3. Yelena
Chapter 3
Yelena
15 Years Old
M y stomach always gets in knots when I’m around Val, but it’s gotten worse lately. When I was younger, it was a quickening of the pulse, a pitter-patter that sent my heart swelling and made me feel like I had butterflies dancing in my belly, but now it’s deeper. It’s a heart-stopping, gut-clenching feeling that leaves me dazed and more than a little disoriented.
Today is no different.
I walk out onto the deck to a chorus of happy birthdays, and as soon as my eyes land on Val’s, my heart explodes in my chest. He’s changing so quickly that I can barely keep up. I swear every time I see him it looks like he’s grown another inch or his shoulders are just a bit wider than they were the last time I saw him, which is saying a lot, considering I see him at least once a week.
“Happy Birthday, Yelena.”
I look over and laugh when Max picks me up and swings me around. He sets me down right before Luka snatches me up and does the same thing. I’m passed around from family member to family member, but it’s not until I feel the familiar embrace of Val and smell his woodsy cologne that my breath hitches.
“Happy fifteenth birthday, Yel,” he whispers in my ear. “You look beautiful.”
I duck my head to hide my blush and tighten my grip on him before he’s forced to let me go. With one last inhale, I breathe him in deep and let my fingers graze the back of his neck as I step out of his embrace. His blue eyes darken at my touch, making my heart give one last stutter before we break contact and Sveta comes barreling into me with a laugh.
I’m the center of attention for the next few hours as I open presents and eat cake, and it’s a relief when the sun sets and my Uncle Lev suggests we all go for a swim. I’ve always felt more comfortable on the sidelines, so I’m more than happy to hand over the spotlight when my crazy cousins start doing somersaults off the diving board while my mom lights tiki torches and turns on the fairy lights we have strung up around the deck.
“I’m going to change into my suit,” I tell them before running inside, heading straight for the room that I always share with Sveta, Natalya, and Mia. I hurry up and put on a red one-piece, and as soon as I step out of the bedroom, Val is waiting for me. With a grin, he grabs my hand, threading his fingers with mine and pulling me closer, hugging me with a fierceness that surprises me.
He buries his nose in my hair, breathing in the strawberry scent of my shampoo and kissing the top of my head while I clutch at him, holding him just as tightly as he’s holding me. Val and I have been toeing the line without crossing it for years. When no one’s watching, we hold hands, we hug for way longer than is appropriate, and we look at each other in a way that makes it obvious we both want more, but neither one of us has ever nudged a toe over the line. I want to, though. I want to slam my entire foot down over that line, but fear keeps me from lifting my head and pressing my lips to his. I want my first kiss, but I’m not sure how to tell him that.
When I hear Sveta holler my name, Val pulls back and cups my face. His eyes stay locked on mine as his thumb traces a soft arc along my cheek.
“Meet me in the kitchen tonight after everyone’s fallen asleep.”
I’d promise Val anything, so I shake my head yes without even having to think about it. As much fun as the next few hours are, they’re also pure torture. Val and I swim and eat more cake and everything looks normal on the outside, but no one else sees the way his fingers run over my hand under the water or the way he always seems to have one eye on me, watching my every move even as he talks and laughs and dunks our younger cousins.
It seems like an eternity, but later on when the house is finally quiet, I sneak out of the bedroom and tiptoe downstairs. My ears strain for any sound that might indicate our parents are up, but all I hear is the soft hum of the air conditioner when it kicks on, nearly giving me a heart attack at the unexpected noise.
My nerves are a wreck when I finally step into the kitchen, but the second I see Val standing by the counter with a big smile on his face, a warmth spreads through me, and I forget about how scared I am of getting caught.
“What are we doing?” I whisper, walking further into the room so we’re only a few feet apart.
“We’re not done celebrating your birthday.” He gives me a wink that leaves me grinning like an idiot and then brings his other hand up to press a finger against his lips, letting me know to be quiet. I give a quick nod before we slip through the French doors and out onto the deck. I follow him around to the side of the house where he’s already set out a blanket beneath the sugar maple tree that Sveta swears she’s going to find a way to tap. This is one of the few spots that’s hidden if anyone is looking out a window, and a thrill runs through me at knowing we’re alone in the dark.
