Chapter 22 - Zara
My hands tremble as I take the small paper bag from Abram. His steel-gray eyes bore into mine, but I’m afraid to decipher what he might be thinking.
Nervously, I avert my gaze.
"Are you ready for this, Zara?" he asks softly.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The weight of the pregnancy tests feels impossibly heavy in my grasp. To imagine that my life—our life—could change in a matter of seconds…
Abram cups my face gently, forcing me to look at him. "Whatever the result, we face it together. You trust me, don’t you?”
His possessive words send a shiver down my spine. I lean into his touch for a moment before pulling away. "I'll be right back," I whisper.
The bathroom door closes behind me with a soft click. I lean against it, my heart pounding so loudly I'm sure Abram can hear it through the wood. With shaking fingers, I pull out the tests and carefully read the instructions.
"You can do this," I mutter to myself. "Just pee on the stick. Easy."
But nothing about this situation is easy. Not the way I fell into Abram's world. Not the intensity of our connection after just one passionate night. And certainly not the possibility that I might be carrying the child of Moscow's most feared Bratva boss.
I take a deep breath and follow the test instructions precisely. As I wait for the results, a thousand thoughts race through my mind. Am I ready to be a mother? Is Abram ready to be a father? How can we possibly raise a child in his dangerous world?
I hear Abram's heavy footsteps pacing back and forth outside the bathroom door. The floorboards creak rhythmically under his weight, showing his growing concern. His shadow passes beneath the door every few seconds, a constant reminder of his looming presence.
"Zara?" His deep voice, usually so commanding, now carries a hint of vulnerability. "Is everything alright in there?"
I take a shaky breath, my fingers tracing the edge of the pregnancy test. "I'm fine, Abram. Just… give me a moment, please."
"Of course," he replies rather quickly.
I clear my throat, trying to steady my voice. "Actually, Abram, I think it's best if you wait outside. I want to check the results alone first."
There's a pause, and I can almost feel his hesitation through the door. "Are you sure?" he asks hesitantly.
"Yes," I say, more firmly this time. "I need this moment to myself. I promise I'll tell you everything soon."
I hear him sigh. "As you wish. I'll be right here when you're ready."
I wait for his retreating footsteps but don’t hear them. Of course he won’t leave, I think to myself ruefully. But for now, he is giving me the silence I so crave.
As his presence fades into the background, I turn back to the tests laid out before me, my heart racing. The next few minutes will change everything, and I need this solitude to face whatever truth awaits me.
The silence in the bathroom is deafening, broken only by the erratic beating of my heart. Each second feels like an eternity as I stare at the tests, willing them to reveal the answer. My mind races, a whirlwind of possibilities and fears.
"What if…" I whisper to myself, unable to finish the thought. I close my eyes, remembering the night that brought me here—Abram's touch, his intense gaze, the way he made me feel so alive. So wanted.
What if he isn’t prepared for a child?
A soft thud outside startles me. I can picture Abram, his broad shoulders tense, leaning against the wall. His protective nature must be in overdrive right now.
"Zara," his voice comes through, strained with worry. "I know you asked for privacy, but… I need to know you're alright."
I swallow hard, my throat tight. "I'm okay, Abram. Just… nervous."
"Let me in, please," he pleads, a rare vulnerability in his tone. "We should face this together."
My hand hovers over the doorknob. Part of me yearns for his strength, but another part needs this moment alone. "Not yet," I manage to say. "Please, just a little longer."
I hear a soft thud—his forehead against the door, perhaps? "You're killing me, Zara," he murmurs, his words laced with both frustration and tenderness.
Turning back to the tests, I take a deep breath. With trembling hands, I reach for the first test. My heart pounds so loudly that I'm sure Abram can hear it through the door. As I turn it over, my eyes widen and my breath catches in my throat. A clear, undeniable positive sign stares back at me.
"Oh my God," I whisper, my voice barely audible.
I grab the second test, then the third. Positive. Positive. The room starts to spin as the reality sinks in. I'm pregnant. With Abram's child.
Fear and awe war within me as I press a hand to my still-flat stomach. How can something so tiny already be changing everything?
Outside, I hear Abram's footsteps quicken, pacing back and forth. His agitation is palpable, even through the closed door. I can picture him running his hands through his dark hair, his jaw clenched with worry.
"Zara," he calls out, his deep voice strained. "Please… The suspense is killing me."
I want to respond, to reassure him, but words fail me. My mind races with a thousand thoughts. How will this change us? Are we ready? Will Abram be happy or…?
"I swear, if you don't come out soon, I'll break down this door," Abram threatens, though I hear the underlying concern in his tone.
Despite everything, a small smile tugs at my lips. My fierce, impatient Bratva King. Always ready to conquer any obstacle—even a bathroom door—to protect what's his.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. Whatever happens next, our lives will never be the same.
***
I step out of the bathroom, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me. Abram's eyes lock onto mine instantly, his piercing gaze searching my face for any hint of the test's outcome. The way he stares at me nearly takes my breath away.
