“Viktor,” she started. By the tone of her voice, I knew what she was going to say. I exhaled, letting out a slow breath. It was a mix of disappointment, with a sense of failure. “I am sorry. I really can’t do this. Not without Alessio knowing, and not when it could put my baby’s life at risk. I trust you, and I know you will find another way to make this work. I am…sorry.”
Before I could answer, she hung up.
I threw the phone on the bed with a frustrated growl.
When Alessio sent me here, he trusted me to protect our family. My loyalty had been tested over and over again. I had lived in this fucking hellhole for them, to protect them. I had maimed and killed others for them. I made a deal, played with the devil, for my family. I became a master at this game for them. Always for them.
And now…I was lost.
So fucking lost because I didn’t know how to protect them without having to hurt them first.
“You refused to go along with the plan,” I started, staring up at Ayla from my position on my knees. The baby kicked again, active little thing he was. I pulled my hand away and stood up again, waiting for Ayla’s response.
She rubbed her rounded belly once and then stood up too. I watched as she turned on the lights, illuminating the room once again and chasing the darkness away. Ayla poured a glass of water and handed it to me. “Drink. You are out of breath. I think you just went through a nightmare.”
At her teasing smile, I scoffed and chugged down the water, emptying the glass. My throat had been parched, but now I could swallow without any problem. The nervous lump was gone, the knots in my stomach had loosened, and I could finally breathe.
Ayla was safe. Alessio was safe. The baby was alive, safe and sound.
I went to put my empty glass down. It had barely touched the table when Ayla started. “I thought it was dangerous, Viktor. I couldn’t possibly put my baby’s life at risk like you asked me to. But then after Alessio left for Russia to attend the party Valentin threw in your favor, I spoke with Nikolay. He was the only one who knew about this, and we thought maybe we could make it work. He was against it at first. Alessio would have castrated him and you and locked me this room if he knew what we were going to do.”
I nodded, already knowing this part. Alessio Ivanshov was not a man to be tested when it came to the safety of his wife. His Queen was above all, even his own life.
“And then Nikolay heard that Abram was coming to the estate to discuss some things. We knew he wasn’t exactly loyal to us and worked for Solonik. He was going to report back any activity happening here in the estate back to Valentin. It was the perfect opportunity.”
Ah, so the little Queen had been plotting. She moved a chess piece on her own, taking control and playing the game like a Master.
When Ayla saw the look on my face, which must have been priceless, she shrugged, but I saw a hint of victorious smile. She knew she had won, and she was damn cheeky about it.
Ayla had a hand over her belly when she settled down on the sofa chair again before she continued with her tale. “Because both you and Alessio weren’t home, it would have been Nikolay’s job to step forward and deal with any business. And as Alessio’s wife, it was my job to greet Alessio’s associates if he wasn’t present.”
That was true. If Alessio wasn’t there, then Ayla would sit at the table and overlook any business dealings, with either me or Nikolay at her side. A regal Queen, she really was.
“It was simple,” Ayla said. “I would be coming down the stairs while Phoenix distracted Abram. I’d trip and fall. Nikolay would be there to catch me the last minute and lay me on the floor, as if I had landed there after my fall. I would be crying out in pain, Abram would turn around and see me on the floor. It was chaos. The only thing Abram understood was that I fell down the stairs. I was rushed to my room then, and the doctor was called. Maddie and I were the only ones in my room with the doctor. I filled Ivy in, and she had to speak a simple lie as she walked out of my room. The baby didn’t make it.”
A simple plan, but it was harder to execute. How the fuck they accomplished this so easily was beyond me. I could only stay silent and listen to Ayla speak. My heart thundered at the words, the baby didn’t make it.