We sit down, and when he reaches into the backpack that’s resting against the tree, I laugh as he pulls out a small Tupperware container. I open the lid to reveal the cupcake inside. It’s chocolate with chocolate icing and a cherry on top. My favorite. He sticks a candle in and lights it. I look up, staring at the gorgeous face that’s only inches from mine, knowing exactly what I’m going to wish for. The one thing I’ve always wanted, and the one thing I’ll always want.
I wish for Valentin Melnikov to be mine and only mine right before I suck in a breath and blow out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” His voice is barely more than a whisper, and with our one source of light gone and only the moon providing a soft glow, it feels even more intimate than it had a few minutes ago.
“If I tell you, it might not come true,” I whisper back.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a grin before he hands me a small box. “Happy Birthday, Yel.”
“You already gave me a gift,” I remind him.
“That was from all of us. This one’s just from me.”
I bite back the huge grin that wants to spread across my face and gently peel the wrapping paper from the small box, making sure to not tear it as I go. When I lift the lid on the velvet box, I suck in a breath and turn my eyes up to his.
“Val,” I whisper, looking back down at the gold butterfly necklace. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Just like you, Yel.”
This time there’s no hiding my smile, and when he sees it, he lets out a relieved breath. “I’m so glad you like it. I was worried you wouldn’t.”
“I could never hate anything you give me.” I run a finger over the delicate wings, stunned that he bought me something so beautiful. As much as I love it, I’m worried about someone noticing it. “What if someone asks where I got it?”
“For now, you can tell them Sveta gave it to you.”
I’m about to ask if she knows, but then he says, “She agreed to it after I let her eat all the other cupcakes I made.”
The laugh dies in my throat when he reaches out, gently taking the box from me so he can unclasp the necklace and put it around my neck. Sitting back, he runs his hands through my hair, lifting the strands so the necklace rests against my neck. He lets out a sigh and trails a finger down my neck and then softly dances it along my collarbone.
“What made you choose a butterfly?” I ask, hearing the shake in my voice but unable to do anything to stop it.
He drags his finger lower, brushing it over the wings of the butterfly as my heart beats so loudly I know he must be able to hear it.
“It reminded me of you. They’re beautiful and they light up every space they’re in.”
“Val,” I start to say, but he cuts me off by saying, “Tell me what you wished for.”
“What if it doesn’t come true?” The mere thought of saying something and cursing my future happiness has me holding my tongue.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and cups my face. “We make our own rules, Yel. I promise it’ll still come true, but I want to hear you say it.”
The intense way he’s staring at me makes it impossible for me to keep my mouth closed. “I wished for you,” I whisper. “It’s what I always wish for.”
He smiles and leans closer. “You have me. You’ve always had me, and you always will.” His thumb brushes over my bottom lip, making them part on a soft gasp. “Is there anything else you want for your birthday?”
Before I lose my courage, I whisper, “A kiss. I want my first kiss.”
Instead of crushing his mouth to mine, Val takes his time. He leans in closer, softly dragging his nose along my cheek while his thumb continues to trace a slow line along my lip. My breathing picks up, and I’m almost dizzy from all the different emotions and sensations flooding my body all at once. His fingers thread into my hair, gently pulling as he tips my head back.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about kissing you,” he murmurs against my skin. His lips ghost along my cheek, and I feel the heat of his breath trace a slow line to my mouth. When his lips finally press against mine, I let out a whimper and clutch the back of his neck. He’s slow and gentle, covering me in soft kisses that leave me wanting more, and as soon as I part my lips for him, he groans and deepens the kiss.
He’s not the only one that’s thought about us kissing, and as much as I’ve imagined this moment, nothing could’ve ever done it justice. When he pulls back to rest his forehead against mine, we’re both panting, our bodies shaking and wanting more, but both of us knowing we need to take it slow.
He smiles and gives a soft laugh. “Best first kiss ever.”
I pull back so I can see his face. “That was your first kiss?” I’d always hoped he’d wait for me, but part of me feared he wouldn’t.
He looks hurt when he cups my face again and pulls me closer. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever wanted to kiss, Yelena, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re the only one I ever will kiss. You’re mine, and I’m yours. We’ll find a way to be together, myshka. I promise.”
I nod and wrap my arms around him, resting my face against his neck as he pulls me into his lap. We stay outside together, sharing my cupcake and kissing until both our lips are swollen and I can barely think straight. Only when the sky starts to lighten do we sneak back inside.
When I’m back in my room, I squeeze in next to Natalya, too giddy with everything that just happened to sleep. We finally put our toes over the line, and there’s no way I’m ever going back. Val’s going to be mine. One day we won’t have to hide, and I’ll be able to kiss him any time I want.
