Page 172 of Nine Months to Love

She pockets her phone and looks at me. “You know, sweetheart, I’m only trying to help. I want what’s best for you.”

“I know, Mom.”

She reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. It’s such a maternal gesture that for a moment, I almost forget how fucked-up our relationship is.

“You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” she says softly. She kisses my cheek. “I have to get back to surgery. But call me if you need anything.”

She walks away. I watch until she disappears around the corner. Then I pull out my phone and text Stefan.

Meeting with a wedding planner Saturday at the Eliot Hotel. 1:30. Is that okay?

His response comes almost immediately.Of course. Do you want me to come with you?

No. I want to handle this myself.

I pocket my phone and lean against the wall. My heart is pounding. This is insane. I’m lying to Stefan. But what choice do I have?

If I tell Stefan, he’ll stop me. Or worse, he’ll come with me. And then any chance of peace will be destroyed.

No. This is something I have to do alone.

I just hope I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.

48

STEFAN

I’m still sitting in my office, staring at the dregs of my scotch long after Taras has left, when there’s a knock at the door.

“What is it?” I ask without looking up.

Arkady clears his throat as he shuffles on the threshold. “It’s Iakov, sir.”

That gets my attention. I set down the glass and lean back in my chair. “What about him?”

“He’s been meeting with FBI agents. Multiple times over the past two weeks.” Arkady approaches and slides a folder across my desk. “We got photos, just to be sure.”

I flip it open. Sure enough, there’s Iakov sitting across from men in cheap suits with federal haircuts. The images are grainy but clear enough to see they’re deep in conversation.

I close the folder and toss it back on the desk. “Doesn’t matter. Let them dig. They won’t find anything.”

“You’re sure?”

“We’ve already moved everything offshore. Buried it under layers of shell companies and legitimate investments. Even if they freeze my accounts here, they won’t touch the real money.”

Arkady nods. “And the warehouses?”

“Clean. Everything illegal has been relocated or destroyed. The only thing they’ll find is legitimate shipping operations.” I pour myself a fresh drink. “Iakov can feed them whatever he wants. It won’t stick.”

Arkady allows himself a small smile. “You’re a damn goodpakhan, boss. If you don’t mind me saying so.”

“We’re all doing the best we can,” I say grimly. I look up and give him a small nod. “Yourself included. You’ve been a good soldier, Arkady. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

He bows in gratitude, then takes his leave, closing the door behind him.

I’m alone again. Just me and the scotch and the ultrasound photo I can’t stop staring at. Everything is falling apart. My mother is alive, Iakov is working with the feds, Mikayla betrayed me. And now, Babushka is lying in a hospital bed because I didn’t protect her well enough.

The only bright spot is Olivia. But even that’s complicated.