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I hold her close, sighing. “I know, Mom. I’m just glad it’s all out in the open now.”

She doesn’t let go for a long time, and I know there is a sense of guilt from her for not listening to me. I don’t feel that way towards her, though; I don’t have anger or blame. The only person at fault here is Miron.

“Come on, I’ve made your favorite,” I say, leading my mom out to the patio to sit in the afternoon sun.

“Where is Lara? I was hoping to see her,” my mom says, sitting down.

“She’s resting, Mom. She went through a lot. And—she’s pregnant,” I say tightly, not sure if I should be celebrating or not.

“Are you serious?” Mom says excitedly.

“I am, but she didn’t tell me about it. I found out from the doctor. I don’t know if she ever planned to tell me.” I pick up a small cupcake and toy with it, not interested in eating it, but needing something to do with my hands.

“I see,” my mother says, understanding my concerns. She reaches out and takes the cupcake from me, setting it aside. “Nestor, I want you to listen to me.”

I turn my body towards her and nod.

“Firstly, I want to tell you how sorry I am—"

“Mom, I don’t—"

“Shush. I said I need you to listen. I need to say this. Okay?”

I nod again. “Sorry.”

“I’m so sorry for not believing you. Miron and I were never close. I hardly spent any time with him. He was close with his father, and I was close with Sergei. Sergei meant the world to me, and because he was a good man, I thought his son was, too.

“So, I wasn’t close to him, but I certainly didn’t think he was after my family or that he would do anything like this. However, I should have trusted you.”

She pauses, swallowing, chewing the inside of her cheek.

“Mom,” I say, taking her hand. “I don’t blame you in any way. Miron is the monster. He’s the one I hate. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

She nods. “Now, tell me, what is going on with Lara?”

“I don’t know,” I shrug, huffing.

“Nestor, I’ve never seen you so happy before. The way you smile when you’re around her, your entire face lights up. Maybe you aren’t even aware yet, but I can see the love in you. And I am certain I can see it in her, too.”

“I don’t think so, Mom. If she loved me, why would she hide the pregnancy? And even now, over the past few days, she’s moved back into her own room, she’s not talking to me…”

As I sit explaining to my mother that Lara is avoiding me, I realize that she’s been in one room the entire time.I’m the one who’s avoiding her.

“What is it?” Mom asks, noticing my pause.

I sigh again, frustrated, not knowing what to do.

“Nestor, my boy, you are a powerful man. You have a great deal of responsibilities, and I understand you need to present a certain face to the world. However, even bratva leaders fall in love. Even bratva leaders fight for love.”

“Do you think she wants me to fight for her?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“I think she is unsure of how you feel about her. Have you told her? Have you shown her?”

I let my mother’s question turn over in my mind. I haven’t shown her, no. And I’ve never told her how I feel.

Mom waits patiently, picking up a cupcake and enjoying it with a sly smile on her face as though she knows secret things.

I laugh at her. “Don’t look so smug.”