43. Andrey

43

ANDREY

I swore to protect Natalia, but there are some things I can't save her from. "Where's the damn epidural?"

The nurse who just brought Natalia more ice chips is gray-haired, stocky, and completely unfazed by my growling. "Labor hasn't progressed far enough for an epidural. Be patient." She leaves the room with a quick nod in Natalia's direction.

"Will you stop harassing the staff?" Natalia gasps between contractions. "They know what they're doing!"

"You're in pain. They need to fix it."

She grabs my hand and squeezes it hard. "Giving birth will fix it. Pain is part of the solution."

"I despise seeing you like this." I dab a wet washcloth across her forehead.

If I can't yell at the nurses, then I can keep her cool and hydrated. It's easier than focusing on my racing heart or the question trying to burrow out of my skull.

Am I ready to be a father?

"I need to walk," Natalia announces, shoving her blankets off the hospital bed. "I need to move. I can't sit here anymore."

I help her up and follow her as we do laps around the small room. When a contraction hits, she doubles over, and I rub soothing circles along her back.

"God, that hurt," she groans.

"Do you need more ice chips? I can have Kat or Mila run down?—"

"No." She waddles forward, continuing her looping path. "I just want to walk."

Another nurse walks in with more wet towels. "Where's Dr. Abdulov?" I bark at her.

The woman jolts like I'm holding a gun to her head. "He's doing the rounds. He'll be here soon to check on things."

She flees from the room, and Natalia laughs. "Maybe you should try some deep breaths with me."

"I can breathe just fine. Sit back down." I help her back onto the bed and rearrange the pillows behind her back. "Comfortable?"

"Is that a trick question?"

I slide in behind her on the bed. She leans forward, and I work my thumbs into the knots on her lower back. She moans, and I can't tell if it's in pain or relief.

"You don't have to stay in here with me the whole time, you know," she mutters. "If you need a break, you can send Annie or Kat in for a bit. Mila. Anyone."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You don't need to watch this. We both don't have to suffer."

"There's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be, Natalia. Not even you can get me to leave."

"I just meant—" She clenches her teeth and the words die on her lips. I move to the end of the bed and rub her swollen feet. "Forget it. Just… talk to me. Say anything."

Anything. What do you say to the woman who's about to bear your children? What do you say to the light of your world in the midst of a storm that threatens to blot out every last bit of her?

I open my mouth and pray that the right thing emerges. What I hear shocks even myself.

"I'm going to marry you one day."

She squints at me through the pain. "You're just trying to distract me from the pain. To be fair… it's kinda working."

"I am trying to distract you. But I also mean it."

"Seeing my swollen ankles and sweaty back is turning you into the marrying type, huh?"

"Your bravery is changing my mind," I correct. "Your grace and your patience changed my mind. You're it for me, Natalia. You're my future. And I'm never letting you go. Our family is the only thing that matters now."

All at once, she seems to realize how serious I am. "Oh, Andrey…" She smiles dreamily. "I'd be honored to be your wife, Andrey. But?—"

The smile freezes on my face.

"—not until after you've dealt with Slavik and Nikolai," she continues. "I don't want to worry about our wedding being hijacked or our loved ones being targeted. I want to put all that ugliness behind us before we start our life together."

I grip her hand tightly. "Baby, our life together has already started."

She nods. "But I want a clean slate. Without the threat of attack hanging over our heads all the time. I want to become your wife knowing that our family is safe."

I hesitate for only a moment. Agreeing feels wrong, but when it comes to negotiations, she's going to win every single one in this state. She cries out with another contraction, and agreeing is the least I can do.

"Okay. We can wait. But as soon as we get back home, I'm putting a ring on your finger."

She laughs. "Only you would propose to me before you've even told me you love me."

" Lastochka , how could I not love you?"

Her eyes are watery as she grips my hand. "Yeah?"

"It's you and me against the world. And I will never, ever let us lose."

She reaches for me, and I bridge the distance between us. She kisses me feverishly, her nails digging into my hand as she tries to pull me closer. Then she releases me without warning. "Argh…"

"Too much tongue?"

