Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Leah
Harper's trademark high-pitched voice blasted through the phone.
"Leah Carter! So you finally remembered I exist!" She launched right in. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since you called me? How long! And how's the baby?"
Hearing that familiar, energetic roar somehow loosened the tension coiled inside me. I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm sorry, I've been... a little busy lately. The baby's good, three months now. Doctor says everything's healthy."
But even as I said it, I felt guilty.
When I'd decided to pretend to be Roman's wife, I had no idea where things would go.
I was afraid of dragging Harper into it, afraid I'd blow my cover the second I opened my mouth. So for over a month, I'd barely reached out, only sending her vague messages now and then to let her know I was alive.
I knew perfectly well that with Harper's temper, she'd make me pay for this sooner or later.
"Do you know how worried I've been!" she said indignantly. "I was starting to think you'd been sold off to Siberia."
"I'm fine, really." I softened my voice. "Harper, I wasn't trying to avoid you. I just... for a while there, I wasn't sure my situation was safe. I didn't want to drag you into it."
Silence on the other end for a few seconds.
"You mean..." Harper's voice turned careful. "That mob boss isn't treating you right?"
"No, no. It's not that." I rushed to explain. "He treats me well. It's just... complicated."
Another long silence.
"Fine." Harper finally sighed, giving in. "I can probably guess some of that godforsaken mob drama. But that doesn't mean I'm not pissed, Leah."
"I know. It's my fault."
"Next time you pull a disappearing act, I swear I'm driving straight to that damn estate on Long Island and kicking your ass right in front of your mobster husband!"
"Okay, okay, I promise, never again."
"That's more like it." Harper's voice finally mellowed.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
But then the tension crept back. I'd called to tell Harper about Roman and me, but I had no idea how to start.
"So..." I hedged, changing the subject. "How have you been? Work going okay?"
"Me? How do you think?" Harper's voice shot up instantly, dripping with resentment. "Other than being tracked 24/7 by a goddamn humorless bodyguard, everything's just fucking peachy!"
I sat bolt upright in bed.
"What? Bodyguard? Who sent him?"
"Your mobster husband sent him!" Harper said, voice full of complaint. "He says he's there to protect me, but I think he's spying on me!"
"Wait." I sat up, my heart suddenly racing. "Harper, has he hurt you? What's he done?"
"What? No!" Harper said. "Leah, you've got it wrong. He hasn't hurt me, he's really just... protecting me."
"Who?" I pressed. "What's his name?"
"Nick," Harper said. "Nick Morozov."
Nick.
My mind scrambled for the name. Nick, Roman's right-hand man, the silent killer always at his side. I'd heard Roman mention him—Nick was the person Roman trusted most, besides Sergei.
I took a deep breath, suddenly connecting dots I'd missed before.
The wound on Roman's shoulder, the sudden surge of guards at the estate, and now he'd sent his most capable lieutenant to protect my friend...
Roman's situation was clearly far more dangerous than what I could see.
"Listen, Harper, I can't explain much over the phone." I lowered my voice, dead serious. "But you need to listen to Nick. Don't ditch him."
"I know, I know." Harper groaned on the other end.
"But Leah, you don't understand! He follows me everywhere! Even when I go to the bathroom, he stands outside the ladies' room with that dead look on his face! My coworkers are starting to look at me weird."
An image instantly formed in my mind—Nick, nearly six-three, radiating don't-fuck-with-me energy, dressed in a sharp suit, probably armed, standing like a grim reaper outside the ladies' room.
I couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
I could picture it perfectly. Harper's hot temper and Nick's stubborn silence—they were a disaster waiting to happen.
"If you really can't stand it, want me to talk to Roman?" I suggested, fighting back laughter. "Maybe he can send someone less conspicuous?"
The rapid-fire complaining stopped cold.
"That's not necessary." A few seconds later, Harper's voice turned flustered, defensive. "I don't really... hate him that much."
I raised an eyebrow, picking up on something.
"So..." I drew out the word, testing the waters. "You actually don't want him to leave?"
Harper sighed heavily on the other end. "I just think... he's on duty 24/7 following me around. That's too much strain. Anyone would burn out. I'm just... from a humanitarian standpoint, worried about him."
My eyes lit up as realization hit.
"Oh my God." I covered my mouth. "Harper Reed, do you have a thing for him?"
"What? No!"
Then I heard a crash, like her phone had hit the floor.
"Shit—wait—" Harper's flustered voice came through, followed by rustling sounds.
A few seconds later, her voice returned, furious.
"I do not!"
I couldn't help laughing.
"Harper Reed, you betrayed me." I faked seriousness. "We promised to tell each other first thing if we liked someone."
"I didn't betray you!" Harper held firm. "And I'm telling you again, I do not like that cold block of wood!"
"Really?"
"Fine! Fine! Fuck!" Harper finally cracked. "Maybe... just a little bit."
"I knew it!" I jumped off the bed, excited. "Spill! How far have you two gotten? Holding hands? Kissing?"
Harper sighed again. Then, long silence.
So long I thought the call had dropped, so long I had to push again.
"Harper, we promised. No lying to each other."
She finally spoke.
"Okay." She said. "There was... one messy night."
"What?" I shrieked. "You two—"
"Enough! Don't ask!" Harper cut me off, voice full of embarrassment. "Anyway, it just... happened. But it was an accident! I was drunk!"
"Oh my God," I said, but inside, relief washed over me.
I'd always worried about Harper.
Harper was like my sister. All these years, she'd always worried about me, cleaning up the messes in my life, rarely thinking about herself. Now, finally, she'd found something for herself. I was genuinely happy for her.
