Chapter Twenty: Andrei

As I want, Sophia is in my bed every night, and having her presence is soothing for me. It’s hard to be away from her at work, but she’s making me sharper on the job. It’s not what I expected from our marriage. I thought it would be one of benefit of having her in my bed, but it’s not the only thing…. I like to hear her laughter, to know what she likes and to see my world through her eyes.

“Thanks for the spa. I had fun there.” She looks relaxed as she floats through the door, a pregnancy halo around her. Maybe others would see her as not conventionally beautiful, but to me she’s stunning.

“Good. See? There are some good things about being married to a Bratva man,” I tease as she sits next to me on the couch.

“I guess there can be.” She rolls her eyes as I admire her; I’m withholding one more surprise but waiting for the right moment. It’s been a week trying to work on finding out who Ryan was working for and locating Chris. It’s a hidden thing I’m keeping from her until I can figure it out for myself.

“I have another one.” Beaming, I know she’s going to freak out when I show her.

“What is it?” she asks, puzzled. I hand her the iPad in my hand with a picture of a tropical island and turquoise blue waters on it.

“We haven’t had a honeymoon yet, and we should. This is where I’d like to take you. I think you’d like it there. Plus, it would be nice to see you in a bikini strutting your stuff.” I wink, chuckling as she looks at the picture.

“We’re going here?” She squeals, the emerald in her eyes shining brighter than normal.

“Yes, we’re going here. To the Maldives. There’s a honeymoon package with our own overwater bungalow, and you can swim right near it. Underneath you can see the water. It’s on a private island, where we can do all kinds of activities. Snorkeling, whale watching, romantic dinners, paragliding, swimming, spas. You name it, they will have it catered to us there. Are you in?” Of course, I know the answer.

“Am I in? I have to fulfil my wifely duties, so of course I am.”

“Good. Start packing because we’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”

And a couple of days later we arrive to the Maldives, the sky a beautiful cerulean blue, and the ocean, a blend of turquoise and sapphire blue. Perfect for swimming, snorkeling and general relaxation.

“This place is straight from a postcard. Is it even real?” Sophia asks in awe as we step off the jet boat that carted us over from the main island of Male.

A resort member greets us with a smile, taking our bags as we get off the boat. “Welcome to the Baa Atoll, and Rusafushi Resort. We’re pleased to have you with us for the next two weeks. My name is Ben, and I’ll be taking care of you for the duration of your stay,” he greets cheerfully as I place my sunglasses on my head as Sophia grins from ear to ear. I find myself happy that she’s happy, and that’s a new and unexplored emotion for me.

“Thanks, me and wife are so happy to be here on our honeymoon,” I tell him, interlocking my fingers with hers as she side-eyes me with a cunning smirk.

“Yes, husband, it’s good to be here.” She winks back, both of us playing a little game, but secretly, it’s not as big a game as the days go by in her company. We’re surrounded by pristine clear tropical waters and white sands with top-notch service. What’s not to love?

We wait off to the side as the resort staff member packs our luggage on a buggy cart, and Sophia looks around at our new jungle paradise for a little while. While that’s being done another lady staff member comes to greet us with two coconuts with straws in them.

“Welcome. Can I offer both of you an island refreshment?” Sophia nods as I take one also and we pose for a photo.

“We’re going to have to go for a swim later. The humidity here is something else,” I tell her. “Sounds like a good idea.” Sipping the cool, hydrating drink, I study Sophia. Her glow is undeniable. From the island reception we’re escorted onto an island buggy to our very own private villa room, the tropical island gateway opening as we whizz around the island.

“This place feels magical,” Sophia remarks as we snake through the sandy corridor, whizzing past the activities center of the island and the tennis courts.

“I agree. It does feel that way. I come here to escape the cold of Chicago. The Maldives are the perfect place to escape.”

