Page 39 of Sin in My Inbox (Sexting Spark #1)

Avery

Consciousness crept back like a slow tide, dragging me from the dark. The first thing I noticed was the cool pinch of the IV needle in my hand, then the soft weight of blankets, and finally the warm kiss of sunlight slipping through the curtains onto my face.

I blinked my eyes open, vision swimming from blurry to sharp. White ceiling. A dangling IV bag. The sterile hum of a hospital room.

"Avery?"

That voice—God, that voice. It hit me like a shot of whiskey, warm and rough, laced with relief so raw it made my chest ache. Dmitri.

I turned my head, and there he was, sitting right beside the bed.

His big hand enveloped mine, holding on like I might slip away again.

His usually perfect blonde hair was a mess, sticking up in places like he'd been raking his fingers through it for hours.

A shadow of stubble darkened his jaw, and those piercing ice-blue eyes were bloodshot, framed by dark circles that screamed sleepless nights.

He looked like absolute hell. And yet, somehow, still the most gorgeous man I'd ever laid eyes on .

"Hey," I croaked, my voice sounding like I'd gargled gravel. My throat was so dry it felt like I'd swallowed a desert.

Before I could blink, his hand was on my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin with a tenderness that made my heart stutter.

"You're awake," he said, his voice catching, thick with emotion. "You've been out for two damn days, Avery. Docs said you lost too much blood, plus the shock, your body just couldn't take it."

Two days? I tried to sit up, but a wave of soreness slammed me back into the pillows. Every muscle screamed like I'd just run a marathon and lost. Badly.

"Whoa, easy there," Dmitri said, his hands instantly on my shoulders, gentle but firm. "You're not going anywhere. Docs say you need to chill for at least a week."

Hospital. Doctors. Mom. My heart lurched, and I snapped my eyes to his, panic clawing at me. "My mom—"

"She's fine," he cut in, already knowing where my mind was headed. His other hand pressed over mine, grounding me. "She's in the room next door. She was asking about you just a bit ago."

Relief hit me like a warm wave, loosening the knot in my chest. Mom was okay. Thank God. But then another thought slammed into me, and my hand flew to my stomach, still flat but holding the most precious thing in the world.

"The baby?" My voice shook, barely a whisper. "Our baby—"

Dmitri's whole face softened, his eyes lighting up with something so tender it nearly broke me. A smile curved his lips, warm and real. "Healthy as hell," he said, his big hand covering mine on my stomach. "Doc says the little guy's a fighter, just like his mom. All the tests came back perfect."

Tears stung my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. After everything—the kidnapping, the gunshots, the goddamn explosion—our baby was still here. A miracle.

"Really?" I choked out, tears streaming down my face.

"Really, sweetheart." Dmitri leaned in, kissing the tears from my cheeks, his lips soft and warm. "Doc says in a few weeks, we'll even hear the heartbeat. "

Heartbeat. Our baby's heartbeat. The thought alone melted me into a puddle.

I swallowed hard, another memory crashing back. "What about Thomas?" My voice trembled, the chaos of that night flashing in my mind.

Dmitri's face hardened, his jaw tightening. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. "Dead," he said, voice like steel. "Blew himself up with his own damn grenade."

The room went quiet, the weight of his words hanging heavy. Thomas was his brother, blood or not. Betrayal didn't erase that kind of bond, and I could see the hurt carved into Dmitri's face, even if he tried to hide it.

I squeezed his hand, trying to pour some comfort into that grip. He squeezed back, hard, like he was anchoring himself to me.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. No more secrets. No more lies. "Dmitri, I need to tell you something. About who I really am—"

"You're Avery Carter," he cut me off, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Twenty-three. Hotel maid. Busts her ass to pay her mom's medical bills. Sound about right?"

My breath hitched. He knew. "You-you knew all along?"

"From the start, babe." He reached out, tucking a strand of messy hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering with a gentleness that made my skin tingle. "You really thought you could fool me? Sweetheart, you blush like a damn tomato every time you lie."

My face burned, and I groaned, mortified. All this time, I thought I'd been slick, but I'd been an open book. "Why didn't you call me out?" I mumbled, chewing my lip, caught between embarrassment and confusion.

His thumb brushed my cheek again, the rough pad of his finger sending a shiver through me. "At first, I figured you were some spy sent to screw me over. A random chick shows up in my life with a fake ID? Yeah, that's suspicious as hell."

My heart sank. "So you were testing me?"

"In the beginning, yeah," he admitted, not sugarcoating it. His eyes held mine, unflinching. "But it didn't take long to figure out you weren't some mastermind. You're just a girl caught in a shitty situation, trying to survive."

He paused, a playful glint in his eyes. "A girl who stammers when she's nervous and can't lie to save her life."

I choked out a laugh, even as tears welled up again. All the fear, the guilt, the weight of keeping secrets—it all came crashing down. "I was so scared," I whispered, voice breaking. "Scared you'd find out and ditch me. I'm just a nobody, Dmitri. A waitress. How could I ever be enough for you?"

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering there like he was breathing me in. "You think I give a shit about that? If I cared about status or money, I wouldn't have fallen for you, Avery."

"But I lied to you," I said, voice small. "Just like Mariah. Just like Thomas."

"So what?" His eyes locked onto mine, fierce and honest. "Avery, my hands are dirty. I've done things—bad things. Blood, drugs, guns, you name it. My whole empire's built on bodies. You think I've got any right to judge you for a little white lie?"

