Chapter 18 - Ninel
After Artyom stormed out, I crawled into bed and broke. Sobs ripped through me until I had no strength left. A moment later, Kira slipped into the room and onto the mattress, pulling me into her arms. My head swam, my body drained, and somewhere in the safety of her embrace, exhaustion claimed me.
When I opened my eyes again, sunlight spilled across the room. Kira was curled up in the armchair, a novel resting in her lap. The moment she noticed I was awake, she set the book aside and moved to sit beside me.
“How are you feeling, Ninel?” she asked softly, her warm fingers closing around mine.
My eyes stung with fresh tears.
“Oh, Ninel…please don’t cry.”
But how could I not? Artyom had been furious about the pregnancy. I’d been right all along. He didn’t want this child. Our child.
“I’m pregnant. That’s why he’s angry,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “He doesn’t want the baby…”
Kira gasped. “Did he say that to you? Did he actually say he didn’t want it?”
“No. But why else would he react like that?”
Kira shook her head gently. “Katya told me when Lev found out she was pregnant, he left the room too. Maybe Artyom is just…overwhelmed.”
“Kira, you didn’t see the way he looked at me.” My voice cracked, a sob clawing up my throat. “There was hate in his eyes. Pure hate. Like I was an annoying insect he wanted to crush under his boot.”
“Ninel…he was angry. The way he stormed in here…” Kira paused. She looked at me. “Did he find out on his own? Or did you tell him?”
“He found out on his own. But, is that enough reason to act the way he did?”
Tears blurred everything again, and Kira pulled me against her.
“Maybe that’s why he’s upset, because you didn’t tell him.”
“I was trying to figure out how,” I said between sobs. “I was scared. I didn't know if he would accept the baby, but seeing him storm out…” I looked up at Kira, my chest tightening. “I don’t want to bring a child into the world if it’s hated.”
“Ninel, you will love your baby. And so will I, and our brothers and sisters. Please, don’t ever doubt that.”
Kira hesitated, as though deciding whether or not to share what was on her mind. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, almost reluctant. “Artyom didn’t grow up like the rest of us.”
“What…what do you mean?” I sniffled.
“Our parents never treated him the way they treated us. If any of us, including our mother ever tried to hug him, or be kind to him Father would yank him away. He thought affection would make him weak. I’ve never seen them celebrate his birthday, and on Christmas morning, he was never there to open presents with the rest of us… ”
I thought of my own childhood, of how my parents treated me and my siblings. Lev had always been protective, yes, but our parents never tried to harden him with cruelty.
“I hate that he had to go through that,” I whispered.
And I meant it. No child should be made to feel like an outcast in their own family, especially not in the Bratva where family was everything.
“We hated it too,” Kira said quietly. “I don’t remember much, I was only six when our parents died.
But Yegor and Zahkar do. They had good memories of Artyom before everything changed.
After our parents were gone, he was different.
Yegor and Zahkar raised Vera and me, while Artyom…
he had something to prove to the brotherhood and the world.
He never laid a hand on Vera or me, but he did whip Zahkar and Yegor if they made mistakes. ”
I gasped, eyes wide. “But those are his brothers! Why would he do that?”
“Because it’s about showing dominance in our world. If Artyom could be cruel to his own siblings, then everyone else knew he wouldn’t hesitate to be cruel to them. It made people think twice before trying to double-cross him.”
“That sucks…”
“It does.” The sadness in Kira’s voice broke my heart.
“The closest Vera and I ever got to Artyom was after the truce was called.”
Hearing more about Artyom’s past, I understood him better. But it also confirmed what I’d already suspected, he probably didn’t want kids because of what he’d been through. And if he died…Yegor would step in to become the faction leader.
“I think I’ll have to abort the baby…” I squeezed the words past my throat, almost gagging on them.
Kira’s eyes widened. “Ninel! No! You can’t. Please…” She drew in a shaky breath. “Artyom may not be the most caring or loveable man, but he’s not the same man he used to be, not since you came into his life.”
I frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“Yegor and Zakhar have noticed it too. He smiles when he thinks no one’s watching, and comes home more.
Before he'd spend weeks at a time at headquarters always trying to stay above the other factions. And…” She hesitated, lowering her voice.
