Chapter 24 - Anya

I rush around the house, franticly trying to make sure that everything is perfect before people start arriving to the party.

Rodion grabs me as I hurry past. He chuckles, holding me against his body while my mind races with all the things I need to check on.

“Let me go,” I laugh nervously, trying to wiggle away.

“Stop worrying so much, princess. All that matters is you and me,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

I sigh and stand on my tiptoes to press my lips against his. “I know—but I want it to be perfect when we tell everyone about the pregnancy. I want them to be happy for us.”

“They will be,” he assures me. “And if they aren’t—it doesn’t matter. I am happy for us. I am over the moon about us.” He grins and the light in his eyes starts to infect me with confidence and ease away my worries.

“You’re right. It’s you and me against the world.” I kiss him one last time, then wiggle free. “But I still want today to be perfect,” I quickly add in, then try and make my escape.

He cracks up laughing, grabbing my arm before I can get out of his reach.

“What do you need me to do, princess? I’ve checked the garden, it’s all set up, and the caterers are doing a great job—what else can I do for you?”

I sigh, throwing my hands up in the air. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think I’m just running back and forth like an idiot at the moment. I don’t even know what I’m doing.” I shrug my shoulders up while I confess and pout my bottom lip out.

“Ok, then I know exactly what you need. And running back and forth like a chicken without a head is not what you need—“

He scoops me up into his arms and I squeal with laughter. “Rodion, what are you doing?”

“ You are going to sit on the sun lounger outside. I am going to make you a mock gin cocktail with kiwi and lime, just like the one you love. Then you are going to sip it, relax, and enjoy today while everyone else runs around and makes sure it’s perfect for you,” he says sternly, with a wide, gorgeous smile on his lips.

“Is that so?” I say, full of sass.

“That is so, princess. And remember, I’m in charge here and you have to do what I say.”

I giggle and he sets me down on the sun lounger, dragging the padded footrest closer and lifting my legs onto it.

“Stay,” he commands with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

I nod sternly as though I wouldn’t dare disobey.

Rodion brings me a mocktail and I sit in the sun enjoying it and slowly feel all the anxiety and stress ease out of my body.

By the time the guests start arriving, my rush-around-panic has faded completely.

“It’s about time we got invited to a party at your place,” Raisas says, pulling me into a hug. She whispers in my ear, “You look really happy. I’m so relieved to see that.” I grin at her. She knows what today is about.

I touch her swollen belly. “I can’t believe how fast he is growing,” I say in shock. She grins, proudly.

People flood into our home and Rodion makes sure everyone has a drink and feels welcome, but all the while he stays close to me, making sure I am happy and comfortable. He has been doting on me nonstop since we finally confessed how we felt about each other. I still grin when I think about it. My heart is full and excited for the future.

With his arm wrapped around my waist, I lean my head against his chest, and he kisses the top of my head. “Are you happy, princess?” he whispers.

“I’ve never been happier,” I admit. And it’s true.

After I finally told Rodion the truth, I thought it would be over between us. I thought everything would change and fall apart. In so many ways it has changed, but not how I expected it to. Rodion has become softer towards me, more gentle, loving and tender. He told me he is in love with me and my heart keeps remembering the moment it exploded with joy. Everything is perfect.

I can’t wait to have a baby with him.

He is everything I never knew I’ve always wanted.

Rodion is chuckling at something Leon said, and I shake my head, grinning. He has softened his attitude towards everyone it seems. Even my brothers.

When our guests have all arrived, and the party is going well, Rodion says loudly, “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

People fall silent and I feel their eyes on us.

“I wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out to share this day with us. Anya and I have something special to share with all of you—we are going to have a baby.”

When he announces that we are going to have a baby, my eyes flick nervously around the room, searching for my brother’s faces. Oleg is the first one I see. His smile is so broad, and he cheers so loudly that from that moment on I don’t even care what anyone else thinks. I am going to have my happily ever after and they will all just need to accept it.

Rodion scoops me into his arms and spins me around while our guests cheer for us.

After the party he is still doting on me, trying to make sure I’m feeling ok and that I don’t need anything. He is treating me like something fragile that might break at any moment. I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him close so that I can kiss him—then I push him away again.

“You are going soft, aren’t you?” I tease him for worrying about me so much.

He laughs, stepping right against me and pulling me tight against his body. “I can go hard for you any time you want, princess.” His dark voice vibrates through me and my body ignites with desire.

“How about right now?” I giggle and he immediately lifts me and carries me up to our bedroom.

***

The days just keep getting better.

My morning sickness has faded,and I am starting to experience weird cravings and some tiredness instead of anything too bad, and Rodion has been amazing in making sure I have anything I need.

At home, things are perfect, he is loving and kind and constantly taking care of me.

