The Bastard's Betrayal (Scandalous Scions 1)

Even though part of him knew she was right, a stronger, uglier voice took control. “Did you fuck me without a condom as a way out of this cabin?”

She jerked back as if he’d struck her. “You are such an asshole.” Rose scrambled off him. She was unsteady on her feet but quick, and she dodged his attempt to grab her wrist easily. “Do not touch me right now. I mean it.”

He flopped back onto the bed and watched her stride away from him. He knew better than to say some ridiculous shit like that. She wouldn’t put herself in danger simply to get free; not even Rose was that ruthless. But doubt had sown its seeds and he couldn’t entirely rule it out. One of the things he loved about this woman was the lengths she’d go. She fucking shot him. Twice. Risking pregnancy when there were so many options available was entirely within the realm of possibilities.

He’d fucked up.

If he kept her here and ignored her need to go to a pharmacy, he’d lose her for good. She wouldn’t let something like an unintended pregnancy derail her plans, and she sure as fuck wouldn’t marry him in some outdated belief that it was the right choice to make. She was like his mother in that, and he respected her for it even as he cursed himself for letting them get into this situation.

Losing her was an unacceptable consequence, so he sat up. He could hear the shower running, and her muttering to herself in Russian in the bathroom, so he ducked into the closet and made quick work of the latch into the safe room. If they were going back to civilization before planned, he needed to know what he was walking into.

He glanced at the cameras, but as expected, they were clear. The only person who knew the location of this cabin was Matteo, and his cousin wouldn’t betray him. He’d hidden it under half a dozen shell companies, none of them even remotely connected with the Verducci family. There was no reason to worry, but Dante hadn’t lived this long by ignoring his instincts.

Something felt…off. Not simply because of what had just happened.

He dialed his cousin, waiting impatiently while the line rang. Just when he thought it would go to voicemail, Matteo answered in Italian. “You have shit timing, cugino.” In the background, someone moaned.

Dante shook his head but wasted no time getting to the point. “Change of plans. We’re coming back.”

“She folded that fast?”

“No. We’re at an impasse, but the situation has become more complicated.”

“Hold on.” Matteo’s voice went muffled as he murmured to whoever he was in the middle of fucking. When he came back on the line, he sounded more focused. “Tell me.”

“There’s a chance she might be pregnant.” It didn’t happen that fast. He wasn’t a doctor, but even he knew that. Still, time was of the essence if they wanted to avoid that particular fate. Oh, there were still other options available, but better to do…whatever it was that Plan B did. Flush out the system? Dante honestly wasn’t sure.

All he knew was that when Rose was finally pregnant with his child, it would be because she chose it, because she chose him, and so the moment would be filled with joy and not this sick dread in his stomach at the thought that he was in danger of losing her for good.

Matteo laughed. “Good. Fuck her a few more times to be sure.”

His cousin’s attempt to be supportive fell significantly short of the mark. “It’s not that easy.”

“You always complicate things. Women are emotional creatures. If you’ve been fucking the past few days, she’s already half in love with you. She’ll come around. Just hold your ground.”

Matteo was brilliant in a number of ways, but romantic relationships didn’t number among them. “I’ll take advice from you when you’ve dated someone longer than a few months.”

“Si, si, you’re very superior.” Matteo laughed. “Look, my father is still fuming, so I wouldn’t come back here until you’ve married her. Take her back to the cabin after your little errand. It’s the safest place for both of you. He’s not the only thing you have to worry about right now, anyway.”

Dante tensed at the strange note in his brother’s voice. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Our people reported Romanovs sniffing around the small towns in your area. Two sets of them, actually. Your girl’s family is better than you expected because they’re already close.”

He’d expected it, but not this quickly. They should have been chasing red herrings of those other pit stops for at least another week. But that wasn’t the most concerning part. Two sets of Romanovs? “I’m surprised Kirill’s stirred himself to offer even this much help.”

“They’re not his people. I don’t know these Russians. None of the usual suspects, they don’t seem to be cooperating with the New York Romanovs, and Kirill’s gone awfully quiet since they showed up.”