Chapter 12 - Dominik
To me, hospitals were all the same: sterile walls, the smell of antiseptic. Not that I had ever done a thing to warrant a night here. No. Not sickness, nor a bullet—I was good at avoiding both.
Doctors and nurses were in the business of saving lives, a stark contrast from what the Mafia, at its worst, was all about.
Being here felt strange, as nothing ever brought me. I had a personal physician, and he always came to me if I ever had need of him. I had suggested the same thing for Maya, but for some reason, she’d wanted to come here. So we did.
I moved to the window to watch the cars riding into and out of the parking lot, not forgetting the stunt I had just pulled off. However, I couldn’t let those thoughts distract me; my job, after all, was to safeguard those under my protection.
As I sat there, however, waiting patiently, my mind drifted back to a different place and time, in which this wasn’t such boring a task. It would’ve been just another job, really.
But one without Maya.
It was torture; she was my world now.
I wanted her. And not just for her body, either—no matter that the mere sight of it always shattered my control. No, it wasn’t just that I wanted her for her body; I wanted her for her presence, too. I wanted her to be where I was—couldn’t stomach the idea of her ever falling into a dangerous situation like that ever again.
Fuck, just remembering the way her body had trembled in fear roused a rage inside of me that would only be sated with spilled blood. The thought that another man put his hands on her…
I wanted this woman in my bed, and the rest of my house, too, I realized with surprise. I wanted her where I could watch her, keep her safe. Where only I could care for her.
Imagining anyone else taking care of her and the child in her belly didn’t sit well with me, either. No. I fucking hated it.
Yet, she had her reservations about me.
I didn’t mind. I may be the Bratva boss—strong willed and fearless, yes—but I wasn’t some kind of monster. I wasn’t going to hurt anyone without reason, especially Maya. She made everything so much easier.
I knew her hesitance wouldn’t last long, though. She’d certainly liked me well enough before she knew what the hell I was, but it would only be a matter of time before she accepted that, as well.
After all, she had yet to meet the rest of my family and friends, and I know they didn’t all seem like monsters… just people like me, with a few extra sides thrown in. I would expect her not to forget that.
But, maybe, this was an exception to make. Maybe she needed space to think things through for herself first, and we could take our time together until she decided to trust me.
That plan, however, depended on Maya. For, in this life, I was the only one who she could really trust— she just didn’t know it yet. If only she knew what it must have meant, how hard I’d worked to protect everyone she cared for.
Now she was stuck with me: the big bad wolf. I’d just have to work harder, then, both to keep her safe and to convince myself I wasn’t falling hopelessly deeper for her than what would be considered normal.
But even then… It’d still hurt me to lose her—especially since, for reasons she didn’t know yet, she was starting to accept me for who I was. That was what I had to fight to maintain. To be honest, I wasn’t sure she wanted to admit it yet.
Even if her feelings for me were headed in the right direction, I knew it would be difficult to tell. Then again… maybe she just wasn’t comfortable admitting she was attracted to people like me, let alone the boss of the Bratva.
In any case, it didn’t matter. We were in this together, no matter what came next; if the worst happened, we would still be together.
I mean, come on. How could she not see that by now? I wasn’t asking her to give up everything—not yet, anyway. I just needed her to realize how important this whole thing was to me, our bond. So, I’d start working harder, being nicer, and making sure to keep myself available to her whenever she needed it. She deserved that much, at least.
Then it hit me. This is my chance. My one shot at getting this situation resolved, and keeping Maya and me together.
Soon, the door opened, and I turned to see the doctor make his way towards Maya; she lay on her back, resting, with the beeping of monitors relaying the stability of her body. I couldn’t hear what the doctor said, but I saw his lips move, and she responded in kind. When they stopped talking, he looked over toward me before turning back to the conversation.
I moved closer to listen to what they were saying.
“An ache, you said?”
Maya nodded while I watched silently.