At work, the operations between my brothers and his are running smoothly and there have been a number of successful joint missions since the last one. Business is growing and profits are increasing steadily. The attitude between everyone has faded now that our families are tied by two babies instead of one. Raisa and I are getting closer and she is helping me with a lot of advice seeing as she is quite far ahead of me in her pregnancy. It’s awesome that our babies are going to grow up so close in age.

But I have noticed something that is making me worry.

Ruslana.

At every family event we’ve had lately, and even at the announcement of our pregnancy—she has been distant and quiet. She doesn’t take part like she used to, and she is withdrawn into herself. Most of the time, when I look for her at the events, I find her sitting quietly by herself in the living room, away from everyone else. If she is near us, she stays in the corners and doesn’t join in on the conversations.

It all started after she got so horribly drunk at the club that night. I think she is embarrassed. Or upset about how it was handled. She hasn’t been talking to anyone and I want to find a way to get through to her. Everyone makes mistakes—she shouldn’t let it bother her to the point where she pulls away from her own family and the people who love her.

This afternoon, Rodion is out with my brothers for some business lunch, so I have invited Ruslana over to spend some time with me. I want her to know that I’m here for her if she needs someone to talk to. And if she doesn’t want to talk—I just want to be there for her. In whatever way I can.

Ruslana arrives almost an hour late, but I don’t comment on it. She looks withdrawn and the dark shadows under her eyes suggest that she hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Her entire body seems sunken and she looks exhausted.

I pull her straight into a tight hug, holding her for longer than normal.

“Hi, sweetie. How are you?” I ask, taking her hand and leading her straight to the kitchen.

She shrugs and with a soft sigh she says, “I’m ok, just—I don’t know—,“ her voice trails off. “What’s all this?” she asks, gesturing around the kitchen.

“I had the chef make us a massive tray of pastries and cakes. Then I’ve got several different iced teas and I thought we could have our own private little tea party. But fit for the queen herself.” I grin, trying to lift the mood with my own enthusiasm.

Ruslana smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “That sounds perfect,” she nods.

We each pick up a tray and carry it through to the garden.

It’s a gorgeous day, one of the last I think we will have before the cold weather creeps in. There is a soft wind blowing, but not enough to spoil the summery vibes of our tea party.

Ruslana sits next to me, quietly eating a pink cupcake and staring out at the garden. She’s just been nibbling the food and she hasn’t said much at all.

I bite my lip. I don’t think she is going to open up about what’s on her mind without a push from my side.

“Ruslana, sweetie, what’s going on with you lately?” I ask, hoping she isn’t going to freak out at me.

She pulls her mouth to the side and won’t look at me.

“You can tell me anything you know. Ever since that night at the club, I feel like you’re a million miles away. I just want to bring you back to us. I miss you.”

A tear spills from her eye and rolls down her cheek in silent pain. I quickly get up and wrap my arms around her. For a little while, I just hold her, and she cries quietly.

When she’s calmed down and soaked several tissues I sit down again with my body turned towards her, so she knows she has my full attention.

“Is it to do with that night?” I ask, encouraging her to open up about it.

She nods. “It started that night. It has to do with that night—and I guess—” she sighs and swallows hard.

“Alright—well, why don’t you tell me what’s going on and maybe I can help?”

“I don’t think anyone can help. And if you tell my brothers about it, I am going to be in even more trouble for being so irresponsible that night.” She sniffs, “I just don’t want them to be angry with me.”

“Ruslana, they were just upset because they love you. They want you safe. Everything they do might seem intense and annoying, but it comes from a place of love.”

She takes a deep breath.

I can see she is going to talk, so I wait patiently for her to get her thoughts together.

“That guy that Rodion beat up—“ she looks at me and her eyes are thick with worry.

“Yes?”

“He’s been contacting me nonstop since that night. I gave him my number before—well—you know, before things got crazy. He’s been stalking me and even though I’ve asked him to leave me alone, he won’t.”

I stare at her in shock. This is so much worse than I thought it was. I thought she was just stressed about the whole getting drunk thing—or embarrassed—but she is actually in real trouble and she’s been going through it all by herself.

“Honey, this is really serious. This isn’t something you should keep to yourself. If some asshole is bothering you, we have to stop him and make it clear he is messing with the wrong girl,” my voice is tight with concern for her.

“I don’t want my brothers to be angry,” she huffs.

“Why would they be angry if he is the one who won’t leave you alone?”

“Because I was irresponsible that night—and it’s my fault this is happening.”

I shake my head. “No, sweetie. You might have been irresponsible—but if you’ve made it clear to him that you want him to back off and he isn’t doing that—that’s on him. That’s not your fault at all.”

She bites the inside of her cheek, filled with nervous tension.

“I’ll talk to Rodion, ok? If you want me to—but either way—we can’t just leave this.”

She nods. “Will you? Because I’m too scared to face my brother. He can be so mean when he’s angry.”

I chuckle. “I know. He can seem really daunting—but he has the biggest, softest heart when it comes to the people he loves.”