Present Day
The next morning is the same routine of running to the bathroom and losing every last thing I have in my stomach, except this time when I return to my bedroom, it’s not empty. Evgeny is sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me. He lifts his head, blue-green eyes meeting mine as he looks me over, taking in my disheveled, queasy appearance before resting his gaze on my stomach.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” he asks. The question is neutral, no anger or judgment in it, and when all I can do is nod, he sighs and quickly stands, closing the distance so he can wrap me in a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared,” I whisper, squeezing my brother back before he lets me go to sit down again. I take the spot next to him, burrowing even further into the hoodie I snagged from Val’s closet.
“I’m assuming Val knows.”
I quickly nod. “Yes. I told him as soon as I knew for sure.”
Evgeny’s forearms rest on his thighs as he drops his head and lets out another sigh. “I wish you’d told me.”
“I didn’t want to worry you or bother you with it.”
He drags a hand through his short, dark hair and lets out a frustrated sigh before turning his head to face me. “I may be your little brother, but I’m not a kid anymore, Yelena. I’m almost eighteen, and you know what that means in this family. If I’m old enough for that, then I’m old enough to handle this.”
I reach over and squeeze his hand. Just like with Val, it’s impossible for me to imagine my baby brother helping with the Bratva, but I see the hard determination in his eyes, and I know he’d take the oath today if our dad would allow it.
“I know you’re not a kid anymore, Ev. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. How’d you figure it out?”
He squeezes my hand back, giving me a faint hint of a smile. “We share a wall, Sis. I’ve been listening to you throw up every morning this week. You can’t stomach breakfast, but then you mysteriously start feeling better every afternoon. It doesn’t take a genius, and if I figured it out, it’s only a matter of time before Mom and Dad do too.”
I groan and drop my head in my hands. A few seconds later, I feel something soft brush against my arm. Lifting up, I smile when I see my favorite stuffed dog. I take it from him, squeezing the worn-out dog to my chest.
“It’s going to be okay,” Evgeny tells me. “They love Val.”
When I start to argue, he cuts in and says, “But more importantly, they love you .” He gives a soft laugh. “I can’t even imagine them being mad at you or disappointed. I don’t think you’ve ever even been grounded. It’s really annoying, Yel.”
I laugh and bump my shoulder against his. “That’s because I never gave them a reason to, and I don’t remember you getting into trouble either. I’m not the only goody two-shoes around here.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Goody two-shoes my ass. I just know better than to get caught. Plus, you know how they are.”
With a smile I say, “Ridiculously loving and perfect in just about every way?”
“Yes, exactly, and with everything they’ve been through, it makes it damn hard to do anything that would actually disappoint them. They’ve been through enough. The last thing they need is a son who’s an inconsiderate jackass. I could never do that to them.”
“No, instead they get a daughter who got pregnant by the guy who’s been raised as her cousin.”
“No,” Evgeny corrects. “They got a daughter who loves them and who just happened to fall in love with the guy who’s been raised as her cousin, a man, by the way, who they both adore and who would burn the world down for you. You know Dad will respect the hell out of that. You know what he went through for mom, and Val would do the same thing for you. He knows that.”
We both know about what happened before we were born. Our mom was kidnapped by an evil bastard who ran a sex-trafficking ring. He held her captive for two years while our dad and uncles scoured the world looking for her. Once they finally found her, our Uncle Vitaly married the bastard’s sister in an effort to get close to them. Val’s mom was at the mercy of her sick brothers, and my uncle quickly fell in love with her, and she joined our family without a backward glance. They were able to get our mom back, but the whole thing nearly killed our parents, and Evgeny and I may not know all the details, but we know enough. It breaks my heart every time I think about it, and even though a part of me wants to know more, the few times I’ve asked questions, they’ve looked so utterly distraught that I quickly dropped the subject. It’s like asking them to reopen an old wound that’s taken years to heal. I can’t do it. I can’t ask them to slice themselves open and bleed so my curiosity can be appeased.
“Have you done anything horrendous lately? Anything that might make what I’ve done look okay?”
He laughs and nudges my shoulder. “Sorry, sis. You’re the only troublemaker around here. I just found out I’m going to be valedictorian, so mix that with you being pregnant and I can pretty much get away with anything right now. You’re making me look amazing.”
