Page 108 of The Pakhan's Dangerous Secret
"Thank you," I murmur.
"Anytime." He presses a kiss to the top of my head, then shifts so I'm leaning back against his chest. His arms wrap around me, his hands resting on my extended belly.
We sit like that for a while, quiet and content. Then Andrey speaks, his voice careful.
"I need to leave for a week."
I stiffen immediately, turning my head to look at him. "What? When?"
"In a few days." His expression is serious, apologetic. "The families I've been communicating with, the ones who aren't part of the conspiracy, we're meeting. Planning our next moves."
My stomach drops. "Where?"
"I can't tell you that. Not yet." His hand tightens on my hip. "It's safer if you don't know the details."
"I want to come with you."
"No."
The word is flat, final. I twist in his arms, facing him fully. "Andrey?—"
"None of the wives or girlfriends are going," he says firmly. "We're keeping this meeting as quiet as possible. The fewer people who know about it, the better. We can't risk drawing attention."
I want to argue, want to demand that he take me with him. But I know he's right. A gathering of Bratva leaders is dangerous enough without adding pregnant women to the mix.
"How long will you be gone?" I ask instead.
"A week. Maybe less if things go smoothly." His hand cups my face, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone. "Matvey will stay here. He'll make sure you and Sophia are safe."
"I don't need a babysitter."
"You need protection." His voice hardens slightly. "There are people who would use you to get to me, Mariya. I'm not taking that risk."
I know he's thinking about the conspiracy, about the families who want control of the Bratva and won't hesitate to hurt anyone in their way. The thought makes my skin crawl.
"Fine," I say quietly. "But you'd better come back in one piece."
"I will." He leans down and kisses me, slow and deep, like he's trying to memorize the taste of me. When he pulls back, his blue eyes are intense. "I promise."
Later that evening, we're in our bedroom watching a movie. I'm settled between Andrey's spread legs, my back against his chest while his hands work magic on my shoulders again. The tension from earlier has returned, settling into my muscles like it lives there now.
"You're tense," he murmurs against my ear.
"I'm always tense." I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access to my neck. "Comes with the territory."
His lips brush against my throat, sending heat through me despite my exhaustion. "I can help with that."
"You're already helping." I close my eyes, focusing on the feel of his hands on my skin. "This is perfect."
The movie plays in the background, some action film Andrey picked that I'm only half paying attention to. My mind keeps drifting to the meeting he's leaving for, to the danger he'll be walking into. I know he can handle himself. I've seen what he's capable of. But that doesn't stop the fear from creeping in.
"Stop thinking so loud," Andrey says, his hands moving down to massage my lower back.
"I'm not thinking loud."
"You are. I can feel it." His fingers press into a particularly tight spot, and I gasp. "You're worried about the meeting."
"Of course I'm worried." I shift slightly, trying to ease the pressure on my bladder. The baby has decided my internal organs make excellent punching bags. "You're walking into a room full of Bratva leaders who may or may not be trustworthy. How am I supposed to not worry?"
