Gavriil (Stepanov Mafia)

At the time, she had been nothing more than a business deal. A way for me to get what was owed to me. But now, I wished there was some way we could have met naturally. I knew better than anyone that I wouldn’t have agreed to commit to Sam no matter how we met, but at least if she’d gotten pregnant after a one-night stand rather than in a sex for money transaction, there wouldn’t have been so much emotional baggage to work through. I didn’t want the mother of my child to despise me.

As much as possible, I wanted us to be a family.

Yuri and Ivan walked out of the shop, their knuckles bloodied, but smiles spread across their faces. They looked around for a second before spotting me in front of the toy store.

“Did you take care of it?” I asked.

Yuri laughed. “He’ll have your money next time we come around.”

“Good.”

Ivan clapped his hands once in front of him and rolled up onto the balls of his feet. “So, next stop?”

“Actually,” I said, making the decision at that very moment. “You two can handle the rest of the stops without me. I have to take care of something.”

Yuri’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure? Is there anything you need us to help you with?”

“No, just do as you’re told,” I snapped.

Both men nodded and quickly turned to get in their car. I waited until they drove off and disappeared down the corner before I kept walking down the sidewalk. I had to show Sam that I was serious. That I wanted to be a family. I needed her to respect me, and I could only do that by keeping her close and under my control. I needed her to be there to help me raise the kid, and I wanted her to be there for me in other ways at night.

The jewelry store at the end of the block was open, and a woman with short black hair and a pantsuit on met me at the door.

“Is there anything specific I can help you with today?” she asked, a wide smile spread across her face.

“Yes, actually,” I said, browsing the glass cases. “I’m looking for an engagement ring. The biggest one you have.”

If possible, her smile widened further. “I have just the thing.”

I walked out with the biggest diamond ring I’d ever seen and a plan.

I would make Samantha Conway my wife.

Chapter Thirteen

Samantha

Devin and I hadn’t spoken in a few days. Not because he hadn’t tried to call, but because I didn’t know what to say. He could always tell when I was lying, and I had an especially large secret I was keeping. Plus, morning sickness had begun to kick in, and I’d spent most evenings with Gavril and then on the floor of my separate bathroom. Gavril had the maid bring me ginger ale, which was sweet.

Finally, Devin called, and I knew I had to pick up. It was the middle of the day, and it was the third time he’d called in an hour. If I didn’t pick up, I knew he’d think I was dead, and I didn’t want him to do anything stupid that would get him killed and make everything I’d gone through pointless. So, I took a deep breath and answered.

“Hello?”

“Hello? That’s how you greet me after four days. Four days, Sam?” He sighed. “I thought you were fucking dead.”

“Nope, perfectly fine.” And pregnant.

“He hasn’t hurt you?”

“No, he is treating me really well.” Because I’m carrying his child.

I begged my sub-conscious to shut up. I didn’t know if I was ready to admit everything to Devin. I was barely ready to admit it to myself. I’d seen a soft side of Gavril, but it was only a side. One of many, some of which included cruel, violent, and possessive. Could the kind moments really outweigh the rest of them? Did he really care about me or would I be forgotten as soon as the baby was born?

The night we’d found out about the baby, we’d had sex and then laid in bed together for almost an hour. It was nice, and I’d fooled myself into believing it meant something. That it was Gavril’s way of promising me something more substantial than the business arrangement we currently had.

“Do you think we’ll be all right?” I asked, rubbing one hand over my flat stomach and the other down Gavril’s strong arm.

“Sure,” he said with a nod. “You are young, and Stepanovs are known for hearty babies. You’ll be fine.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling uncomfortable. “I meant us.”

“Us?” Gavril paused and then nodded again.

Hope soared in my chest. “Really?”

“We both want children, so there is no trouble there. And I’ve never been able to tolerate another woman the way I can tolerate your company. Plus, you are gorgeous, so we will make attractive babies. I don’t see any trouble at all.”