I lift my head, a huge smile spreading across my face. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” he deadpans. “I can literally get away with anything right now.”
“No about you being valedictorian?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “They had to give it to someone. Maybe I’m just in a really dumb graduating class.”
I raise a brow. “Niki and Mia are in the same class.”
Evgeny laughs. “They’re both brilliant in their own ways. Niki could rule the world with his computer skills, and Mia’s about as whip smart as they come, but neither one of them gives a shit about acing their tests. Niki’s been fixing their grades for years, you know that. Without him, I think Mia would’ve already been kicked out, because she truly does not give a shit about school.”
I smile at the mention of our crazy cousin. Sasha’s younger sister is the complete opposite of their older sister Natalya. Mia is dead set on becoming a Bratva member, and I’m not about to bet against her. If anyone can sneak her way into the all-boys club, it’s her.
“I’m so proud of you, Ev. Seriously, valedictorian is a huge accomplishment.” His cheeks turn a little pink at my compliment, reminding me that I’ll always view him as my baby brother, no matter how old he gets. “Are you sure you want to join the family?”
He’s shaking his head to cut me off before I’ve even finished speaking. “It’s not an option, Yelena. I’m joining. Nothing could stop me from doing it.”
“But do you want to?”
Meeting my eyes, he says, “I’m not turning my back on my family. I couldn’t live with myself if I did.”
“I’m not asking you to, but maybe you can do both.”
He raises a brow at me, so I add, “If you want to go to college, then go. Can’t you do both?”
“No one else ever has.”
I bump his arm. “You’re a trailblazer, Ev. Break the mold. Besides, like you said, you can get away with anything after they find out I’m pregnant with Val’s baby.”
He laughs and nudges me back. “I’ll think about it.” Before he stands up, he looks down at me. Even though I’m older, he still towers over me. “You know I’ll help any way I can, right? I love Val like a brother, and I can’t wait to meet my niece or nephew.”
Even though I’m trying like hell to not cry, the shaky breath I let out is a dead giveaway, and when Evgeny hears it, he gives me a side hug and kisses the top of my head. “You’re my big sister, Yelena. I’ll always have your back.”
“And I’ll always have yours,” I tell him, “no matter what you decide to do.”
He gives me one last squeeze before standing up. Before he goes, I ask, “Are you dating anyone? Any juicy gossip I should know about?”
The smile he gives is an easy one, but that pink tint comes back to his cheeks as he gives a soft laugh. “No. I don’t like any of them.”
“Why not?”
“You know how it is there. All they care about is money, and I don’t give a shit about who’s carrying what designer purse.” He gives another soft laugh. “They’re just really mean, and I don’t like mean.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Spoken like a true Bratva boss.”
He laughs before he can stop it. “At least in that world I know what to expect. I’d much rather a jackass criminal who doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what he is. I can’t stand a sweet-looking girl who’s as mean as a snake beneath the facade.”
“You’ll meet the perfect girl when the time is right.”
He shrugs and runs a hand over the back of his neck. “Maybe. For now I’m just focusing on school.” When his phone buzzes, he takes it out and sends a quick reply before saying, “I’m going to meet up with Niki. I’ll probably stay there this weekend, but text me if you need me.”
“I will,” I promise him. “I’m staying over at Max’s new place with Val.”
He tells me to have fun before leaving to pack a bag. I’ve got a few hours to kill before Val comes to get me, and since my stomach hasn’t fully settled down yet, I decide to slip back under the covers and take a nap.
Raspy’s wet nose wakes me up a few hours later. With my eyes still closed, I reach up and scratch him behind the ears.
“You’re such a good boy,” I tell him, peeking my eyes open to meet his golden brown ones. He licks my cheek before sauntering off again. Rasputin always makes the rounds if he hasn’t seen one of us for a few hours. Technically, he’s a service dog for my mom in case she has a panic attack, but I think he’s always viewed all of us as being under his care. He’s the sweetest dog ever, and I’m going to miss him like crazy whenever I move out.
I missed a text from Val while I was napping, and when I read it and see that he’s on his way to get me, I jump up and quickly pack a bag. My mom is out with my aunts and my dad is working, so the apartment is empty when Val comes in.
“I was worried when you didn’t answer me.” He cups my face and slowly runs his eyes over me, making sure I’m okay.
“I fell asleep. If I’m not throwing up, then I’m sleeping,” I tell him. “Being pregnant is awesome.”