And honestly, thinking back on Nick, my impression of him had always been good—a man of few words, but solid enough to trust with your back.
As for what Roman had said about "Nick being my best fighter"...
Well. Ignore that detail and he was perfect.
"Okay, your turn," Harper said, obviously deflecting. "What's going on with you and your mobster husband?"
My smile froze instantly.
"We..." I fumbled. Great, now it was my turn to stammer.
"Don't give me that hemming and hawing. Just tell me—have you two slept together?" Harper went straight for it.
"We've had..." I gave up resisting, feeling my face burn as I fanned myself desperately. "We've had... several nights."
"Oh my God!" Harper screamed. "Details! I need details!"
"I am absolutely not giving you details!"
"At least tell me how he is? Size? Technique?"
"Harper!"
"Okay, okay, I'll stop." She laughed, then her voice turned gentle. "But honestly, Leah, I'm glad to hear it. You're finally moving forward. And let's be real—the baby's father is him anyway, so you've basically skipped all the steps."
I went quiet.
"That's what worries me." I took a deep breath. "I haven't told him about the baby yet."
"Why not? If you're together and the baby's his, isn't that good news?"
"It's complicated. Roman really hates being lied to." I said, my voice starting to shake. "Harper, I'm afraid he won't forgive me."
Long silence on the other end.
"Leah." She said. "Meet me now. The usual place. We need to talk."
The café was tucked in an alley downtown, hidden, quiet. We used to come here all the time—back when I was still with Trent, back when my life wasn't the mess it is now.
I pushed open the door, looked around, and spotted Harper already there, sitting in the corner, scrolling through her phone.
She looked up, saw me, and immediately stood with open arms.
"Leah!"
I rushed over and fell into her embrace.
Sinking into that familiar hug, my nose stung.
This past month, alone in that gilded estate, playing a role that wasn't mine, stretched so tight I might snap—until this moment, wrapped in Harper's arms, I realized how long it had been since I could truly breathe.
Familiar. Safe. Like a ship that had been adrift forever, finally finding shore.
"You look good." Harper released me, looking me up and down. "Guess the sex life's working out."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling.
Around Harper, I never had to pretend.
I coughed and admitted defeat.
"Not bad."
The second the words left my mouth, I caught movement from the corner of my eye—
A tall figure in a black suit, sitting quietly behind the sofa.
Nick.
He was sitting less than ten feet behind us. Which meant he'd probably heard every word of our conversation.
"Hey, Nick." I waved awkwardly at the back of his head, my toes curling.
Nick looked up, nodded slightly at me, his face expressionless as always.
"Nick, can you move somewhere else?" Harper waved him off impatiently. "Give us some space, thanks."
Nick glanced at her, stood without a word, and walked toward the other end of the café.
Though "moved" was generous—he'd only retreated far enough that he couldn't overhear our whispers. That was it.
"He really cares about you." I nudged Harper's shoulder.
Harper immediately nudged back.
"Let's talk business." Harper dropped onto the sofa. "How are you going to tell Roman?"
At that question, I rubbed my temples in pain.
"I don't know," I said. "I've thought of a hundred opening lines. None of them work."
"Then just say it," Harper said. "'Hey Roman, guess what, this baby's actually yours.'"
"That sounds terrible."
"Got a better idea?"
I sighed.
"No."
"Leah, listen." Harper put her hand over mine. "You just need to tell him the truth. Tell him why you hid it, tell him what you're afraid of, tell him you love him. The rest is up to him."
"What if he doesn't forgive me?"
"Then at least you won't be living a lie anymore," Harper said. "And honestly, I don't think he won't forgive you."
I looked down at my reflection in the coffee cup.
"I don't have that confidence."
"But you have to try," Harper said. "For yourself, for your baby. Leah, what do you want?"
"What?"
"What do you want?" she repeated. "Do you want to leave in a year, take the baby, go back to that lonely life? Or do you want a real home?"
Yes, I wanted that. I'd always wanted a home. A real, warm home of my own.
"Of course I want it. It's what I've always wanted." I said quietly.
"Then fight for it," Harper said. "Tell him the truth, tell him you love him. For yourself, for your baby—be brave just once."
I took a deep breath and nodded, finally deciding.
"Okay. I'll tell him today."
Harper squeezed my hand, smiling with relief.
"Good. I'm proud of you, my girl."
We drank our coffee and talked a while longer—about Mira, about the ridiculous décor at the estate, about nothing important.
Time always flew with old friends. Half an hour passed in a blink.
"I should go." I stood. "Mira's waiting."
"Leah." Harper stood too, hugging me again. "Everything's going to be okay."
"I hope so." I closed my eyes, hugging her back.
After we separated, I turned toward the door.
Nick reached it first, pushing open the heavy wooden door for me.
I stopped, looking up at this tower of a man.
"Take care of her." I looked into his eyes, serious.
Nick looked down at me and nodded.
"I will, ma'am," He said.
I nodded and walked out of the café with peace of mind.
The sunlight outside was blinding. I squinted and saw a black car parked nearby. The driver stood beside it, saw me, and nodded.
I took a deep breath and started walking toward it.
In my head, I kept rehearsing what I'd say to Roman.
I took another deep breath, my steps growing more certain.
Then a black car suddenly shot out from around the corner, screeching to a stop right in front of me.
I jumped back instinctively.
The door opened.
Someone stepped out.
"Hey, babe." The person smiled at me. "Long time no see."
When I saw that face, my blood turned to ice.
Trent.