Page 130 of Merciless Desires

Shuddering, I mumble, “I’m pregnant, asshole.”

“Kak the menia nazval?” he spews in Russian, sarcastically asking me what I said.

I won’t repeat louder that I called him an asshole. “Nothing.” Or let on that I speak the language.

It’s silly and paranoid to think this random Uber driver in Seattle has any connection to my pakhan father, king of the Astoria brotherhood.

“You are due soon?” The driver takes a road that hugs the Sound. His accent is unsettling after all these years not hearing Papa and his henchmen.

“Yeah. Any day.”

He twists around and peers at me. “Not in my car, please.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” I pull the rain slicker I borrowed from the hall tree down by the hood and sit back. Clutching Sophie’s knapsack, I worry for her. She’s going to a party with all kinds of sweets. What if she just sneaks something?

“We are here,” the driver says and glances back at me. “I prefer cash tip.”

And I have zero dollars.

“I don’t have any on me. This was an emergency.” I show him the tip on the cell screen. “I left you a big tip on the app.”

“You bitch. I must share that with pig bosses.”

Wide-eyed with fear, I yank the door handle at the same time he opens his own door.

“No, no, no,” I’m shouting as I push myself out of the car.

And run right into Darragh.

CHAPTER 8

Darragh

Horrified, I realized I left the house without Sophie’s EpiPen. I begged the one mother I trust to keep an eye on her, especially around the snacks, so I could race home to grab it.

My horror deepened as Anastasia pulled up in an Uber across the street, holding Sophie’s phone.

The rage I felt, and how I wanted to see someone dead, stopped me in my tracks, recognizing what that murderous O’Rourke bloodlust running through my veins could make me do.

How easy it is to tip into wanting to do harm, when, as a doctor, I’d taken an oath to do no harm.

I dive into the street, not looking, and I’m nearly flattened by a bus that didn’t even beep, didn’t even slow down. I jump back, frantic every second my eyes are off Anastasia.

With a clear path across the street, I run at top speed and grab her. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

“Calm down, you maniac!” She struggles against my ironclad grip, and something falls from under her arms.

My accusing brain thinks it’s shit she stole from my house. Shit, she could sell to make a run for it. But the bright pink color makes me gasp.

Sophie’s knapsack.

I pick it up, keeping my fingers around Ana’s wrist. “Shit.”

She pulls away. “You forgot Sophie’s EpiPen. I was bringing it to you.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I catch my breath. “I realized I forgot her meds and freaked out. Then I saw you. I was irrational. I’m sorry.”

“Fine.” Shaking hands push Sophie’s phone at me. “I ordered an Uber from the app.” She looks back at the car she arrived in. “Can you give this guy a tip? He got mean with me when I said I didn’t have any money. I’ll pay you back.”

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