The doctor made a flurry of movements with his hand as he jotted something down on his pad, then walked around her. He applied a gelatinous substance to Maya’s protruding belly, then ran an ultrasound test.
Images of Maya’s womb flickered on the screen while I moved closer to witness the life within her.
The doctor studied the screen for a minute or two. Eventually, he said, “Well, mother and baby seem to be in the pink. No issues whatsoever.” He nodded, smiling, and looked to his pad, scribbling. “However, I have some news.”
Maya’s hand reached for mine, seemingly on instinct, and she squeezed tight. I examined her face, seeing the carefully-concealed apprehension there.
The doctor looked up. “From what’s seen on the scanner, you don’t just have one baby.”
I squinted at the doctor, waiting for him to elaborate.
“You’re carrying twins!” He beamed at us.
I arched an eyebrow, wondering if this was some kind of joke. Was he trying to make the mood lighter or something?
“Twins?” I heard Maya say, as though from a great distance.
“Yes, twins,” the doctor confirmed, his eyes darting to me nervously. “If you look at the scanner, you just might see them.”
I had processed many different kinds of news—of loss, of wins, of bad business deals, of good partnerships. This, however, was news I wasn’t sure that I could process.
I looked between the doctor and Maya again, trying to find any signs to assure me that all this was a joke and not real life. She was expecting twins. Twins. I wanted to say something, anything, to comfort her, but I couldn’t think of a single word.
So, I did what I normally do in situations like these: I waited.
Ever since I’d discovered Maya’s pregnancy, it had been my sole duty to protect and look after her. Now, instead of one child, I would have two.
With the quiet dignity of a sinking stone in water, we accepted the news.
Back in the car, after I helped Maya into the back seat, I sat next to her and gestured for the driver to take us home
The engine came to life, and slowly, we rolled away from the hospital premises. As we passed the front gates, moving out onto the open road, I felt an unusual calm settle upon my heart.
The sun shone, and I took in the freshness of the air that filled my lungs, the sounds of nature, as we drove. The journey was pleasant enough, but Maya kept glancing over at me, seeming worried about something.
I knew her well enough to guess what she was feeling, and I was sure it would come out eventually.
“I can’t believe this,” I said.
“Neither can I,” Maya replied.
I turned to Maya to give her the reality of things. “Maya, news will get out that you’re carrying my children. My blood. You’ll be a target. These children will be targets. My enemies will do everything in their power to tear us apart. This means your old life is gone, for you’ll always be in danger. I alone can see to your safety. So you will live with me.”
It was an order, one I expected to be obeyed without question.
However, Maya seemed eager to test me. She opened her mouth, but before she could voice any protests, I grabbed her jaw.
“This is for your protection, little mouse. Yours and my children’s. I am not giving you a choice in the matter. Do not challenge me.” I put finality in my tone. I only had so much patience, after all.
The expression on Maya’s face told of internal struggle. The urge to be left alone. To enjoy her sweet freedom. However, before long, her chin relaxed as she sighed.
“Okay. I will allow you to keep me safe for the sake of the children.”
It wasn’t much of a choice for either of us, really. Maya would stay by my side. We would raise their children together. I’d known she wouldn’t be able to resist that idea.
Now, she wouldn’t be alone. She’d have me to help her in every way possible. She would have the love she longs for—and the security she knew was needed to keep her and our children safe.
With each second we spend together, she will grow closer to me and the children. In truth, it will give her some peace to know she has my protection.
“Agreed. Just know that your life won’t be easy,” I warned her. “There will be moments where it will be very hard. However, while it may be difficult, you won’t be the only one fighting for yourself and your child. I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll survive,” she said, chuckling. Her face softened, but then, a strange glint came into her eyes. “Just promise me that whatever happens, you won’t let anyone take me again.”
I leaned forward. “Of course.” I kissed her cheek softly. “No one else will have you. I wasn’t joking when I said you were mine.”
We fell silent as the car drove through the busy streets of New York City with the sounds of traffic rushing around us.