Page 12 of Cruel Bratva King

“Does it look like I’m alright?” I returned, my voice exhausted from all the retching and vomiting. “I feel like I’m dying.”

“Maybe you are.” She grabbed my arm and helped me to my feet. “Have you gone to see a doctor?”

I flushed the toilet and rinsed my mouth, then we both walked to the living room. “I haven’t had the time to.”

“Haven’t had the time to?” She drew her brows with concern. “Lily, you look fucking sick, and I’m getting really worried about you unless—” She trailed off, raising her brows.

“Unless what?” I didn’t like the accusation in her eyes as she stared at me.

“Lily, is there a chance you’re pregnant?”

I’d told Eva all about my Mr. Stranger and the night we spent together. “That’s impossible.”

“Only if you used a condom, and even condoms aren’t completely safe.”

My heart sank to my stomach. Did we use a condom that night? Damn it, I couldn’t even remember if we did or didn’t, but if I was pregnant, then I was fucked.

Eva’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear. I can tell you didn’t.” She started for the door. “Stay put. I’ll get you a test kit.”

I started to pace the living room as I waited for her. It was too early to conclude I was pregnant, yet I couldn’t help but ponder what the hell I was supposed to do if I was. I didn’t know his name, what he did for a living, or where he lived. I knew nothing about him.

Eva returned minutes later and handed me packs of test strips. “I bought an extra pack just so you can confirm as many times as you need.”

“Thank you.” I took the strips for her and disappeared into the bathroom, my hands trembling as I used every single pack she bought.

Every one of the test strips gave the same result. I was pregnant.

My heartbeat tripped, pounding rigorously against my ribcage as terror traveled down my spine. It felt like I was stuck in some sort of nightmare—one I could never wake up from.

“Is everything alright in there?” Eva yelled from outside the bathroom. Her voice was far away. Distant. The world spiraled in slow motion around me, making it hard for me to hear anything.

“Eva?” She knocked on the door. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, it is,” I croaked, struggling to find my voice beyond the knot in my throat.

I am pregnant,I thought to myself.Pregnant by a stranger.

Tears streamed down my face, and I wiped them off with the back of my hand.It’s not a big deal,I tried to console myself.I can handle this. I can take care of my baby alone.It was the twenty-first century. After all, there were lots of single mothers in the world, and my baby could have my last name.

I wasn’t the first to be pregnant like this. I could handle it.

More tears poured from my eyes. No, I couldn’t handle this. Not by myself. I’d grown up with a single mother, I knew how hard it was to grow up without a father, and I’d sworn to myself I would never have a child without a father.

I wasn’t going to condemn my baby to the same torture I went through. I had only one option left: to find the stranger.

It didn’t matter what part of the world he was; I was going to find him.

Chapter 6 - Sergey

I hadn’t been able to get her name out of my head for the past two months, nor had I forgotten how her face lit up like the fucking sun when she smiled. That woman had embedded herself in me somehow, and no matter how I tried not to think of her, I couldn’t.

There was something about her that made me yearn to see her again. Trying to forget her turned out to be a losing battle each day that passed.

I could find her if I wanted. I knew where she walked and where she lived. Even if I didn’t, I would turn the whole city upside down just to find her. Chicago was a big city, but my influence here had no limit.

Nothing was stopping me except myself. Between my fight with the Italians and Giovanni’s offer for me to marry Giulia, I didn’t have time to entertain emotions. I also didn’t want to drag an innocent woman into the war brewing between the Russians and Italians.

I couldn’t risk her getting hurt. Knowing what little regard the Italian bastards had for women, they wouldn’t hesitate to drag her into this, thinking my attraction towards her was more emotional than it really was.

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