He smiles while his thumb caresses my cheek. “Well, you look beautiful pregnant, myshka, and I can’t wait to hold your hair tomorrow morning.”
I groan at the thought while he grabs my bag and then takes my hand, eager to get to Max’s so we can relax and fully let our guard down. When we leave the parking garage, and he takes a right instead of a left, I look over, noticing the sheepish look he’s giving me.
“Don’t be mad, Yel, but we’re taking a detour.”
“To?”
“Dominic’s.”
“Why are we going there?” I ask. It’s not that I don’t want to see my cousin Natalya. It’s just that I had no idea we were doing it.
After a few seconds, he says, “I talked to Tony, and he’s agreed to see us.”
“You told Tony I’m pregnant?”
“Not yet I haven’t. I told him I need to talk to him privately about something, and he agreed to not say anything until after we meet.”
“You realize he probably thinks you have an STD, right?”
Val laughs. “Maybe.” He reaches over to squeeze my hand. “Please, myshka. I need to know that everything is okay. It’s important you see a doctor.”
I know he’s right. I’ve been taking prenatal vitamins, but that’s not the same thing as seeing a doctor. Tony may work for the Alessi Mafia, but he’s a good man, and I know he won’t do anything rash.
With one hand resting on my stomach and the other on Val’s thigh, we make the short drive to the Alessi mansion. Once we’re through his security, we park, but instead of heading for the front door, Val leads me around to the side. Tony’s waiting for us by a side door, and without a word, he motions for us to follow him. I feel like a criminal sneaking into my cousin’s house as we silently make our way into the large room that Dominic’s outfitted into a mini hospital. Dr. Bianchi used to be the only doctor he had, but since he’s in his seventies and mainly retired, they brought Tony in to take over most things. He’s only in his mid-twenties, but he’s handled so many surgeries and has so much experience handling a variety of wounds, from gunshots to pregnant wives, I’d trust him with anything at this point.
As soon as he’s shut the door, he turns around to stare at us. Pushing his dark glasses up, he turns his blue eyes first on Val and then to me. Finally, he smiles and says, “I give up. What are you here for?”
Val smiles, “Well, I’m having a lot of burning and itching,” he starts to say while gesturing towards his crotch.
I gently smack his arm while he laughs and says, “I’m just kidding. I don’t have an STD.”
“Are you sure? Because it’s not a problem to get you tested,” Tony says, fully in doctor mode and still trying to figure out what’s going on.
“If we tell you, do we have doctor-patient privileges?” I ask.
He fixes his glasses again and shakes his head. “No, that’s not how this works. Dominic is my boss. I report to him, and he comes before any oaths I took at med school.”
“But what if this has nothing to do with him?” I try again. The only reason I haven’t told Natalya yet about my pregnancy is because I knew I couldn’t ask her to keep it from her husband—the husband who works very closely with my dad and who happens to be the son-in-law of my Uncle Lev.
Instead of agreeing to not tell, Tony looks me over, trying to find an obvious wound and says, “Tell me what’s going on, Yelena, and then we can decide what to do.”
I look over at Val. His blue eyes are begging me to trust him, so I look back at Tony and say, “I’m pregnant.”
A slight widening of his eyes is the only indication he gives that I’ve shocked the hell out of him, and then it’s gone a second later. He swiftly goes back into doctor mode and points to the exam table in the corner.
“Okay, let’s see what’s going on.”
He starts off with basic things like checking my blood pressure and making sure my oxygen level is good before he hands me a gown and says, “I need you to strip down so I can take a look.”
Val seems less than thrilled when I look up to meet his eyes, but when Tony pulls back the curtain and steps away to give me privacy, he steps closer to help me get undressed. When I’m naked under the gown and sitting back on the table, Val leans down to give me a quick kiss and whispers in my ear, “I’m really going to hate this part.”
I raise a brow when he pulls back. “It was your idea,” I remind him.
He kisses my forehead and hollers to Tony that we’re ready. Stepping through the curtain, he shoots a look at Val and says, “I’m not thrilled about this either, just so you know. Examining Yelena is going to be awkward enough, but you glaring at me while I do it isn’t helping things.”
“I don’t know how to not glare at you when you’re putting your hands on my girl and looking at her while she’s naked,” Val tells him.
“I’m a doctor,” Tony reminds him. “I put my hands on everyone in this family. I had to give three prostate exams last week. It’s not all fun and games working for the mafia,” he says with a laugh.