"Zara," he breathes, his voice a mix of hope and trepidation. "Tell me."
I open my mouth to speak, but the words catch in my throat. My heart pounds so loudly that I'm sure he must hear it. How do I tell this man—a man who never asked for this—that he's going to be a father?
"I…" I start, my voice trembling. I swallow hard and try again. "Abram, I'm… we're…"
His brow furrows, concern etching deeper lines into his rugged face. He takes a step closer, his large hands coming to rest on my shoulders. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine.
"Tell me, Zara," he murmurs, his thumbs tracing soothing circles on my skin.
I take a deep breath, my eyes never leaving his. "I'm pregnant," I whisper, the words hanging in the air between us.
For a moment, Abram goes completely still. I hold my breath, a hundred emotions warring within me. Is he upset? I can’t expect me to be happy about this, after all. We’ve never even spoken about kids, let alone any form of a future together. Just when I’m about to question if he even feels about me the way I do for him, his eyes widen, and a myriad of emotions flash across his face—shock, disbelief, and something else I can't quite name.
"Pregnant?" he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're sure?"
I nod, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Three tests. All positive."
This wasn't planned; it wasn't even something we'd discussed. And yet, here we are, on the precipice of something life-changing.
"Abram," I say softly, searching his face for any sign of how he's feeling. "Please say something."
Abram's eyes suddenly light up, a smile spreading across his face that I've never seen before. It's pure joy, unbridled and raw. Before I can react, he pulls me into a tight embrace, his strong arms enveloping me completely.
"Zara," he breathes into my hair, his voice thick with emotion. "My Zara. We're going to be parents."
I melt into his warmth, relief washing over me. "You're… you're happy?" I ask, my voice muffled against his chest.
He pulls back slightly, cupping my face in his hands. "Happy doesn't begin to cover it, my love. I never thought… I never dared to dream…"
His words trail off as he leans in to kiss me, his lips soft yet urgent against mine. I can feel the tremor in his hands, the rapid beat of his heart echoing my own.
When we finally part, both breathless, Abram's eyes are shining with unshed tears. "I love you," he says, his thumb brushing across my cheek. "Both of you."
Suddenly, he stiffens, a look of determination crossing his face. "Wait," he says, reaching into his pocket. "Not like this. There's something I need to do."
My breath catches as he pulls out a small velvet box, his hands trembling slightly as he opens it to reveal a stunning diamond ring. It’s huge—incredibly huge. It glitters in the soft light of our bedroom, a promise made tangible.
"Abram," I gasp, my heart racing. "What are you…?"
My eyes widen in shock as Abram slowly lowers himself to one knee, his gaze never leaving mine. The vulnerability in his eyes, so unlike his usual commanding presence, makes my heart skip a beat.
"Zara," he begins, his voice low and husky. "I’ve been carrying this ring around for days now. I know I'm not an easy man to love. My world is dangerous, complicated. But you… you've brought light into the darkness I've known for so long."
I feel tears welling up in my eyes as he continues, his words washing over me like a warm tide.
"I can't promise you a perfect life, Darling. But I swear to you, I will protect you and our child with everything I am. Will you marry me?"
My breath catches in my throat. This fierce, powerful man is offering me his heart, laid bare before me. In this moment, I see not the feared Bratva leader, but simply Abram—my Abram.
"Yes," I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. My knees begin to tremble, and my hand shakes as I put it forward in front of him. "Yes, I'll marry you."
My voice hitches in my throat as tears stream down my eyes.
As he slips the ring onto my finger, I add softly, "You know, we don't need all this. The ring, the proposal… All that matters is us, our love."
Abram rises, pulling me close. "I know. But you deserve the world, and I intend to give it to you. In fact, this isn’t how I planned to propose to you. I wanted to whisk you away, to give you the perfect proposal."
“There’s no moment more perfect than this,” I whisper. I lean into him, breathing in his familiar scent. In this moment, wrapped in his arms with our future growing inside me, I feel truly, completely safe.
Abram's strong arms encircle me, his warmth seeping into my very bones. I press my ear against his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat. It's a rhythm I've come to know intimately, one that now syncs with my own.
"Can you believe it?" I murmur, my voice muffled against his shirt. "A baby… and now we're engaged."
His hand moves to cup my face, tilting it up toward his. His steel-gray eyes, usually so cold and calculating, are as warm as a summer lake somewhere.
"I love you, Zara," he whispers, his accent thicker with emotion. "More than I ever thought possible."
I reach up, tracing the angles of his chin. "I love you too, Abram. All of you—the good, the bad, the complicated."
He chuckles, a low rumble in his chest. "Complicated is an understatement."
"I know," I say, a small smile playing on my lips. "But it's our complicated. And now…"
I guide his hand to my still-flat stomach, watching as wonder spreads across his face.
"Now we have this," he finishes, his voice filled with awe.
He looks back up at me and leans down. I close my eyes as his lips meet mine. This time, he kisses me slowly and sweet.