Sophia regards me with a measure of contempt, and it’s likely because I’ve been here before, but when you have the world as your playground, of course you’re going to explore. Wrapping my arm around her, I smile at her, showering her with affection. Yes, I’m hamming it up, but it’s becoming second nature at this point.

“I would have to agree with you both. I’ve worked at the resort for the last three years, and it’s a wonderful place, and wait until you see your overwater bungalow. It’s going to blow your mind.”

Soon enough we arrive at a wooden plank right over the lagoon, leading us out to a row of overwater bungalows. “Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Utkin, we’re going to head out to your villa. It’s right on the far right. You’ll find bikes right outside your villa, and those will help you get around the island.”

“Wow.” Sophia grins, pulling out her phone and snapping photos. “Postcard worthy. Wait until I tell Ava about this.”

“She will be intensely jealous. She’ll have to marry a nice man like me who will bring her here,” I dig, poking at the fact she wanted nothing to do with me because I’m in the Bratva, yet the irony isn’t lost on me because I’ve saved her from a so-called upstanding citizen masquerading as a do-gooder.

Sophia is quick to the party, rolling her eyes, and digging her hand into my thigh. Ben simply laughs as we bump over the wooden plank to our villa, the treat being a lagoon of fish beneath our feet.

“Thank you, Ben,” I say as he nods.

“You’re welcome, and if you need anything or want me to pick you up for dinner at the underwater restaurant, please call me.” He hands me a business card with his information, and I nod as we’re left to our devices.

And for the next few days we are booked up with activities all over the island including manta ray diving, snorkeling at the nearby beaches, playing tennis, and enjoying the spa.

“I love you,” I coo at her after picking her up at the spa from getting her nails and facial done. Her face displays disgust, but she plays along with it, begrudgingly responding.

“I love you too, husband. Thank you for my spa.”

“Anything for you.” The staff moan and groan at the sickly sight of our fake display, and at night, Sophia fulfils her wifely duties, making love, our so-called fake bond building and growing with every passing day. We rub shoulders with other couples, enjoying the food and the tranquility.

I check in back home making sure everything is secured, operations humming along without a hitch. As we head out for a sunset cruise with a few other couples, the water is flat and calm for a while, but the sky changes throughout.

Sophia sips on her champagne, staring up at the sky. “That doesn’t look good and it’s getting dark.” The wind picks up, whipping around the boat and shaking it, but the other guests are too busy doing other things to notice.

“I’m sure it’s going to be fine. Hopefully it passes,” I offer in reassurance, but no sooner than I say it do the clouds in the sky fatten, turning gray and producing a shower of rain.

“See. I knew it.”

“Let’s head down below, everyone. Sadly, we won’t be able to enjoy the sunset from the top deck, but from inside instead.”

We head underneath to the tables set up as the tropical water turns cloudy and choppy, a large whirlwind of clouds forming a tunnel as a rumble of thunder cracks through the sky.

Sophia’s face reads terror, and I forget about teasing her, instinctively cuddling her into my arms, her hands reaching out over my chest for safety. Kissing her temple, I whisper in her ear.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright. The storm will pass. It’s fine. The captain knows what he’s doing,” I coax as she takes a deep breath.

“Sorry, the thunder and lightning frightened me.”

“No need to be sorry,” I tell her quietly as the light show carries on around us on the water.

I’m slightly worried, but not as much as Sophia, and once the tropical storm has run its course, the sky calms, the sea flat once more. Much to Sophia’s delight we return to our overwater bungalow, settling in and watching TV. After a while and a big day of catching up with other couples, we fall asleep, but a noise and the light from the other room wakes me up. I watch with one eye open as Sophia sneaks to the room.

What’s she doing? Curious, I follow her into the next room, watching as she rummages through her bag, pulling out a needle in the dark, and tapping the side of it, checking its contents. I watch as she pinches a piece of fat near her stomach with the syringe of liquid ready to be entered.

