Chapter Twenty-SixIrina

Chapter Twenty-Six

Irina

It's a week since my father's death, and a day since his funeral. It broke me to see my mother wailing over his casket, and Damien…my brother was nothing but an empty shell.

I'd wanted to break the news of my pregnancy to them, to at least give them a glimmer of hope to hold onto, but I want Alexei to be the first person I tell. He deserves to know first.

I haven't told Alexei yet, I want to do it when he's a bit more settled. And I hope to do it when he comes back home today. He's been busy strengthening his territory and hunting down members of the Phoenix.

Nina narrows her eyes on me. "Is everything okay, child?"

I rest my elbow on the kitchen island. "Does it seem like something's wrong?"

"Hmmm." She skewers me from head to toe. "You have a glow about you that is unusual for someone who's been through so much. Are you with child?"

Christ, she has eyes that are best suited for an eagle. How can she even tell? "What makes you think I'm pregnant?"

"I've been pregnant myself, and I've been around a lot of pregnant women." She smiles. "He doesn't know, does he?"

I shrug. "I don't know what you're talk about, but thanks for the hot chocolate."

I hate not being able to tell her, but I'm keeping my promise to tell Alexei before anyone else. I stand and pad upstairs to our bedroom.

It's evening and the sun has just began to dip below the horizon. I stand in front of the glass wall, watching the picturesque scene and waiting impatiently for my husband to come home.

There are a million visions of what his reaction will be when I tell him, playing in my head. And he's excited in all of them.

An hour later, his footsteps sound down the hall and I anxiously wait for him to enter the room.

The door opens and his handsome face comes in view. "Hello, malyshka ," he says in a deep, sexy voice as he walks to the bed and kisses the top of my head. "How are you?'

"Fine." I feel awkward. I've never been good at surprises so I just pull the drawer open and take out a test strip. It's one of the ten I did because I was so excited about becoming a mother. "Take a look at this."

Alexei takes the test strip from me and his eyes widen. "Is this… Does this mean I'm going to become a father?"

I nod. "I found out a week ago when…" I don't finish the sentence. I still struggle with the memories of everything that has happened.

A grin breaks out on Alexei's face. His eyes gleam with excitement. "We're going to be parents!"

Alexei's joy is palpable as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

The weight of grief and loss momentarily lifts from my shoulders, replaced by the warm glow of anticipation and hope.

I bury my face in his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek.

"I can't believe it," Alexei whispers, his voice laced with wonder. "A little one of our own." He presses a tender kiss to my forehead, his hands cradling me gently as if I were made of glass.

He pulls back. "Do you know if we're having a little boy or a girl?"

"I don't know yet. I want us to go to the first ultrasound together." I lick my lips. "Do you think you'll have some time to spare."

"Fuck, yes! Why wouldn't I?" He lowers himself on one knee in front of me. "You and our unborn child are my priorities, Irina. I don't care what it is I'm doing, I will always have time for the two of you."

I want to smile, but tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I watch the joy spread across Alexei's face. This happiness, so pure and raw, is something we both desperately need in the midst of our grief.

Warmth spreads over my chest. I don't think there's ever been a time when I've seen Alexei this excited, and I want it to last forever. "You're really happy about becoming a father?"

"Irina, I'm over the moon about this news," he whispers, his voice filled with emotion. "I can't wait to meet our little one."

"What if it's a little girl? I ask.

"She better come out looking like her Momma," he says, grinning widely. "If it's a little boy, then I hope he looks like you, too. My brothers will be excited about becoming uncles."

"When do we break the news to them?"

"Whenever you're ready, malyshka ." He holds my hand and squeezes it. "I promise to move at your pace. Always."

Without a second thought, I pull him up and cup his face in my hands, tracing the line of his jaw with my thumb.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Alexei."

His eyes soften even further, a look of pure adoration crossing his features. "And I love you, Irina. More than anything."

He leans in and holds me in a tight hug. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, Irina. I wake up every day thinking of how lucky I am to have you."

"I think I am the lucky one, Alexei." It's truly like living in a movie how much time changes everything. I still can't believe I despised this man once, and now I feel like he's my entire world. I can't live without him, I know it.

"No, I'm the luck one."

As we stand there, wrapped up in each other's arms, a sense of peace settles over me. I close my eyes and allow myself to simply be in this moment, grateful for the love that surrounds me and the hope that glimmers on the horizon.