Page 39 of Scarlet Promise (Yegorov Bratva #4)

Chapter Thirty-Three

ALINA

Ilya seems torn. I think he wants to kill Melor, but he also wants to stay at my side.

But he doesn’t move, which proves he wants to be with me more.

He holds my hand and smiles at me like he’s saying I’m the winner.

And I’m glad.

Ilya can kill. He shot that man who took me.

He’s done more for me, more for my brother. He’ll protect and kill if he needs to.

But he’s not Demyan. He’s a negotiator first. He’s the brains and thinks things through.

Demyan is might and will do what’s needed and will go that extra mile. He needs to be that way to run his bratva, to protect me and his family. Demyan’s a killer, deep down.

Not Ilya, though. That part of being a pakhan isn’t in his blood, which makes me happy.

Then again, everything about Ilya makes me happy.

Especially his words of love.

And he’s still breathing.

Still mine.

Still here.

The father of my child. The love of my life. And maybe, if I’m honest, he’s always been there in my heart, from when I had a crush on him as a kid to now.

Just like Max is in my heart. My other love.

And I see Max as a blessing.

He gave me the foundation to truly love again.

To find my way back to Ilya and to realize the changes in our relationship for what they were. Mature, real love.

Max loved me enough to give me a second chance.

Ilya loves me enough to allow me all the time to find my way.

And I have.

To him.

Isla’s talking to me, but I just want to bask in the strength that Ilya’s presence gives me. That calmness tinged with the promises of excitement and lust. I want to bask in his love.

Erin asks Isla something, and they start talking.

I have the people I love in this room.

Most of them. And Demyan’s close by.

Albert snuggles in more, knowing he’s protected by Ilya, too.

I tug on Ilya’s hand and look up at him.

He comes in close. “Yes, malyshka ?”

“I’m excited to start this new chapter of our lives,” I whisper.

His eyes widen in delight. “You are?”

“Yes.” I kiss his hand.

The doctor comes in, frowning as his gaze hits the dog. Ilya stares at him until he swallows and steps back.

“I’m going to need to borrow her to run some tests again.”

“We have time,” Ilya says.

The doctor nods. “I’ll be back.”

He scurries out.

“You scared him,” I say.

“No one threatens my dog or my girl.”

I laugh as someone casts a shadow on the door. Even though the doctor just ran off, my blood surges faster with hope that he came back to tell me he doesn’t need to do more pointless tests, and I can go.

But it isn’t him.

My heart soars.

Demyan.

He casts his pale-blue eyes on me, shining with love, and he gives me a small, relieved smile.

Then he looks at Ilya.

“Go talk to him,” I say to Ilya.

“If you’re sure.” He looks at me carefully.

I giggle. “I’m not going to break.”

“You might. And I’m not sure I can raise dividing cells by myself,” he says.

He’s teasing, but there’s a serious note there, too.

“I don’t want to lose you, either, Ilya.” I take a breath. “I’m strong. Talk to my brother.”

He kisses me and gets up.

Isla comes over to me. “They worked it out. I’m happy for you and them. And I’m happy to see it, too.” She pauses. “So about this first playdate… Month four too soon?”

We look at each other and dissolve into laughter. Erin demands to know what’s so funny.

As the two talk, I catch Ilya glance at me. Then he turns back to my brother, who nods.

They both come over to me.

Demyan hugs me tight. “Never do that again, Angel.”

“I don’t plan on it. Are you sure you two are okay?” I ask, studying him. “You and Ilya? Are you truly good?”

My brother groans. “She gets kidnapped for a second time, and she’s worried about my friendship with Ilya. We’re like brothers. It’s good. And you?”

I give him a playful shrug. “I’ll scream if you ask me again.”

He sighs. “Pavel’s taking care of the mess upstairs for us, and I’m taking my family and Isla home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” But no one’s listening to me as they all clear out.

Only Albert remains while Ilya speaks to the doctor. Once more the doctor looks at Albert. “This is very?—”

“Much allowed,” Ilya growls. “Demyan owns this part of the hospital. Deal with it.”

The doctor inches away from him and nods, then he clears his throat. “Well, I think, given the latest activities, I’ll keep you overnight for observation.”

“No,” I cry. “You said I didn’t need?—”

“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” Ilya says smoothly. “I won’t leave her side.”

“And the…dog?” the doctor asks.

“Won’t leave her side either.” Ilya once more stares down the doctor. “He has food, water, and doggy pads packed. We’re fine.”

“Ilya—” I start.

“I’m sorry, malyshka , but better safe than sorry.” Ilya doesn’t sound sorry. He sounds relieved. “One night. I’ll be here with Albert.”

“Very well,” the doctor says. “And tomorrow, as a gift for staying, we’ll do that ultrasound. It won’t be much, but?—”

“Yes.” I’m suddenly desperate to see the life we created. “You want to see our baby, Ilya?”

“Fuck yes,” he breathes.

When the doctor leaves, Ilya turns down the lights.

The hospital bed is comfortable and big for a hospital bed, and the room is nice for a hospital room. But I want to be home with him and Albert.

I want… I take a breath. I want whatever’s good for the baby.

Ilya kicks off his shoes, climbs on the bed, and holds me in his arms.

“We’ll be home soon,” he says. “Patience.”