She snorts. "Don't make me laugh now. It hurts too much."

The door opens and Dr. Abdulov walks in. "How are the parents-to-be doing?"

"She's in pain."

Dr. Abdulov dips between her legs to examine things. "Okay, it looks like it's time for that epidural," he announces, straightening up. "Another few centimeters and you'll be dilated enough to start pushing."

Natalia leans against me as the anesthesiologist comes in to administer the epidural. The massive needle in her spine doesn't seem to faze her when compared to the pain of the contractions, but I can't help wincing in sympathy.

Once it's in and the nurses clear out of the room, Natalia grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me towards her. "Andrey, you have to promise me something."

"Tell me. What do you need?"

"I need to know that our children will be kept separate from the Bratva. I know it's a part of you, but I can't have them involved. Please!"

"Natalia…"

"Please," she gasps again, refusing to let go of my shirt. "I need you to promise me…"

I grab her hand and pry it from my shirt before bringing it to my lips. "I will do my best to keep them safe."

She frowns, her eyes unfocused for a moment. "That's not… that's not…"

But she doesn't get to finish her sentence, because Dr. Abdulov is back in the room. After another quick check, he raises his brows. "It's time."

Natalia tries to sit up. "Right now? No, I'm not ready. I don't feel ready. I doubt it's?—"

She screams with another contraction and the entire room becomes a flurry of movement and activity. A nurse drags in two bassinets while another unfolds baby blankets.

"You can do this," I whisper in her ear.

Dr. Abdulov walks her through how and when to push, but it doesn't seem like Natalia needs it. She goes red in the face with every effort, nearly crushing my hand in her grip.

"Okay, Natalia. That's great," the doctor coaches her.

But she looks to me. I kiss her sweaty forehead. "You're doing amazing. Keep going."

With a nod, Natalia grits her teeth and pushes hard, hard, hard. This time, I'm worried she's going to pass out. "Breathe," I tell her, rubbing her back as she prepares to push again.

She takes a deep breath and, with a scream, Natalia delivers our first baby.

"I've got her!" Dr. Abdulov says a moment later, a piercing cry filling the delivery room.

Natalia's head falls back against the soaked pillow. Her face is blotchy, and her eyes flutter closed.

But Dr. Abdulov doesn't give her any time to recover. "I'm sorry, my dear, but no rest, I'm afraid. The second baby is coming. Give me another push."

"I don't think I can push anymore, Andrey," she sobs. "I'm so tired."

"Just give me two more pushes, my lastochka . Two more and we'll be done."

She shakes her head, but I grab her face and force her to look at me. "You don't need me to do this for you. You don't need anyone. You're strong, you're fierce, and I know you have two more pushes left inside you."

"Natalia, now ," Dr. Abdulov orders.

She grips my hand tight and pushes.

"Excellent," Dr Abdulov cries. "Excellent. I see the head. One more push, Natalia."

There's another scream, and then the doctor stands back, another baby in his arms.

Natalia collapses against her pillow, her eyes rolling back with exhaustion.

"Our girls. You did it," I tell her. "You did it."

But Dr. Abdulov is staring down at our second little girl with a slight frown between his brows.

"What's wrong?" I bark.

Natalie's eyes snap open. She just gave birth to twins, but she's almost off the bed trying to get to the doctor. "Nothing is wrong. What do you mean? Are the babies?—"

"They're fine," Dr. Abdulov assures us with a sheepish smile. "Both perfectly healthy. But it seems there was a slight misreading in previous scans." Dr. Abdulov hands the baby boy over to one of the nurses. "You are now the proud parents of a healthy baby girl and a healthy baby boy."

"Andrey," Natalia trills, "did you hear that?"

"I heard." I drop my lips to her forehead to hide my shock. "You did amazing."

Two nurses approach us with identical little bundles in their arms. One is wrapped in a pink blanket and the other in blue. They place our daughter on Natalia and our son on me.

The second the weight of my son is in my grasp, something shifts inside me—something cosmic, otherworldly, something larger than I am.

And I feel whole.