Page 8 of The Bratva’s Monster

I just make it to the stall before it all comes up in a rush. I heave up my breakfast until there isn’t anything left, then, exhausted, I hang onto the toilet bowl, praying for the nausea to pass.

Eventually, it does and after I wash my mouth out at the sink, I pull out my phone and dial my doctor’s phone number.

I was able to see the doctor that afternoon, which, at the time that I made the appointment, I waffled a little, thinking about my plan to finally get around to clearing out Gedeon’s office. But then I decided to take it, thinking that I might as well just get it over with.

Now I’m sitting on the exam table, the thin paper under me wrinkling slightly. The doctor is talking to me, but I can’t hear him. My ears are ringing and I’m suddenly feeling very lightheaded.

He couldn’t have said what I think he did. I had to have misheard him.

“I’m sorry,” I say, interrupting him. “What did you say, exactly?”

He stops, then repeats himself, “You can get the vitamins over the counter, but I would recommend taking the prescription⁠—”

“No, no. The other part. About my being… About the urine test?”

“Oh.” He pauses, a little smile playing at one corner of his mouth. “You’re pregnant, Mrs. Pavlova.”

Part of my brain sticks on the ‘Mrs.’, but the rest of it grabs hold of the rest. I swallow hard. “Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?”

“Well, urine tests are about ninety-nine percent accurate. But we can run a blood test if it’ll make you feel better. We have to do one anyway to determine how far along you are, so… I’m sorry. Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes, I’m-I’m fine,” I stammer. “It’s just that this can’t be right. My husband died over two months ago. I haven’t been with anyone since. My period hasn’t even… well, I’m only a month late, but it’s due any day now.”

“Mrs. Pavlova,” he says gently, “This is obviously a bit of a shock. But I assure you, the test is correct.”

“But I can’t be pregnant,” I say, raising my voice. “Didn’t you hear me? My husband is dead. How can I be pregnant if he’s dead?”

He’s looking at me with the most patient eyes as he clasps his hands in front of him. “If he died two months ago and you had sex anytime before that, it’s completely possible.”

Through the spinning in my mind, I remember. The makeup sex with him after his coming home at a reasonable hour. The flowers, the wine, the promises that he will be a better man for me…

The note on my door. Your husband is a rat.

I close my eyes as all of that is suddenly replaced with ice-cold fear. If the Bratva thinks that Gedeon was a rat… What does that mean for me? I hadn’t even considered it until this moment. Why else would that note be left there for me to find?

I’m in danger. And once they find out I’m carrying a traitor’s child, it will be in danger too.

My eyes start to burn with tears. I wipe at them, trying not to let them fall. “Um, okay. C-Can I go?”

“Well, we should discuss what comes next⁠—”

“I want to leave. I-I have to think about… I have to go.”

I get off the table, grab my purse and jacket, and walk out of the exam room. In the blur from the room to the parking lot, all I can think about is how much danger I’m now in.

No one can know about this baby. Right now, this whole thing about Gedeon is just a rumor. If it turns out to not be true, they might leave me alone. After all, what do I have to do with anything like that?

They won’t if they know I’m carrying his child.

Shit. What do I do? I get in my car and as soon as the door closes, I break down into tears.

5

RIKKI

“So, Stefan Kisilev has been seen around town the last few days.”

I glance over at Kostya with mild confusion. The name sounds vaguely familiar to me.