Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“Damn right,” she says, still laughing. “Now you’re your husband’s property.”
“It’s so wonderful being a woman,” I say. “All this autonomy and whatnot.”
We laugh as we walk, our steps syncing with the city’s rhythm. Still, a part of me aches when I think of my father, because Evie’s right. He did leave me out to dry. If Isaac weren’t such a good husband, I’d be much angrier. For now I want peace, and my father’s absence has given me plenty of it.
My phone buzzes in my purse. I pull it out and smile when Isaac’s name flashes across the screen.
“Hey, you,” I say, answering with a grin.
His voice is warm, deep. “How are my two favorite people doing?”
“Evie and I are great,” I tease, and I can almost hear him rolling his eyes. “We’re just finishing up. I think this baby has more clothes than I do.”
Isaac chuckles. “That’s a scary thought. Have you eaten today?”
“Yes, Commander Kozlov. Evie bought me a sandwich and a smoothie for lunch. She’d be happy to submit the receipt for reimbursement.”
“I would like that,” Evie yells loud enough for Isaac to hear.
He chuckles again. “I’ll stop nagging for now,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Are you headed home soon? I miss you.”
“I’m just about to meet the driver,” I tell him as we cross the street to the block where my car waits.
“Good. I’ll have Maude prepare something light for dinner. And when you get home, I want you off your feet.”
“You’re bossier than usual today.”
He sighs. “And you’re eight-and-a-half months pregnant. Pardon me for wanting to make sure you take care of yourself.”
Warmth tightens my chest. “I’ll allow it, but I really need to speak to your supervisor about this.”
“You’re my supervisor,” he teases.
After a few more sweet nothings, we hang up, and I slip the phone into my purse. Evie smirks at me.
“What?”
“You’re disgustingly adorable.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
The driver helps us load the bags into the trunk, and the two of us part ways. As he eases into traffic, I can’t help wondering how I got so lucky.
23
ISAAC
The office door clicks shut as Mikhail slips inside, a folder tucked beneath his arm and a surprisingly serene look softening his features. I glance up from the paperwork strewn across my desk and offer a terse nod. He places the file on the edge of the desk before settling into the leather chair across from me.
“Shipments from the Jersey side arrived without a hitch. We’re officially six months incident-free, and every business is running like clockwork.”
I let out a slow breath. “Good.”
He studies me for a moment before a smirk tugs at his mouth. “You know, you look weird.”
I lift a brow. “Weird?” It’s not a word I’ve ever heard him use. “Weird how?”
“Weird, like you’re happy.”
I huff a quiet laugh and lean back. “You’ve never seen me happy?” I ask, though we both know exactly what he means.
“Not this kind of happy,” he says. “Not the kind that shows up when a man’s getting laid on the regular.”
“Watch it,” I say in mock warning. “That’s my wife you’re talking about in such a lewd way.”
I glance at the ring on my finger, then at the ultrasound photo pinned beneath the corner of my monitor. It’s from our first appointment, a black-and-white printout, more blur than baby. If the doctor hadn’t traced the outline, I’d never know what I was looking at. Still, that smudge stole my heart the instant I saw it.
Mikhail steeples his fingers. “Married life suits you,” he says. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Neither did I,” I tell him honestly.
He lets the silence stretch for a beat, then cocks his head. “Are you nervous?”
“About the baby?”
He nods.
I hesitate.
“A little.”
Mikhail leans forward. “Talk to me.”
I close the file in front of me, all thoughts of operations and profit margins fading beneath the weight of the scariest thing I’ve ever faced.
Fatherhood.
“You remember how my father was,” I start.
Mikhail nods slowly. “I do.”
“He loved me, I guess, in his own way. But most of the time he was hard and cold. Everything revolved around the Bratva. Every decision and every choice served the family. Not the family that shared his blood, but the one he built. I always felt like I came last.”
Mikhail sits quietly, letting me unravel this knot.
“I don’t want to be like that. I want to be at the dinner table. I want to be in the stands at school plays, if our kid even wants to do shit like that.”
“You’ll be a great dad, Isaac. You’ve already proved you’re a good husband to Katya. I always figured you’d nail the family thing if someone gave you the chance. You just needed the right woman to remind you that you were worthy of it.”