And even though I want to argue, tell him I’m not about to sleep, my eyes grow heavy. I soon drift off into a happy, dreamless sleep.

“Ready?” the doctor says the next day, running the wand over my flat stomach.

The doctor offered to take us personally for the ultrasound. He stares at a screen.

Albert’s in his bag, snout out, and twitching it at all the new smells. Ilya’s free hand pets the soft, silky fur just above his snout, and his other hand holds mine tight.

I meet Ilya’s gaze. He looks as nervous and excited as I feel.

“We’re ready, right?” I say to Ilya.

“Since the moment I first saw you.”

His words roll through me, spreading warmth.

“Okay, baby looks good, but since it’s very early, you won’t see much, but…” He turns a knob, and a fast-paced beat fills the air.

It’s like I’m burning from head to toe in a special fire.

Because this is real.

We made a life.

An actual life.

And now we can hear its heartbeat.

Ilya’s eyes shine with tears, and he leans in, kissing my hand. Tears streak down my cheeks faster than I can wipe them away.

“Ready?” the doctor says again.

“Ready,” I say.

He turns the screen, and there, in black and white, is our baby.

“Our bunch of dividing cells is even more beautiful than I imagined,” Ilya murmurs.

It’s nothing more than a blob, but it’s ours, a thing made from love, a thing that’ll be a child one day.

I let out a small sob, and Ilya kisses my hand again.

“The heart is fast, da ?” Ilya asks.

“Heartbeat’s racing, yes,” the doctor says, “but that’s normal and a good sign.”

I can’t stop smiling at that blob.

“We made that,” I whisper.

“I know,” he whispers back.

The happiness inside me is so huge that it’s almost unbelievable. Because that’s all there is. Just happiness. For the first time in a long time, my feelings aren’t marred by sadness.

I’m lucky. Ridiculously lucky to love and be loved by two amazing men. One is gone, yes, but never forgotten, and the other…

Ilya’s here. Mine. Going nowhere.

The doctor cleans me up, and then we’re given the official stamp of release. We head home, and Ilya sits me on the bed upstairs. Albert runs around us and investigates everything in the room with his tail wagging, happy to be home with us both.

I know how he feels.

What I want is to shower and change and start anew in a symbolic way. Maybe get all dirty again. But the look in Ilya’s eyes makes me stay where I am.

“I want you to know I’ll never leave your side again, Alina.”

“Same for me.” I smile as he leans in, kissing me softly.

But then he straightens.

“I’ve been thinking,” he says. “What if Demyan and I merged our two bratvas together?”

I frown. “Rule together?”

“Demyan can rule. I’m more than happy to go back to being second-in-command. It’s the only way I can see my bratva surviving anyway.”

“You have loyalty?—”

“Some now. Yes. But I’m not your brother.

I’m better behind the scenes. Demyan’s better at the front, and enemies and friends alike respect him.

But I know he needs me to temper him, and I need him to make the bratva work.

So our bratvas being one makes sense. We can do it officially at the end of the twelve months.

“In all honesty, I’m just not cut out to be pakhan. I want to be with you. To be a big part in our child’s life. I got a chance with you that I understand now. And I think it’s a gift from Max, malyshka .

“I won’t squander it. I want to do what he’d have done. Focus on you and our family. Max has a place in your heart, just as he should have, and I don’t want to focus on you for him, but for us. I’m just acknowledging his gift.”

My heart squeezes so tight, and I can’t move. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever met, Ilya. Hands down.”

“We can work on your dreams together. The dogs, cats too.” He smiles. “We’ll save the shelter, build more, and have a sanctuary, too. There’s a world of possibilities, and we’ll explore them together.”

“Oh, Ilya…” I swallow. “Call Demyan.”

He does and puts it on speakerphone.

“Is Alina okay?” Demyan asks.

I laugh. “Fine. But Ilya has something to say.”

My brother goes quiet. “Listening.”

Ilya puts the merger idea out there. He explains the will and how this can’t officially happen until the twelve months are up, but there’s nothing stopping them from putting the word out. Then he mentions Isaak, who I know Demyan likes, stating he’s happy to come aboard, too.

After he’s done, we wait.

“I’m on board,” Demyan says finally. “As long as it’s what Ilya wants.”

Ilya looks at me and winks. “With all my heart, Alina comes first. All the time. You can multitask, Demyan. I can’t. This is Alina, so with me going back to be your second, I can do that. I can love her.”

I hold my breath. Joy and a sweet love shooting through me.

Finally, Demyan speaks. “It makes sense.”

“It does?” I ask.

“Yes. I’m okay with this. We’re family,” Demyan says. “All of us. And if we merge, it’s smart. I’ll start making arrangements for the merger tomorrow, unofficially, obviously. This is a new chapter.”

My brother hangs up.

Ilya looks at me. “If he wanted to just buy me out and cut me out of the Yegorov Bratva, I’d be good with that. If it meant I had you. I’d give up anything for you, Alina.”

I blink back tears. “You really love me that much?”

“More.”

“Are you sure, Ilya?” I ask.

“Surer than anything,” he says with a smile.

There’s no doubt in his expression at all.

“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted,” he murmurs, staring deep into my soul. “The rest I don’t give a damn about. You’re my end game.”

“And you’re mine,” I whisper.

I pull him in for a kiss.