Page 36 of Forced By the Bratva King

“Looks like Zoya will be getting a cousin soon,” Kara said to Artem, smiling.

He turned to face me, but I couldn’t afford to freely look in his eyes. I couldn’t let him see the discomfort in mine, not yet. He didn’t seem surprised; in fact, it was as though he’d been expecting this to happen, which was understandable, considering we were married.

But this wasn't how I wanted to bring a child into this world. I loved kids and was anticipating having my own someday. But not like this!

Things had just taken a drastic turn, and I wasn’t sure if it was for the best or the worst, but at the moment, the latter seemed more likely.

Damn it.

**********

Assumptions were not facts until proven otherwise, and that was the reason I was in the bathroom this long. Quietly, I stepped out with a pregnancy strip in my hand and a palm over my mouth as I tried so hard to hold back my tears.

Artem pushed off the wall he was leaning against and stepped forward, his eyes fixed on me. “I’d ask what the outcome is, but I guess I already know the answer.”

“It’s positive,” I managed to say, showing him the double mark on the strip.

“So, I’m gonna be a father soon,” he declared, flashing me that genuine smile.

I was too disoriented to take note of the spark in his eyes, but even though his excitement was subtle, I could sense it.

I, on the other hand, was falling apart in despair and was on the verge of breaking down. Tears filled my eyes, and despite how hard I fought to gain control of my emotions, they got the better of me, and I burst out sobbing.

“Hey….” His soft voice felt like a balm on my open wounds as he held my hand. “This is a good thing—it’s good news,”

I sniffed, drying my tears. “I know.”

“Then why aren’t you happy?” he asked, pinning me with a stare.

“Iam…and I’m not at the same time,” I struggled to explain, my chest tightening. “My feelings are all tangled up, and I’m….” The words rushed out of my mouth as I blinked rapidly in an attempt to push back any other tears.

He was quiet, watching me vent. As I looked into his cold hollow eyes, I remembered the kind of man he was and the life he led. Those tears soon returned, flowing more than before.

Was bringing a baby into this world of violence the right thing to do?

“I’m scared, Artem,” I said, my voice catching on a sob. “I’m scared for the baby’s life—formylife. I mean, you’re thePakhanof the Tarasov Bratva, which means you have a lot of enemies looking to hurt you.” My hands were flying around as I spoke earnestly from my heart, expressing my feelings. “What if they target me and the baby? Shit, I don’t even care about myself right now; all I’m worried about is our unborn baby, Artem. The mafia world isn’t a place to raise a child.” I paused, letting my words sink in for a moment.

At least Mom was smart enough to keep me away from this life as a kid,my mind mused.

It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t do the same with mine.

What kind of a parent would that make me?

“I wasn’t raised in this world, Artem.” I shook my head, a subtle hint of my contempt.

“ButIwas,” he said, wiping my tears with his thumb.

“Yes. Yes, you were. Look how you turned out.” The last statement fell out of my lips. I honestly hadn’t meant to say it out loud. “No offense,” I added weakly.

He sighed, and surprisingly, he didn’t frown or threaten me. Maybe he understood that usually, I’d never say that to him; I didn't have the balls to do that. It was the pregnancy hormones pushing me.

“You’re afraid. I get it.” He looked into my eyes. “And you have every right to be. But I promise you, no harm will come to you…or our baby. I promise.”

The sincerity of his words was comforting in a way, and it helped me relax a bit. I’d married into the Bratva, and now,I would have to deal with all the drama, the violence, and anything else that came with it. But despite my reservations, I knew Artem meant every single word about keeping me and the baby safe. He’d lost someone precious to him in the past, and something told me that he wasn’t going to let that happen again.

Then, he just had to open his mouth again. “Calm yourself, Sierra, and get used to this life because this isn’t going to be the last child you’ll carry for me.”

He wants more children. Great. I’m screwed.