Page 25 of Dark Desires

“Stephania is good. She’s being taken care of. Nothing for her to do but rest.”

“Good for her,” I say, forcing a bright, fake smile. “Then you’re all set.”

He doesn’t move. Instead, he just stares at me, an unreadable expression on his face that drives me insane.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to be here.”

“You fainted, Isabella,” he finally says, “for the second time tonight. You need rest, and you need people looking out for you.”

I roll my eyes, brushing it off. “It was just the stress of the night. Don’t be dramatic.”

“Dramatic?” he repeats. “You lost consciousness, Isabella. I have reason to be concerned.”

“No, you don’t. It was very clear by the way I woke up alone in your place that I was just a way to spend a night. You didn’t even leave a note, for fuck sake.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. For a second, I think he might actually fire back, but instead, he just sighs and looks away.

“We’re not talking about that right now. It’s not the time. There are bigger things going on at the moment, in case you haven’t noticed.” He sits back.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I reply, lifting my injured arm.

The silence between us stretches out, heavy and thick, with all the things neither of us is saying.

I’m tired, stressed, and honestly, having him here just makes everything more complicated. Every time I look at him, flashes of that night come rushing back—his hands, his mouth, the way he made me feel.

It’s a déjà vu I don’t need, especially not now, not while I’m carrying his baby that he knows nothing about.

He’s still watching me, his gaze intense, like he’s trying to read my mind or figure out some puzzle I’m not even aware of. It’s unnerving, and I can feel the frustration bubbling up inside me.

I need him gone before I do something stupid—like let my guard down around him.

“Look,” I say. “I’m fine, and I don’t need a babysitter. Go check on Stephania. She’s your fiancée, after all.”

He smirks, more amused than anything else. “You’re really that eager to get rid of me?”

“Yes, actually,” I reply. “I don’t need or want you here.”

“Fine. I’ll leave you to it, then.”

He turns to leave, and I feel a strange pang in my chest as he walks away. I hate that I even care, hate that his leaving stirs up this weird mix of relief and disappointment. But it’s for the best.

He pauses at the door, glancing back one last time. “Get some rest,” he says, his voice softer, almost gentle. The door clicks shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and the little secret I’ve been carrying.

“Ms. Mancini,” the doctor says, looking at his clipboard as he steps in. “So, we ran a few tests after you arrived. Standard protocol.

I nod, waiting for him to continue.

“Are you aware that you’re pregnant?” he asks.

“I am, yes,” I say, a sudden panic gripping me. “Oh, my God, is the baby OK?”

“I’d like to do an ultrasound to double-check now that we have lab confirmation. Would that be OK?”

“Yes, please,” I say, my focus suddenly shifting to the tiny life inside me. I offer a prayer to any god that might be listening that my baby is alright.

CHAPTER 7

ALEXEI