Page 41 of The Bratva's Christmas Bump

Suddenly, it’s too much, the swell of feelings that don’t belong here. Maxim is a dangerous man. He’s stolen me into this life. I shouldn’t be feeling anything for him.

I rise abruptly, and Maxim stands back. “Sorry, I need to use the restroom.”

Rushing away, I don’t stop until the cool air of the restroom envelops me behind a locked door, and I grip the sink, panting.

Why is my heart racing?

I feel as giddy as I did as a teenager when my prom date brought me my corsage. Years of stress have been packed into six days, and now I’m here feeling like I have a chance with him? Gazing down, the ring twinkles back at me and my heart skips and excitedly beats again.

I can’t listen to it.

He’s dangerous. My main and only goal is to flee as soon as it’s safe. I can’t fall for his trap.

As I stare at the ring, music drifts from my phone within my purse. I retrieve it and answer it, fully expecting Maxim to be checking on where I am.

“Hello?”

“Miss Wolfe?”

“Mhm.”

“It’s Doctor Finfer. I’m calling about your missed check-up on Monday. Is everything all right?”

The ground drops away from me and I clutch the sink tighter as a wave of dizziness rises inside me like vomit. “Oh, no,” I gasp.

“Oh, no? Are you alright? Are you having any trouble with you or the baby?”

My eyes snap down to my abdomen in the mirror, and sweat breaks out across my body.

In all the terror and strain of the past few days, I completely ignored the reason I was desperate to find Maxim in the first place.

“Miss Wolfe?”

I’m two months pregnant, and my sexy, mysterious one-night stand is a Mafia prince.

15

MAXIM

Thursday morning dawns with blue sky and bitter wind. It cuts through me like the slice of a blade as I stand on the balcony of my new apartment overlooking the city. Hot coffee warms my throat as I drink quickly to prevent the chill in the air from robbing my drink of its warmth.

I’m tired. This past week has been draining. Killing Hector was a highlight, but we’ve stalled in our investigation. Everything we know about the second bastard, Vinnie, is limited. New York City is a big place to hide.

I drink as my mind runs through every detail that bastard dribbled from his lips before he died. Apologies for the women he harmed and killed. Anger at getting caught. He even begged in the end, as if I would forget what he took from me and the pain he caused the people I care about. None of my girls will rest until Vinnie is found. None of my guys will either since everyone is working double on security detail.

I fight back a yawn, but before I make it back inside, Rex steps out onto the balcony to join me. “We’ve got something.”

“On?”

“Vinnie.”

“What?”

“An address. Stu’s bringing the car around.”

“Shit.”

“Bad timing?” Rex gazes at me, his brows furrowed. “Want me to handle it?”