Chapter 16

Dalia

I slump against the cool tile, the relief from the nausea short-lived as reality sets back in.

Here I am, hunched over the porcelain throne, grateful for my private office bathroom, despite the circumstances.

Lev, the father of my soon-to-be child, has been practically a ghost. Our interactions are strictly professional, limited to emails about his endless meetings and travel schedules.

I rinse my mouth and stare at my reflection, trying to find that resilient woman who's used to tackling life head-on. Right now, she looks a bit pale and frazzled.

What if Lev decides he doesn't want this baby, doesn’t want us? The thought twists a knot in my stomach that has nothing to do with morning sickness. I'm worried, genuinely scared about facing this alone.

I think of my dad back home, the man with the strictest of morals. The news of his daughter, unwed and pregnant by a man who has both experienced and doled out brutality, would just about give him a heart attack.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I straighten my blouse and head toward the breakroom, my thoughts swirling. Just as I round the corner, I almost bump straight into Maura. Her face lights up immediately, her smile warm and welcoming.

"Maura!" I exclaim, both surprised and relieved to see a friendly face.

"Dalia!" she responds, her arms opening wide as we hug.

"It's so good to see you.”

“Likewise.”

"What brings you here?" I ask, stepping back with a curious tilt of my head.

"Just dropping off some lunch for Luk," Maura responds, holding up a small, insulated bag. She studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she’s trying to read something in my face.

"Hey, would you like to grab a quick coffee with me?" she suddenly suggests.

I laugh softly, the sound more nervous than I intend. "Sure. With Lev barely being here I’ve got nothing but time.”

Maura's smile doesn't waver as she nods. "Great, let’s get out of here for a bit. A change of scenery might do us both some good."

Relieved for the distraction and the company, I agree, following her out of the office and into the crisp air outside.

We settle into a quaint little coffee shop just a block away from the office. It’s a cozy spot, with mismatched chairs and small, bistro tables. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans fills the air, mixing with the sweet scent of pastries.

Maura has a steaming latte in front of her, the foam artfully swirled on top, while I nurse a cup of chamomile, my new go-to.

"So," Maura begins, her voice gentle, "how are you holding up after that night at the gala?"

I stir my tea, looking up. "I'm managing. But what about you? That attempt was aimed at your life. How are you feeling?"

Maura exhales deeply, a wry smile touching her lips. "Believe it or not, it's not the first time someone's tried to take me out. It’s unsettling, sure, but I’m hanging in there. Luk's been incredible through it all. He’s on the case, you know? I trust him completely with my life."

I nod, sipping my tea. The warmth from the cup spreads through my hands. "You two seem to really have a solid thing going.”

She smiles, looking down at her latte. "We’ve been through a lot together, that's for sure." Her eyes meet mine again, and there’s a flash of something strong and resolute in them. "How about you, Dalia? How’s your relationship with Lev?”

I nearly bump my cup off the table, my surprise at Maura's question causing my hands to shake.

"What do you know?" I blurt out, a bit sharper than intended. I quickly wave my hand, apologizing. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to come at you like that. It's just… a lot’s going on right now. Well, I mean, not a lot’s going on right now, and that’s part of the problem.”

Maura laughs it off with an easy grace. "Hey, no worries. I get it. Bratva men can be a handful."

I lean in, intrigued despite myself. "But you and Luk seem pretty stable to me."

Maura stirs her latte, her gaze drifting past me for a moment. "Well, our marriage wasn’t your run-of-the-mill romance tale. I was more or less a peace offering to Luk from my stepmother."

My eyes widen, and I nearly choke on my tea.

"Yeah," Maura nods, her smile rueful. "Sounds a bit old-world, doesn’t it? But thankfully, Luk turned out to be a dream. There’s something about these Ivanov men," she muses, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I set my tea down, my mind racing. "I can't even imagine."

Maura reaches across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "It was definitely a wild ride, but here we are. And honestly," she lowers her voice, drawing me into her confidence, "once an Ivanov man decides you’re the one, they’re fiercely loyal. Just give Lev some time to sort himself out."

She’s making me feel better by the second.

"Now it's your turn, Dalia. I'd love to hear a bit about you. What brought you into our little world?”

“God, where to begin?”

“Wherever you’d like.”

With that, I go into it, giving her the full lowdown on Chad and his secretary, how I walked in on them, how our marriage turned out to be a sham. Maura hangs on my every word, her green eyes flashing with surprise with each twist and turn.

When I’m done, she sits back and blinks.

"Dalia, that’s awful. No one deserves that kind of betrayal. What a sleaze."

"Yeah, it was a mess. But hey, I learned from it." I try to chuckle, but it’s hollow. Maura reaches out, squeezing my hand in a silent show of support.

Her fiery spirit flares as she demands, half-jokingly, "Let me see this guy. Was he even worth the drama?"

Laughing, I pull out my phone. "Prepare yourself—he had charm, at least at first glance."

I scroll through my phone, finding the picture of Chad I dreaded revisiting, and hand it over to Maura. Her reaction is instant; her eyes widen, and she lets out a sharp gasp.

"Oh, wow," she says, staring at the screen. "Oh my God.”

"What? What’s wrong?" I lean closer, a knot forming in my stomach.

Maura looks up at me, her eyes serious. "This guy, he’s the same one who got my cousin pregnant, then bailed on her."

My mouth falls open in shock. "You’re kidding?"

"Completely serious. Mary was heartbroken," Maura says, shaking her head and handing the phone back.

I take it, my thoughts swirling. "Maura, please don't tell anyone about this. It’s such a weird coincidence, and I really don’t want Lev to find out and do something drastic."

"Well, if Lev doesn’t find him first, my uncle Liam might. He’s been on the lookout for that scumbag ever since he disappeared."

I force a nervous laugh. "Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that. Chad has already made enough trouble."

"Absolutely," Maura agrees, taking another sip of her coffee. "Don’t worry, Dalia, your secret's safe with me. Let's just hope we don't run into him anytime soon." She glances behind her. “Can you excuse me for a moment? I need to use the little girls’ room.”

“Sure.”

Alone at my table, I'm left with my thoughts again. The world feels ridiculously small, and the connection between Maura and me is surreal. As I stir my tea, I realize I've been so caught up in the whirlwind of the Bratva life and my unexpected pregnancy that I haven't fully processed my anger toward Chad or the unhealed wounds he left behind.

I've never been one to back down from challenges, but figuring out my path with Lev and navigating this tangled web feels daunting. Yet as I sit here, a part of me yearns for him, to reignite our connection sooner rather than later. I want him, and I need that part of my life to settle, to become something real and tangible.

The buzz of my phone drags me back to reality. Still wrapped up in my own turbulent thoughts, I glance at the screen. It's a text from Lev. Despite the maelstrom of emotions he's caused, a part of me can't help but feel a flutter of anticipation.

The message is simple, direct.

Come over for dinner tonight? I'd like to talk.

I stare at the words for a moment, torn. I'm irked by his recent radio silence followed by this casual invitation as if nothing happened. Yet the desire to see him, to confront and perhaps resolve the tangled feelings I have, is too strong to dismiss.