“Well, just keep your fingers away from my ass, and we’ll be just fine,” Val says, making me laugh.
Tony grins. “I’ll leave you alone until you hit your fifties, then it’s game on.”
“Uh-huh,” Val says, already dreading the upcoming middle-age butt exam.
“Okay, this won’t take long, but I need to do a pelvic and breast exam, and then I need you to pee in a cup for me and I’ll take a little bit of blood.”
“Sounds fun,” I groan.
“I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Val steps closer and takes my hand, kissing the back of it while Tony makes himself comfortable between my legs. I watch Val’s jaw tense and the way his nostrils flare when Tony inserts the speculum. I squeeze his hand, smiling up at him when his blue eyes meet mine. His face softens when I pull his hand closer and kiss it. Tony’s right about it being awkward, but it only lasts a few minutes before he does a quick breast exam and then Val’s closing my gown and Tony’s handing me a cup to pee in.
After I get done, he takes some blood and I get dressed before taking a seat and waiting to hear what he has to say.
“Well, you’re definitely pregnant,” Tony says with a soft laugh, “but I’m guessing you were already a hundred percent sure about that.”
“Yeah, I took a test at home, and I’ve been throwing up every morning.”
“I hate to say it, but that might last a few more months,” he says, and then starts asking me about my last period and any other symptoms I’m having. He hesitates before giving me an apologetic smile and asking, “Is there any doubt about who the father is?”
“I’ve only ever been with Val,” I say, and when I look up, Val gives me a wink and one of his sexy smiles before he says, “And I’ve only ever been with Yelena, so you don’t need to waste time with STD testing or paternity tests. This baby’s mine, and I’m marrying Yelena as soon as she lets me announce it.”
“About that,” Tony starts to say, swiveling in his chair so he’s facing both of us. “I have to tell Dominic. I can’t keep this from him.”
“Let us tell Natalya first,” Val says. “We’ll tell our cousin, and then she can break the news to Dominic. If anyone can get him to keep quiet, it’s her.”
Tony thinks about it and then nods. “Fine, but you have to tell her today before you leave. I’m sorry, but the last thing I want is to get on Dominic’s bad side.”
“I understand,” I quickly tell Tony. “Thanks for agreeing to see us.”
“I’ll help any way that I can. Be sure and keep taking the prenatal vitamins, and let me know if you have any questions or if anything changes.” He brushes back a strand of dark hair that’s fallen onto his forehead and says, “If Dominic is okay with it, I’m more than happy to keep treating you, or I can give you the name of an OB-GYN that I trust.”
“Thanks, Tony.” I take Val’s hand and get to my feet. “I’ll think about it and let you know.” I turn my attention to Val. “Let’s go find Natalya and get this over with.”
He wraps an arm around me and kisses my head. “She’s going to be thrilled, myshka .”
We thank Tony again, but before we go barreling up the stairs, completely unannounced, I send a text to Natalya.
Me:
Are you busy?
Natalya:
Nope. I’m sitting on my ever-widening ass while our son kicks me from the inside and Isabella watches her favorite movie. What’s up? You want to visit?
Me:
Val and I are downstairs. Can we come up and explain?
Natalya:
Weird. Get up here and tell me what’s going on. I’d come down there, but it’d take forever with the waddle I’ve got going on.
I look over at Val. “She said for us to come up. She’s feeling very pregnant today.”
Val smiles and threads his fingers through mine. “I can’t wait until you’re looking very pregnant.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I’m going to get huge.”
He gives me a wink. “I sincerely hope so, myshka .”
I laugh, assuming he’s joking, but the heated look he gives me makes me think he’s not joking at all. “I’m going to put that to the test,” I warn him. “We’ll see if you like it when I’m nine months pregnant and so big I can’t see my feet.”
“Yes, you will. I’ll be the man staring at you with the giant hard-on straining against his pants.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
He rests his hand on my stomach and lets out a soft groan. “Me too.”
We find Natalya in the living room, legs propped up on the ottoman, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly, and the other around the toddler snuggled up against her. As soon as Isabella spots us, she jumps up and runs to us.
“Aunt Yel, Uncle Val,” she squeals, throwing herself against us.
Val laughs and plucks her from the ground, pulling another happy scream from her as he lifts her up into the air and she spreads her arms like she’s flying.
Natalya takes one look at me and motions me over. “I’m sorry. I’d get up, but I can’t move.”
