Vik (Shot Callers 2)

My head pounded, and I struggled to breathe right, but I managed a quiet and heartfelt, “I will love you, forever and always.”

“Forever and always” was his soft response, then his lips covered my own. I pressed into him, standing on my tiptoes and sliding my hands from his shoulders, up and around his neck, deepening our connection. He breathed life back into me. With our faces close and our bodies closer, an odd feeling went through me.

I fought for so long. I fought so hard. Needing control in situations that scared me, like possibly loving a man who could never return the sentiment.

But I wasn’t scared today.

In fact, nothing had ever felt better than handing my ribbon-wrapped heart to Viktor Nikulin.

This felt right. I was exactly where I needed to be.

In the arms of a man who loved me more than he ever found a way to put into words.

36

Nastasia

Pregnancy announcements were meant to be fun. Exciting. People should have been ecstatic by the news. Friends were meant to jump up and down with joy, hold my hands, and cry with happiness. At least, that’s what every Hallmark movie had taught me.

I guess I felt short-changed.

I just couldn’t understand why mine felt so awkward.

My brothers already knew, and so did Anika, and when Vik and I decided to gather everyone into our home—oh my God… our home. I was still getting used to that—and make it known that we were having a child together, it went a little something like this.

I glanced around the room, nervous, subconsciously dressing like a matron in a simple, high-necked dress with zero embellishments, like the people here wouldn’t know Vik had rearranged my guts to get me in the position I was currently in. Laredo had brought all of his boys, and although a handful of them already knew, it was more of a formal declaration so that nobody felt left out. And when we stood in front of the group of people we considered not just friends but family, discomfort settled in my belly as I began, my focus solely on the little woman standing beside Lev, looking at us both with a small smile that showed her curiosity.

I cleared my throat lightly and pressed closer to Vik’s side, seeking comfort. His hand came to rest on my hip, and I peered up at him with a soft smile. He bent down to press a long, gentle kiss to my forehead. And I finally felt ready. “Firstly, we want to thank you all. For your friendship. For your help in seeing me home safely.”

“We’re grateful,” Vik cut in, and when I glanced up at him, I noticed he had spoken directly to Philippe.

Philippe looked down at Vik’s hand on my hip a long moment before his shoulders slumped. Although it irked him, he lifted his glass in salute.

And my heart softened.

I was thankful for Philippe, and I just knew he would one day find a woman who overshadowed whatever he felt for me. When that day came, I would welcome her with open arms and a tender smile, knowing whoever he chose would be worthy.

“The experience,” I went on, “definitely put things in perspective for us.” Vik’s lips pressed against my crown, and the hand on my hip slid across my stomach, where he splayed his fingers over my nonexistent bump. My chest ached, and I fell harder than I’d ever fallen before. “It’s been a rocky road.” I placed my hand over his, and together, we held our baby. “Vik and I have decided to make it official. We’re tired of fighting each other, fighting the way we feel.”

They waited with bated breath.

“We’re getting married.” Vik grinned down at me, and all I saw was love and gentleness in his usually hard gaze.

Feminine gasps filled the room a moment before cheers and applause sounded around us. They faded away to nothing when Vik brought his smiling mouth down on mine and kissed me slowly, sweetly.

And in a room of twenty, Vik only had eyes for me.

When his full mouth pulled away from mine, my chest tightened from the loss. As if he knew exactly what I was feeling, he kept his face close, pecked my lips once more, and uttered a barely audible, “You ready?”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

He stole another kiss before straightening and saying, “We have one more announcement to make.”

And as the chatter died down, my heart began to race.

My voice shook as I said the words out loud, “I’m pregnant.”

And then, silence.

A long minute of quiet passed before a stunned-looking Cora let out a fairly unladylike, “Dude!”

At the very same time, Mina’s expression fell. She frowned and said, “No, you’re not.” She turned to Cora and said, “She’s not pregnant.” She spun to look at me with sheer determination. “You’re not.”