Page 54

CHAPTER 53

ANASTASIA

My thoughts are jumbled and chaotic as Mikhail guides me toward the car, the sounds of the city swirling around me.

“Ana?”

I blink a few times, the blurry vision clearing to reveal we have stopped, and he was already opening the passenger door with a soft click.

“Sorry, world of my own.” I shake my head and swerve past him.

His hand wraps around my waist, pulling me close against his side. I tilt my head back, getting lost in the dark depths of his eyes.

“You’ve given me the best possible gift. You’ve given me a future, us a family. Thank you.”

I’m excited. I can’t wait.

It’s just all coming sooner than I imagined and it’s almost hard to breathe.

How am I already over four months pregnant?

Will I end up like Zoya? Trapped away to be safe?

So many questions. Yet when I look at Mikhail, his face softens, a subtle easing of the lines around his eyes, and the worry etched there melts away, calming me.

He’s got us.

Me and our little baby boy.

“I love you, big man.” I rub my stomach and his gaze follows my hands. “And I love you, little guy,” I whisper.

“I love you both so much.”

He lifts his mask, the scent of woodsmoke and something else, something definably him, fills my senses before his lips claim mine.

“I’m hungry.” I give him a little grin.

“For what, pretty girl?” He strokes my face.

“Your cock, obviously. Starved, Mikhail. I might faint in fact.” I dramatically put the back of my hand to my forehead.

His deep chuckle makes me giggle uncontrollably, calming the chaos in my brain.

“Get in the car, Anastasia,” he says as a low grumble and I squeeze my thighs.

Just like our wedding day.

“Don’t make me run. I’m too pregnant now to be chased.”

He gives my backside a playful tap. “I’ll give you whatever you want, baby. We will make it work.”

I press the tip of his nose with my finger.

“You big softie. This kid is gonna be so spoiled.”

He nods, his face falling into a mask of shadows, his eyes darkening with unspoken anger.

“Our son will have a loving childhood, Ana. I promise. I’d never let my kid go through the torture of what I had to deal with. If I ever start to resemble my father, lodge a bullet between my eyes.”

Rising onto my tiptoes, I gently brush my lips against his soft cheek.

“We’ve got this, big man. You are nothing like your father and you never will be.” I flatten my hand over his hard chest. “Your heart is far too big.”

I slip out of his grip and slide into the seat. He closes the door and gets behind the wheel.

As always, his broad hand grips my thigh and I rest mine on top, stroking his skin.

I still can’t get over how pregnant I am. It doesn’t make sense.

“Miki…”

“Yes, iskorka?”

“How the hell am I four months? I don’t get it. Isn’t the pill 99% effective? I’ve never missed a day? I’m so confused.”

I look down at our entwined fingers and he doesn’t reply.

“In a good way. I’m happy, Miki. God, I can’t wait to have a family with you. Honestly. But, I’m just a little confused. I guess it could have been back in Russia before you got my prescription?”

I stare at his side profile. His jaw tightens and I frown.

“Hello? Earth to big man? Are you even listening?”

He clears his throat.

“You’re being weird. Spit it out.” I grab his hand and shove it back in his own lap.

“I, err.”

Is he… nervous?

“Mikhail Volkov. Stop this. You’re stressing my confused little brain out.”

He lets out a sharp breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I switched your pill out. You’ve not been taking anything real.”

My mouth drops open as I register his words. And then I burst into a fit of laughter, complete with slapping my hands on my thighs, and tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Yeah, right? Stop trying to make me feel better. That’s ridiculous. Who does that?” I shake my head, trying to get my breath back.

“Me. A man desperate to get you pregnant. A man who loves filling you up to breed you. One who never wants you to leave him.”

That shuts me up completely.

I fought back the bile rising in my throat, a bitter taste coating my tongue.

“You fucking what?” I hiss.

“I don’t regret it.” He keeps his eyes on the road as I clench my fists.

“Stop the damn car.” I slam them on the dash.

“No,” he replies calmly.

“If you don’t stop the car, I’ll fucking jump out,” I seethe.

“The fuck you will,” he growls.

I huff as he strokes my stomach softly. The baby.

“Fine. You win. But I’m not talking to you.”

I turn and cross my arms over my chest as I face the window, the cold glass chilling my skin.

“I’m not apologizing,” he mutters.

I snap my face to him, my cheeks burning. From a mix of anger and desire.

It’s fucked up, yes. But it’s cute.

“Next time, ask me first.”

His handsome face breaks into a warm smile, diffusing the anger that had been simmering within me.

“Next time?”

A grin stretches my face as I nod.

“I want a big family. You started the ball rolling so you gotta give me more babies.”

“Deal.”

We finish the drive home in silence, his hand protectively stroking my tiny bump. It’s that small I thought it was just bloating.

He helps me out of the car once we pull into the driveway, linking my fingers through his to lead me home.

As soon as the door shuts behind us, he pins me against the wall and his lips are on mine.