I sit next to her, and when her blue eyes search mine, they soften at whatever it is she sees.
“What’s wrong?”
Before I can answer, Val sits next to me, keeping a giggling Isabella in his lap. He looks over, giving me a do you want me to tell her look. I rest my hand on his thigh, and he quickly covers it with his own, letting me know that we’re in this together.
Instead of passing this over to him, I meet our cousin’s eyes and say, “I’m pregnant.”
Natalya’s eyes widen in shock before they dart to my stomach. “How far along are you?”
“We just saw Tony, that’s the reason we came by today, and he thinks I’m six weeks.”
Natalya wraps her arms around me and then reaches over to squeeze Val’s arm. “I’m here for you both, however you need me to be.” She sits back up, and I’m not at all surprised to see tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe we’re going to be pregnant together. That makes four of us now.”
“I still can’t believe Lara’s pregnant again,” I say. “She’s still nursing Roma.”
Natalya raises a brow at us. “We’re not going to sit here and pretend we all didn’t see how excited that made Luka, right?”
Val laughs. “No, I definitely noticed. He was downright giddy.”
“The man has a kink,” Natalya mutters so Isabella won’t hear.
“I don’t want to know about it,” I say with a groan. “Some things should stay private.”
“Sveta would completely disagree with you,” Natalya says with a laugh. “I take it she already knows about this.” She motions towards my stomach when she asks it, and Val nods.
“Yeah, I told her first. Sorry, Nat. We were going to tell you, but we knew we couldn’t ask you to keep it from Dominic,” Val says.
Natalya sighs and pats her belly. “Let me guess, Tony told you that you had to tell me?”
“He did,” I admit.
She looks over with a grin. “And you’re here to butter me up so I can butter my man up?”
“We’re going to tell everyone,” I say. “I promise. I’m just not ready to do it today.” I nudge her shoulder. “And you know I’d never use you. If you tell Dominic and he feels like he needs to tell everyone, I would never be upset with either of you about it. We’re putting everyone in a very awkward position.”
“Don’t you dare apologize. I’m thrilled for you two. We’ve all known you’re going to get married.” She gives a soft laugh. “Well, us cousins have always known. Our parents are in for a bit of a shocker, but they’ll get over it. They love you both too much to be mad.”
“I hope you’re right, Nat,” I tell her.
“Of course I am.” She says it like there’s no way she could be wrong, and I love her so much for it. “Okay, time to tell Dom.” She looks at Isabella and gives her a big smile. “Can you run down the hall and get Daddy for me, sweetheart?”
Isabella gives an excited smile and quickly wriggles in Val’s lap so she can turn around and climb down. She’s off without a backward glance, hollering for her dad and running with the unbridled enthusiasm that only a toddler can manage. Natalya gives a soft laugh when Dominic appears in record time. He’s holding their daughter with a worried look on his face, all his attention on his wife.
“What’s wrong, principessa ?” He kisses Isabella’s head before setting her down and crossing the room to Natalya. Leaning closer, he rests his hand on her stomach. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”
She smiles up at him and pats his hand. “I’m fine. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just need to talk to you about something, and I’m too tired to waddle down the hall.”
He grins and leans closer to kiss her stomach. “But you look so cute when you waddle.”
She runs a hand through his hair and smiles at him, just as much in love with him as the first day he came back from Italy when she was eighteen. Looking over at us, she says, “If our family can handle me marrying a man who’s more than twice my age, a man they worked with and trusted, then they can handle anything.”
“Your dad very much wanted to kill Dominic if I remember correctly,” Val reminds her.
Dominic scoffs out a laugh. “Lev loves me. He just had conflicting emotions in the beginning.” He turns his eyes to his wife. “Why are you bringing all this up, principessa ?”
“Just remember that I’m very pregnant right now,” she tells him.
“I could never forget that.” He keeps one hand splayed across her round belly and waits for her to speak.
“Yelena is pregnant. Tony just took a look at her, and he insisted they tell you because he didn’t feel comfortable keeping it from you,” she says.
His brown eyes search hers. “Did you know?”
It’s her turn to scoff. She cups his face and says, “I’m going to forgive you for asking that because I know you’re stunned by the news.”
The chastised look on his face would make me laugh in any other circumstance, but I’m still too busy feeling guilty about all this to laugh about my cousin’s ability to bring a mafia don to his knees in seconds.
