Page 19 of Her Darkest Possession

"Really?" Indigo looks up, and hope returns to her eyes.

"But we'll still proceed with the ultrasound immediately to check on your baby. And given the stress and trauma that you've experienced, we'll want to monitor you closely."

"Of course, doctor. Do whatever you think is necessary." I nod.

"We can go now, the techs should be ready."

I lean forward, pressing my forehead against Indigo's hand that I'm still holding. Relief washes through me, but it doesn't erase my murderous rage toward Lola.

"I'm going to kill Lola," I whisper, too low for Dr. Espina to hear. "First, I'll get your sister back. And once everyone is safe, I'm going to fucking murder that bitch."

I help Indigo out of the hospital bed, supporting her weight as she carefully swings her legs over the side. When her feet touch the floor, she winces slightly, and I feel a flash of anger toward Lola and everyone else who put her in this position, myself included.

But anger quickly transforms into concern.

"Take it easy,printsessa," I murmur, wrapping my arm around her waist.

The older man who was also in the room rushes over from where he was standing. "Here, let me?—"

"It's okay, Marcus." Indigo tells him, leaning into me. "Anatoly has me."

Marcus studies my face for a moment, clearly weighing whether I can be trusted with her. I meet his gaze steadily, silently communicating that I would die before letting anything happen to her.

Finally, he gives a small nod, and I return it with one of my own.

An understanding passes between us. This man cared for my wife when I couldn't be there.

I owe him.

We follow Dr. Espina down the hallway to another room where the ultrasound machine has already set up. Another doctor stands beside it.

"This is Dr. Martinez," Dr. Espina introduces us. "She'll be overseeing the ultrasound."

Dr. Martinez smiles warmly. "Mrs. Baryshev, if you could lie down on the table, please."

I help Indigo onto the exam table, keeping hold of her hand as she settles onto her back. Her fingers tighten around mine.

"How far along are you, Mrs. Baryshev?" Dr. Martinez asks as she prepares the equipment.

Indigo hesitates. "I... I don't know exactly. Probably about four or five weeks, if I had to guess."

Dr. Martinez nods. "That's alright. We'll be able to determine more precisely after the ultrasound and some bloodwork."

As the technician begins preparing the ultrasound gel, I stare at the blank screen, my heart pounding. Our child is in there—the child I didn't know existed until today. A life created between us that Lola tried to destroy.

I squeeze Indigo's hand and then bring it to my lips for a kiss.

"Because it's your first ultrasound and you're relatively early in your pregnancy, Mrs. Baryshev," Dr. Martinez reaches for the long wand-like transducer beside the machine. "We'll be using an intrauterine transducer rather than the over-the-stomach one most people are familiar with."

"I know," Indigo says softly.

Something in her voice makes me look down at her. There's a distant look in her eyes—like she's somewhere else entirely. Of course... she's been through this before.

With Bennet.

My jaw clenches at the thought of what she endured then. What that monster put her through. Now she's here again, in the same position, only this time with my child growing inside her.

A child that she wants.