31. Adrik
ADRIK
I didn’t immediately leave the guest house while Elena slept in.
After I went down on her, she was so tuckered, so relaxed and spent, that she ended up dozing again.
For as long as I could, I stayed there and watched her sleep.
Seeing her so serene like this was my reward, and I hoped that with more time, with more chances to get closer to each other, we would be in a secure relationship.
With her not thinking of herself as something her father had given me, but rather a woman I encountered and wanted to keep.
With her not looking at me like she had one foot in the door, waiting for something bad to happen again, but instead, gazing at me like she wanted a lasting future with me.
However, there was something about the way she was acting this morning that had me on edge. It wasn’t enough for me to call her out on it. It was more the general sense that something was up.
When I asked her what she was thinking about, it was because she’d been so focused, furrowing her brow and setting her teeth on her lower lip. That was her tell. That was her expression when she was hard at work and trying to crack a difficult puzzle or stubborn question.
Is it just that she’s reflecting on how we’ve changed and come together again?
I wouldn’t fault her for that. We had kind of exploded together in my office just days ago.
After a split, or that distance I’d given her because she seemed to need space, we had combusted mutually.
I was eternally grateful that I had taken the step to be direct with her, and she’d been so eager to reconcile with me that there was no stopping the inevitable that night.
Is she holding out hope that I’ll be sweet and romantic and take her out on fancy dates?
I could. There was nothing that wasn’t within my means. But the timing of it would need to be considered. With my father dying and the Bratva needing to have public leadership, I wasn’t thinking of leisure time now.
No, she wouldn’t be interested in that. She’s a homebody. She’s content to stay home and enjoy the simpler things in life.
Whatever she wanted, I’d figure out how to make it happen.
Lying here and watching her, I thought a little more about what might be going on.
I was too suspicious to let things go.
It wasn’t only how she’d looked so worried, like she had the whole world on her shoulders and mountains of things to solve in her mind.
She’d run to the bathroom, too.
Yesterday, she spent a little longer in there, and I could’ve sworn I heard her whisper something like oh, no and not again .
Not again?
Not again what?
I had been rough on her. It wasn’t that I had to be a beast in bed to get a woman off. She seemed to like it. The times that I unleashed all I had in her, taking her hard and marking her body with my mouth and hands, she came so much harder.
Could she have meant not again about a bruise or how stiff she was walking into the room?
Or something else?
I stroked my fingers over her face, brushing her blonde hair back so I could watch her peaceful like this. Rested and taken care of. Whatever she’d need, I’d get it for her. With time, I’d be able to open up and let her have all of me , too.
The cook had suggested making this guest house more of a home after that day when she’d watched over her.
The day I killed Morovov. The day I’d found Elena shivering and out of it in the shower.
I hadn’t expected the cook to be that observant, but when she reported to me about how Elena was faring, she’d commented about adding more homey touches to the place if she was staying.
About how she could put orders in for more personal items, like her favorite shampoo and feminine?—
My hand stilled.
I stared at her, the realization clutching me like invisible fingers were wrapped around my neck and squeezing it. The idea that struck me was so bold, so enormous, that it seemed like I lacked the ability to breathe at all.
She never did.
Elena had never actually made it to requesting anything. That was who she was. She was a sweet, docile people pleaser and never wanted to ask anyone for anything. She was a giver, not a taker.
But when it was time for her cycle, she’d need to add the item request for delivery. Whatever products she used, because there weren’t any in this particular guest house.
Unless she realizes that she doesn’t need any products for a cycle.
Not for the next… nine months or so.
Stunned by how I’d connected the dots to reach this guess, I watched her and thought through how it could’ve happened
My phone buzzed, distracting me, and I swiped it off the nightstand before it could alert her.
Maksim: I’ll be ready to meet the Konstantins again after I’m done talking with the doctor.
Last night, there’d been a slight change in our father’s vital readings. Maksim had called the doctor as soon as he could, and he’d been overseeing this development in his well-being. Or more realistically, the degradation of his health.
I stood, realizing that I should be present to speak with the doctor. I was in charge, but that didn’t mean I had to do everything. I trusted Maksim and the others, but this was our father, the one none of us saw losing this soon.
Dressing quickly and quietly so as not to disturb Elena, I watched her and did the math.
She hadn’t had a cycle since she’d been here, and we were going on three months now with her living on the property.
The first time I’d fucked her in my office, I hadn’t even slowed down to consider protection.
I hadn’t considered the chance that she could be a virgin, either.
That time I took her on the carpet just inside the front door had been another out-of-this-world bareback experience.
