Gavriil (Stepanov Mafia)

“Samantha,” he said, snapping his fingers. “What’s going on? Are you sick?”

“Not exactly.” I twisted my lips to the side, suddenly nervous. Telling my brother made the baby feel real. It meant that my life really was going to change. “I was sick earlier this week. I threw up a few times and was having some aches and pains, so Gavril called a doctor.”

Devin’s eyes were wide, impatient. “And?”

“And,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

My brother’s face went pale, the blood draining into his neck. I saw the vein running on the outside of his neck throbbing. “Did you plan this?”

“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “No, we didn’t plan it. It was a complete accident. It just happened.”

“It didn’t just happen.” He growled. “It wouldn’t have happened if that piece of shit hadn’t been treating you like a prostitute.”

I wanted to point out that none of this would have happened if Devin hadn’t gotten himself involved with the mafia, but I figured now was not the time.

“Gavril has taken great care of me since he found out. He wants this baby, and he is making sure I’m healthy and comfortable. He is going to be there for his child.”

“Is he going to be there for you? What happens when that thing is out of you? Is he going to toss you to the curb like trash and keep the kid? Have you thought of that?”

“He wants our child to have a mother and a father. He wouldn’t do that.”

“Our child.” Devin’s face twisted into disgust. “I can’t believe my sister is going to have a baby with that monster.”

“He isn’t a monster,” I said quietly.

Devin’s head snapped up, and his mouth opened, but I continued talking before he could say anything.

“I know your relationship with him hasn’t been good. I know he had you beaten. But think about it from his perspective, Dev. You stole from him and lied to him. He has a business to run. He can’t let people take advantage of him. It wasn’t anything personal.”

“Oh my God,” Devin said, slamming his hands on the table, my still full mug of decaf coffee splashing over the rim. “He has you eating out of the palm of his hand. He doesn’t care about you at all, but you think you are in love with him or something.”

“I didn’t say that. But I can’t take care of this child on my own. Without Gavril, Mom doesn’t have a nurse, and I don’t have money to pay for food or a crib or clothes. I’m not brainwashed; I’m just being practical. I need Gavril to help me do this, and he is willing to be there for us. That is better than our dad ever did, right?” Devin was glaring down at the table, so I leaned forward and looked into his eyes. “Right?”

He reluctantly nodded, but it was enough. I just needed him to be on my side. I needed him to promise he wouldn’t do anything reckless for once.

“I’m happy about this,” I admitted. “I know it isn’t what any of us expected, but it can still be a good thing, you’ll see.”

Devin sighed, and I saw the color returning to his face and his hands beginning to unclench.

Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes sad. “I’ll find a way to repay you for what you’ve done for me, Sam. I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it, Dev. Pay me back by staying out of trouble.”

He quirked his mouth up in a lopsided smile and shrugged. “I’ll try.”

Chapter Fourteen

Gavril

I hid the diamond ring in the back of my top dresser drawer under a pile of designer underwear. It was cliché, but I knew Samantha wouldn’t look there. I had a housekeeper who did all the laundry, and Samantha respected my space. She had started sleeping in my bedroom – at my request – but she still got ready for the day in her own bathroom. We had a good rhythm.

I’d thought about proposing as soon as I got home that day, but it didn’t feel right. Even though proposing to Samantha was more out of convenience than any serious feelings, I wanted it to be special for her. If I wanted her to feel connected to me and feel respected and seen, then I needed to put in some effort. I couldn’t just drop to one knee and then throw her on the bed. However, even though I decided not to propose, I did still throw her down on the bed when I got home, and she was all too willing.

The guard told me he’d taken Samantha out of the house that afternoon, but nothing more. I didn’t require any more information. Despite how our situation had begun, Samantha was not a prisoner in my house. I told Eric to follow her to ensure her protection and the safety of our baby. So, as long as she was safe, I was happy. Samantha didn’t mention anything about why she’d left the house, and I decided not to ask. I trusted her, and the only way to assure her of that was to act like it.