“Artyom asked me for a favor. He has never asked me for anything. I heard the worry in his voice when he asked me to look after you. I’ve never heard him like that before… ”
I didn’t want to believe any of it. This was a man who’d pretended to like everyone for an entire year just to extract revenge.
“From the look in your eyes, you don’t believe me.
But, Ninel, I think you’re good for Artyom.
You’re exactly what he needs…someone to keep him grounded, to call him out on his bullshit.
And a child with Artyom? Lev and the others won’t be so furious, won’t be looking for a way to kill him after the stunt he pulled with you.
They’d never dare harm the father of their niece or nephew. ”
Kira looked at me wanting me to understand what she wasn't saying. Would my brothers really kill Artyom because he married me without their consent?
Jaroslav definitely will. And he'll find a way to make it look like an accident. Hell, they'd be lucky if they even found his body.
She took my hand in hers. “Maybe this is what we need to bring our families back together. I know it sounds like cheap blackmail, and I know the choice is ultimately yours, but…please, think about it.”
I nodded slowly.
Kira smiled faintly. “We’ll let Artyom cool off for a couple of days, and I’ll ask if you can come to the mansion. We need to rally the troops. I’ll invite Katya, Vera, and Mariya.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I needed my sisters now more than ever. I only prayed my brothers would let them come. Closing my eyes, I sent up a desperate prayer. I couldn’t get through this without them.
Two days passed without a glimpse of Artyom. I spent the time with Kira, talking endlessly, and trying to keep busy to push down my nerves. Yegor and Zahkar had even stopped by to check in. Neither of us breathed a word about the pregnancy.
On the third morning, Kira went to arrange breakfast in the gazebo.
Ten minutes later, Artyom stormed into the bedroom, catching me in nothing but my bra and panties.
His gaze swept over me, lingering on my stomach before his eyes locked on mine.
Heat crawled up my neck as I grabbed the dress I was about to put on and clutched it against my body.
“Kira said she wants to take you to the mansion,” he said, voice cold. “I’ll allow it. She also wants to invite the other women. Since your brothers already know about our marriage, I suppose it was only a matter of time before our sisters found out.”
As he stalked toward me, I instinctively backed away until my spine hit the wall. He closed the distance in a heartbeat, his hand rough around my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his.
“If you do anything stupid…like run off with your sisters to the Safin family mansion…or tell them about your pregnancy or that you've been ill, I’ll sell Kira to the highest bidder. I've already warned Kira that what happens in my house stays in my house. Do you understand?”
My stomach twisted violently. I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my throat. All I could do was nod. His grip loosened, and without another word, he turned and walked out.
With shaking hands, I yanked the dress over my head. By the time Kira returned with a bright smile, I was already beneath the covers, crying silently. There was no way I could tell her what Artyom had said.
Kira held me until my tears stopped, then coaxed me out to the gazebo, but I barely touched the food. An hour afterward, we were sitting in the Rykov mansion lounge.
Memories flickered in my mind. Every time I had been to this place it had been filled with love, laughter and chatter. Now…everything felt…distant. And the walls felt as though they were closing in.
I must have dozed off, because I woke to fingers brushing through my hair and the faint, familiar scent of strawberries.
My eyes fluttered open to meet Mariya’s black ones.
“Hey,” she whispered with a soft smile.
I didn’t say a word. I just threw myself into her arms, and she stumbled onto the ground into a sitting position. I curled into her lap and she held me tight, murmuring soothing words to me.
When I finally pulled back, she cupped my face. “I missed you so much. I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you too.”
“And I hope you’re happy to see us,” came Vera’s gentle voice.
I turned, finding her and Katya standing together, hands clasped, eyes full of worry.
Mariya helped me to my feet, and I rushed to embrace them. “Of course, I’m happy to see you. You’re my sisters.”
Vera guided me to the sofa, to sit next to Mariya, and I rested my head on her shoulder. Across from us, Kira, Vera, and Katya pulled chairs around us in a semi-circle.
“Nins, how are you really? Did he hurt you?” Mariya asked softly.
“He hasn’t hit me, if that’s what you mean. But…one moment he’s cruel, and the next he’s…nice. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
“Cruel how?” Vera asked, lifting a brow. “Does he do it to make you cry? To get off on it? Or is he cruel by threatening you so you'll do what he says?”