It’s hot and sinful.

Lifting me into his arms, I wrap my legs securely around him and my arms tight around his neck.

With kisses peppering his cheek, he guides us down the long hallway, the quiet echoing with each step.

“Fuck, I can’t wait to be inside you.” He mutters between kisses.

“Fill me up, big man.”

As he gets to the stairs, I pat his back to stop him.

“Wait. Can we go put the ultrasound pictures on the refrigerator, next to the cute picture I put there of Hades?”

He chuckles softly and kisses my cheek. “Yes, pretty girl.”

Mmm, I smell coffee. I roll over and, as predicted, find Mikhail’s empty spot next to me. I climb out of bed and stretch with a yawn and do my usual morning routine, then grab one of Miki’s tops and put it on.

“Morning, handsome,” I call out as I jog down the stairs.

“In here, baby,” he yells back from the kitchen.

With a big grin on my face, I rush to him and slam my body against his for a cuddle.

Nestling against his chest, he strokes my hair and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“I prefer waking up next to you, or with you inside me,” I murmur against him, feeling his cock grow through his jeans.

“Me too. But we have a umm, guest,” he whispers in my ear and I groan.

I know precisely who he means, and a fiery anger boils within me, making my heart pound.

“Get. Rid. Of. It.” I say and put my best fake smile on as I push away from him.

Turning to her, sitting on the fucking bar stool like she belongs here in her yet again tight black dress and a tit explosion.

Does she not realize Miki is an ass man? She’s barking up the wrong tree entirely.

And he’s mine.

“Morning,” I say to her and she scowls.

Kill her with kindness.

Or a blade through the throat would be my preferred option.

I don’t trust her. I don’t like her. And her grubby hands need to stay away from my baby daddy.

Miki opens up the refrigerator and her eyes go wide.

Ha. I bite back a laugh.

“What’s that?” She points to the door as he closes it.

“Don’t tell me Alexei and Lara are going to be littering the earth with his crazy genes.”

Is she fucking serious?

“There’s nothing wrong with Alexei or Lara. In fact, I hope one day they do have kids. They’d be cute as hell.” I step in front of Miki with a hand on my hip.

“Mikhail?”

“Fucking hell,” he mutters under his breath in annoyance.

“That’s our baby, Zoya.” Miki announces and places a protective hand on my waist, tugging me snug against his side.

I’m struggling to hold back my laughter as her mouth drops open.

She’s taking it as well as I imagined. I can hear her black heart breaking.

Shame.

“How? What?” She’s lost for words. Her hands shake as she takes a sip of coffee.

“Do you want me to give you some biology lessons? Or, maybe you can ask those two guys at the club?” I say. Miki chuckles under his breath.

“But, you’ve known her for five minutes, Miki. This is ridiculous. You realize you’re stuck with her for life now? How could you be so reckless?”

A growl erupts from his chest. He steps forward and slams his palm down on the counter.

“Anastasia is my wife. I want her next to me until I take my last breath. I want lots of kids with her, starting with our baby boy. You’ll do well to keep your intrusive thoughts in your head before I remove my help. My family comes first, Zoya. Remember that.”

She slinks off the barstool and the fake tears slip down her cheek.

I roll my eyes.

“But I am part of your family.” Her voice breaks.

“No, Zoya. Galena is part of my family. You lost that right. Now get out of my house.” Mikhail seethes, turning his back on her.

She’s a master manipulator. She found that little soft spot in Miki’s heart for Galena and she’s exploiting it.

Not for much longer. Even poor Galena fears her mom. I can sense it. I’ve watched her tense when her mom touches her. She barely says a word around her. Poor kid. I can see why Miki is trying, I don’t blame him.

It makes me love him more.

He’s going to be an incredible dad.

Mikhail watches with a stern face as Zoya rushes out the back door.

“That got rid of her,” I say as the door slams behind her.

“She’s testing my patience. Enzo needs to hurry up with alternative living arrangements.” Miki takes off his mask and rubs his face.

“Has she always been like this?”

He shakes his head.

“Not this bad. I barely spoke to her or saw her over the years. Since I told her not to come in the house, she’s now using Galena as an excuse every time. Today it was that Galena is sick and needs some medicine. I don’t believe her.”

“What about speaking to Enzo? Get her moved away from us. It’s healthier for us all. We have to think about the baby. I don’t trust her, Miki. Do you really know her? Can you say she won’t try to hurt me? I get a bad vibe from her.”

He places his hand on either side of my waist and rubs my stomach under my top.

“She wouldn’t fucking dare come after you. But yes. I’ll push him to speed this up. I don’t care if she has to leave kicking and screaming. I’ve had enough. You need to be as relaxed as possible. Leave it to me, I can get something figured out within a few days.”

Relief washes over me.

“I’ll drag her out myself if you want.”

He smirks at me and runs the tip of his finger down my nose.

“God I love it when you get feisty, iskorka.”