Infuriated at what I’m seeing, I rush over, grabbing the wrist of the hand holding the needle and glare at her. “What are you fucking doing? You’re taking drugs during your pregnancy?” I shout, Sophia wincing in the face of my anger.

“I’m not taking drugs. Not like that,” she rushes out, her eyes wild as I increase the grip on her wrist, shaking with rage. “I have diabetes, and these are the insulin shots I have to take,” she responds, her words clogging up as tears begin to spill from her eyes. I let the rage die down, blinking hard and realizing I’m holding her wrist too tightly.

Immediately, I drop my hold, shocked by her admission. “Why didn’t you tell me about your disease?” I ask compassionately as she sniffs, rubbing her now-bruised wrist. Sometimes I don’t recognize my own strength.

Sophia goes back to taking the shot, slowly releasing the liquid into her stomach and putting the syringe away as I look on, not having been in contact with someone with the condition before.

“Why would I tell you?” she projects, her eyes red.

“What are you talking about?”

“Like you care! You only married me for the sake of the child,” she forces out bitterly.

“Do you think I’m going to let you have a child out of wedlock when I’m part of the Bratva? Be serious, Sophia! I can’t protect you that way.”

“Maybe it’s you I need protection from!” She holds up her wrist, getting underneath my skin.

“You’re being unreasonable. Wake up! You don’t have the means or the space to have a child at your small apartment. I’m not going to let any child of mine suffer that way. Besides, you’re too na?ve to the bad people lurking all around you,” I scold.

“You’re not the boss of me! This is my life you’re playing with. I’ve already given up school and everything to live this life with you.”

Scoffing, I pace the room. “You seem to be enjoying yourself so far!”

“And you say I’m the na?ve one. I’m not your captive. I’m your wife, even if this is a sham marriage,” she retorts in a tired voice, plopping down on the bed and facing away from me.

Not wanting to fight with her anymore, or to stress her and the baby out, I plop down on the edge of the bed. “Sophia, look at me,” I command as she turns staring me in the face with what I think is open hatred. We stare at each other for a few long tense moments, the barrier between us growing, but after staring each other down for too long, I break, only wanting to comfort her. Moving closer, I pull her closer in, her emerald eyes begging me for safety and care. I give it to her, rubbing the back of her hand softly before kissing her mouth tenderly.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you,” she apologizes.

Sighing, I rub her leg through her colorful sarong. “Don’t hide anything from me. I’m only going to help you.”

“Thanks. I won’t. It’s a force of habit.” She drops her head to my chest.

“Force of habit?” I ask softly, wanting her to feel safe enough to open up to me.

“Yeah,” she quips in a dull tone. “When I was younger, I was hospitalized for a week because I had this severe diabetic episode, and it was right when my parents died. Such hell. It just made me realize I’m alone in this world. That’s why I don’t really ask people for help. I didn’t have anyone to help me.”

An ache hits my chest as she tells the story, but I don’t know why. For me I always had somebody else’s shoes to fill. My brother before me, whose shadow I walked in for so long until I broke free. “Well, you don’t have to do everything without help now. I’m here.”

“Thanks. When I went to the doctor for my diabetes checkup, that’s how I found out I was pregnant,” she confesses, staring at me through the dark.

“Right. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have known?”

“No. I probably would have found out at some stage, I guess.” She shrugs, her vulnerability coming to life, making me want to protect her more.

“Then I’m glad for it, and if you need anything, I will make sure you have the right care and medical attention. Will it affect the baby?”

“No, if I take care of myself. Just give me some time to adjust to things. It’s all still so much for me… with everything,” she confesses.

“Okay. I’ll try.” I grimace, not wanting her to know just how much I care. That’s too much of a weakness to show. “I’m not making promises,” I enforce begrudgingly, knowing my temper can flare if I’m left in the dark for too long. “Don’t hide things.”

“Then I won’t.” She lays her head on my chest as I kiss her temple. I’m surprised by my depth of concern for her well-being.