I stared at him, stunned. He'd never opened up like this before, never laid his past bare like that.

"But then I met you," he said, his voice softening to something almost reverent. "And everything changed. You made me believe a guy like me could have something good. Something worth protecting."

He looked at me, eyes searching mine. "Your lies? They don't mean shit. Because your heart's real. Every look, every touch, every kiss—I feel it, Avery. That's all I need."

"Dmitri." My voice broke, tears spilling over again.

"Hold up," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. He reached into his jacket, and my breath caught when he dropped to one knee beside the bed.

In his hand was a ring—a massive pink diamond that caught the light like a damn supernova, surrounded by tiny white diamonds sparkling on a sleek platinum band. Stunning, but not as stunning as the look in his eyes.

Pure, raw devotion. Like I was his entire world .

"Avery Carter," he said, voice steady but thick with emotion, "will you marry me?"

My heart stopped. "Are you sure?" I blurted, my voice shaking. "I'm just… me. I've got nothing to offer. No connections, no money, nothing."

"You've got you," he said, cutting me off, his gaze unwavering.

"That's more than enough. I don't need a wife who brings me power or deals.

I need you—the girl who'd work herself to death for a few bucks in tips, who'd give up everything for her mom, who'd stand by me even when she's scared shitless. That's who I want."

Tears streamed down my face, but I nodded, choking out, "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you."

His face lit up with the brightest smile I'd ever seen. He slid the ring onto my finger, and it fit perfectly, like it was made for me.

"Perfect," he murmured, kissing my knuckles, his lips brushing the ring. "Just like you were made for me."

Then he leaned in, kissing me slow and deep, like we had all the time in the world. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, losing myself in him.

Until someone cleared their throat awkwardly.

We broke apart, both of us flushing as we glanced at the door.

There was Mom, sitting in a wheelchair, pushed in by a nurse. She looked so much better—color in her cheeks, a spark in her eyes. She was smiling, that warm, knowing smile that always made me feel like a kid again.

"Mom!" I tried to sit up, but she waved me off.

"Stay put, honey," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You need to rest."

The nurse wheeled her closer, and Mom reached for my hand. Her eyes landed on the ring, and she gave a little nod, like she'd seen this coming.

"My sweet girl," she said, her voice wobbling with emotion. "The second I heard you were awake, I had to see you."

"I'm okay, Mom," I said, squeezing her hand, feeling that familiar warmth .

"I know you are." She patted my hand, then turned her gaze to Dmitri, sizing him up.

He stepped forward, dropping to one knee beside her wheelchair, all respect. "Mrs. Carter, I'm Dmitri Belov."

God, my heart melted. This big, bad mafia boss looked like a nervous kid meeting his girlfriend's mom for the first time.

Mom studied him, her eyes sharp, like she could see right through him. Dmitri didn't flinch, just met her gaze, steady and open.

"I know my past isn't pretty," he said, voice low and honest. "And I know being with me might put Avery in danger. But I swear on my life, I'll protect her. Always."

Mom tilted her head, her voice calm but commanding. "Do you love my daughter?"

"More than anything," he said without missing a beat. "More than my own life."

She softened, a smile tugging at her lips. "I can see that. You're the real deal." She glanced at me, her eyes full of love. "Avery's always been tough. After her dad passed, she carried this family on her shoulders. I worried she'd never let herself lean on anyone."

She reached out, brushing a tear from my cheek. "But seeing her with you, I know she loves you. Trusts you. That's enough for me."

"Mom," I whispered, my throat tight.

"I swear," Dmitri said, his voice like a vow, "I'll make her the happiest woman alive."

Mom nodded, her smile widening. "Good. Welcome to the family, Dmitri."

I laughed through my tears, the weight of her approval settling over me like a warm blanket.

Mom wiped my cheek again, then grinned, a playful glint in her eye. "So, when do I get to meet my grandbaby?"

Dmitri cleared his throat, a rare flush creeping up his neck. "Actually, Mrs. Carter, Avery's already pregnant."

Mom's eyes went wide. "No way!" She lit up, practically bouncing in her chair. "I'm gonna be a grandma?"

I nodded, blushing. "Yeah, about a month along. "

"Oh my God!" Mom clapped her hands, grinning like a kid on Christmas. "This is the best news ever!"

Dmitri and I exchanged a look, both of us laughing at her excitement.

Then he turned serious, taking my hand. "I've got an idea. As soon as you're out of here, we'll get married. Big-ass wedding, the whole deal. I want the world to know you're mine. What do you say?"

My heart skipped. "Isn't that too fast?" Not that I didn't want it. It just felt like a dream, too good to be real.

"Fast?" He grinned, squeezing my hand. "Babe, I've been waiting my whole life for you. I'm done waiting."

"I'm in," Mom piped up, smirking. "I wanna see my girl walk down the aisle while I'm still kicking."

"Mom!" I laughed, shaking my head. "You're gonna live forever."

"Damn right I am," she said, winking. "Gotta spoil that grandbaby."

I looked at Mom's beaming face, then at Dmitri's warm, steady gaze. All my doubts melted away.

"Okay," I said, smiling through tears. "Let's do it. Let's get married."

I touched the ring on my finger, its weight grounding me. This was real. I was getting married. I was going to be a mom.

Life's funny like that. One minute you're in hell, the next you're staring at a future brighter than you ever dared dream.

With Dmitri by my side, and our little family growing, I knew one thing for sure.

We'd be okay .