. It feels like I was wrong, and this can’t work out. But I love him so much.

Fuck I’m so confused.

I cry right up until the cab stops. He sits silently, so I glance up and see we’re outside my brother's house. A guard walks over and gives the cabbie his money and a hundred-dollar tip to make himself scarce.

I climb out and stare at the house. The guards stand near me but don’t say anything at first. I am trying to pluck up the courage to go in when a guard whispers, “Miss Volkov, you’re a sitting duck out here.”

“Of course,” I murmur back.

I walk toward the house, open the door and walk in. I glance at the wall calendar as I pass it near the entrance. It’s Tuesday, and Shirley won’t be home. Evgenii comes out of his office and walks in big strides toward me. When he reaches me, he gathers me up in his arms.

I bury my head in his chest and let him hold me. He kisses my head after a few minutes. “I’m so glad you’ve come to your senses and come home.”

My phone goes off, and I glance at it. It’s a message from Daniel.

I’ll fix things. I promise.

Love you

I glance at Evgenii. “I, uh, I was just coming to visit. To make you see reason. Hold on…”

I call Daniel’s phone, but it goes straight to voice mail. I start to worry about what he’s planning to do.

“Ivan is here,” Evgenii says, taking my arm and leading me toward his office. “He wanted to see you when I said you were coming here.”

“I’m… sorry. I’m trying to reach Daniel.”

I walk into the study, and Ivan sits there drinking some whiskey. Ironic, seeing as that’s an Irish drink. I want to reach Daniel and tell him not to do something stupid. What if he dies and the last thing we did was fight?

“Natalia?” Ivan snaps his fingers in front of my face. When did he stand up?

“Sorry, I’m distracted.”

“Are you okay? Did he drug you?” I open my mouth to answer, but Ivan talks over me, “Don’t worry. The important thing is that you got away and knew where to go. I’ve already arranged for someone to have your marriage annulled.”

I stare at him. “No, Ivan…”

“Don’t worry, we’ll still welcome your child as a full Volkov despite who his father is,” he says as though he’s assuring me. As thoughthatis what I’m worried about.

I look at Evgenii, who gives me an encouraging smile. “No, I wasn’t planning on staying. I was coming to ask you to call off the hunt for us. I’m tired of hiding. Daniel might have the Quinn surname, but he hasn’t worked for his family in years. He isn’t part of them.”

“By birth, he is, and you should know better than anything that in our world, blood is thicker than water,” Ivan says, sipping his whiskey.

Evgenii tries to get me to sit, but I pull away from him. “I want to be married to him.”

“Natalia, it’s already done. It is my order. You will be a single mother, and yes, that sucks, but you’ll have the family's full support, which is all you’ve ever needed. I don’t see why it’s not good enough now.” Ivan downs his whiskey and stands, but I glare at him.

“I’m not a fucking possession Ivan. I’m not an immaterial thing you can change ownership of whenyoufeel like it.” I look up at my cousin, but his eyes are cold as he steps forward.

“You have forgotten our ways, the decorum of our society. Now I will forgive you for talking back to me with attitude because you’re pregnant….” I open my mouth, but his glare silences me. “I’m putting it down to you seeing everyone so in love, but Natalia, you knew what this life entailed. You never wanted children or a husband. Now you want to stay with someone who is an enemy of the family. No, don’t tell me about the Sorvinos.” He holds his hand up. “You forget that I am the one who chooses the fate of this family and who we bring into this family, and I’m not bringing in some inbred mutts. My decision is final, and your little adventure with the Irish is over. Evgenii will ensure that you are with a guard all the time so they don’t try anything stupid.”

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