He leans into her touch and whispers something in Italian. She smiles and says, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Giving her a wink, he kisses her belly before turning his focus on us. He shakes his head in mock disappointment. “What the hell am I going to do with you two?”
“I’m going to tell everyone,” I say.
Val keeps an arm wrapped around me, stroking my shoulder when he says, “We’re getting married, but Yelena wants to wait a little bit longer to tell everyone.”
“Who else knows?” he asks.
“Sveta, and Vitya. I also told Luka, so Lara knows, and Max knows,” Val says.
“Evgeny knows too,” I tell them. When Val lifts a questioning brow, I say, “He was waiting in my room this morning after I got sick. He’s happy for us, but worried about me.”
Val kisses my head and keeps his arm around my shoulder. He surrounds me in his presence just by being close, comforting me without having to say anything.
“I would never do anything to upset my wife,” Dominic says, “and I don’t feel like it’s my place to expose this secret anyway. I’m not going to say anything, but if you want my advice, tell them before you start to show. There’s no reason to put it off, and you’re just causing yourself more stress than necessary by delaying the inevitable.”
“Thanks, Dominic,” I say, giving him a grateful smile. “I’ll tell them soon. I’m not sure when I became such a coward.”
“You’re not a coward,” Val says, pulling me closer. “It’s normal to be scared, and we’re telling them together. You’re not doing any of this by yourself.”
“We’re here when you need us,” Natalya says while Dominic nods and says, “Of course we are. Anytime, no matter what.”
Val and I thank them while I try not to feel guilty about all the sneaking around we’re having to do. I feel like I’m betraying my parents by telling others before I’ve told them, and the weight of the guilt sits heavy on my chest. Val notices the shaky breath I give, and makes the decision that it’s time for us to go. He stands and pulls Isabella in for a hug.
“You’re getting too big,” he tells her. “Stop growing.”
She throws her head back and laughs. I smile as I watch them. I love seeing Val with our nieces and nephews. He’s a natural with them, and I can’t wait to see him with our baby. When he sets Isabella down, she comes running over to give me a hug. Her small arms wrap around my neck, and I savor the moment, knowing Val’s right. She’s growing up way too fast.
“Love you, Bell,” I tell her before kissing her cheek.
“Love you, Aunt Yel.” As soon as she lets me go, she runs to throw herself in her dad’s arms. He scoops her up, not caring that she’s wrinkling the Armani suit he’s wearing. I think she could put sticky toddler fingers all over his expensive clothes, and he’d just smile and tell her he loves her. I’m so happy Natalya found him. She’s everything he needed, and judging by the way he looks at her, he knows it. He may be the don of his mafia, but he’s always made it clear that family comes first. There’s a reason he and my family get along so well. My Uncle Lev had wanted to kill him at first, and I have no doubt in my mind that he would have actually gone through with it if Dominic hadn’t convinced him that he loves Natalya as much as my dad and uncles love their wives.
I hug Natalya, promising to keep her updated on what’s going on before Val and I get back in his car to go to Max’s.
“Thank you,” he says once we’re past security and easing into traffic. “I know it involved us telling more people, but I needed to know you were okay.”
“I know. I feel better, too, after having Tony examine me.”
“Maybe we can find you a female doctor,” Val suggests.
I smile and say, “I would feel more comfortable with a woman, and it would probably be better to get set up with an OB-GYN. What if I go into labor at the same time as one of his men gets shot?”
“They wait while you get taken care of,” he says like there’s no way he would allow any other outcome than me taking precedence.
“And that’s exactly why I should probably find another doctor. I don’t want Tony to have to make that decision.”
“He won’t be making any decision,” Val says. “I’ve just made it for him.”
I smile over at him. He’s always been protective, and I’ve always loved every second of it. I watch him drive, trying not to worry about what’s to come, but as soon as we pull up to the brick house with the wrought iron security gate, I relax, already excited about the next two days of uninterrupted Val time.
He stops the car in front of the locked gate and rolls down his window to type in the security code, and because this is Niki’s older brother, there’s also a fingerprint scanner and a hidden camera that’s running Val’s photo through an intricate program that Niki created. He has all our photos on file, and the heavy gate in front of us won’t open unless the face looking into the camera matches one of those photos.
After several seconds, a green light appears and the gates slowly start to swing open. Val parks his car next to Max’s, and gives me one of his sexy grins before grabbing my bag and getting out.
He opens my door and offers me his hand. “Come on, myshka . I get two uninterrupted days with you, and I plan on using every second of them.”