It wasn’t until she admitted she’d never sucked a cock before that it had crossed my mind that she might’ve been a virgin. But I believed her when she said she was. That had to mean that if she was pregnant, it would be my child growing inside her.
Finished dressing, I sat and shoved my shoes on. Still watching her as I could, I didn’t bother stemming the emotions that took flight within me.
Elena. Pregnant with my child…
My lips curled up at the mere notion of it.
This would change everything, but only in the best ways.
If I had knocked her up, there was no question about it.
She would be mine . Fully, irrevocably.
The mother of my children. The woman I would be proud to call my wife .
Elation lifted me up high. A full smile spread over my face as I stood, but I had to keep it under wraps. I could be getting way far ahead of myself right now, jumping to the most outlandish conclusions on too little information.
Now that the idea had come to me, though, there was no way to shut it off. No way to dismiss it as impossible.
She hadn’t had a cycle yet, because if she had, she would’ve had to procure the necessities for it, and I would’ve known about the delivery.
We hadn’t used protection, either.
Before I could get it in my head that this had to be true, I left and hurried toward the main house.
When I passed a couple of the guards, I beckoned them aside. “I want another pair of guards watching over the guest house, patrolling the perimeter.”
They both nodded, but one asked, “Has something happened, Boss?”
Yes. I might be a father soon.
“Just a precaution.”
They would see that it was done, and I didn’t care who questioned me about it.
No threats had come to the property or anywhere near the estate since that time someone tried to break in.
It was a shame we couldn’t identify who had sent him because we’d blown his head off and he hadn’t carried any ID.
But I wouldn’t dare to let anyone come near Elena or my child she could potentially be carrying.
I was getting ahead of myself, but there was no stopping this fierce protectiveness that consumed me. Unexpected hope blossomed in my chest as I entered the main house. My son or daughter would call this place home. I would be a father as I learned to take over as Pakhan.
Pregnant?
Dammit, I was getting my hopes up too high now. I had to keep myself in check. I was jumping to wild conclusions here.
Maksim walked with the doctor. They came down the wide curving stairs and I didn’t delay.
He’d be able to have a test, right?
He’s a doctor.
He could order one.
Whatever.
I needed to expedite knowing if I was welcoming a child soon. If my sweet Elena would be carrying my heir.
An heir!
This wouldn’t just be the new generation starting for our family. My son would eventually be the next in line. It would signify more stability for our legacy. More in the family to prevent anyone from trying to take the throne.
They approached me, and Maksim gestured that he needed to go. “Adrik, the doctor is just leaving. He can give you the summary of his concerns.” Holding up his phone, he indicated that he needed to take a call.
I nodded, taking his place and walking with the doctor, guiding him toward the door.
He filled me in efficiently, perhaps because he’d just relayed all this information to Maksim. I listened carefully to the issues with one of the results from the blood work they’d done and what it could mean for his heart keeping up with the strain of trying to stay alive.
Afterward, I cleared my throat. “I’m wondering if you could help me out with something else while you’re here.”
“Sure, I’ll do my best,” he replied. “What can I do for you?”
“Would you happen to have a pregnancy test with you or in your supplies?”
He didn’t flinch or miss a beat. “I do, actually, have one in my car. For one of my other house calls.”
I thanked him for his assistance and walked out with him to get it. After he handed me the kit, I put it in my pocket and turned to get back inside.
Lev stood on the steps watching me, though, a curious expression on his face. “I overheard you in the foyer.”
I nodded. There was no point in hiding my suspicions—or the fact that I was sleeping with Elena.
“She’s pregnant?” he asked, smiling but also wide-eyed with surprise.
“I’ll find out soon enough.”
“Fuck.” He laughed once. “Holy shit! You’re serious.”
“I hope she is.”
He patted my back, almost in a congratulatory manner as we walked up the steps together. “This would be welcome news. Good news!”
I grinned, knowing that they’d all be excited for the family to grow. Lev wouldn’t be threatened by this. He was fully on board and always had been with the concept that he and Alexei were “spares” as the cousins and not brothers of the family.
“An heir would only strengthen the family. A new generation to raise to take us further.”
“I can only hope.” As we walked inside and up to my office, he asked more about how sure I was to ask for a test. It felt silly to say I was only guessing, but I refused to lose this optimism.
Becoming the next Pakhan was a taxing and overwhelming identity crisis to get through.
But the idea of becoming a father filled me with a deep thrum of excitement and pride that I could barely contain.
As soon as I’m through with these morning meetings…
We’re going to find out just how real and lasting our little affair is going to be, sweetheart.
Nothing could wipe this grin off my face as I started imagining all the wonderful what-ifs of the future bringing me a son or daughter.
And a wife.