Chapter Nine: Sophia

Packing up all my things, I mutter under my breath, stuck in disbelief about the interaction I just had. No. No. No. That didn’t just happen. It was all a bad fever dream. Did I really interview a Bratva boss, who is the same man I slept with?

The manila folders slip from my grasp to the floor, and as it opens, there are pictures of a man slain in a pool of blood. And another, with police tape across the middle of the glossy photo. Shit. This is from the crimes the Bratva have supposedly engaged in. Swallowing down my regret, I quickly scoop up the folder, my heart beating faster than it should.

Fuck. I have to get out of here. A second officer meets me at the crossover from the back of the police station to the real world where people aren’t criminals, just ordinary law-abiding citizens. “Did you get all the information you needed today?” he inquires politely as I look at him, a deep sense of fear hanging over me.

“Yes. I think I got more than I wanted. That’s okay. I can trim it if need be,” I tell him, glad that Andrei is locked away in prison.

“Good. See you next time.” As I walk out to the front, I stop at reception, a kind-faced woman at the desk. “Umm, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. What can I help with?”

“Ah, it’s just a research question I didn’t get a chance to ask Andrei Utkin in there. I’m a second-year law student—”

“That’s okay. I know who you are. I was told about you being here. Dr. Perri told me as well. We’re a big fan of hers here at the department.”

Slightly relieved, I muster the courage to ask her about what I have to say. “What’s his sentence term?”

“Ah, that’s easy and one I can answer because it’s technically public record. It’s likely he’s going to be in jail for a few months. If he’s proven guilty, he’s going to be in the can for years.” A huge weight falls off my shoulders when I hear the word “years.” Great. He can’t make good on his threats.

Smiling thinly at the receptionist, I nod my head, the laptop strap digging into my shoulder. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. Say hi to Dr. Perri for me when you see her.”

“Will do.”

As I walk out into the sunshine, I realize my hands are shaking. It’s the residual impact of Andrei’s presence on me. His silent threats ring loudly in my ears as I scan the prison parking lot.

“You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.” As I breathe shallowly, I let the wind grace my face, hoping it’s enough to draw me out of the waking nightmare I’ve found myself in. Lost in a muddle of confusion, a horn blares at me violently as I stop in my tracks, gasping sharply.

“What the fuck are you doing? You walked right in front of the car!” the angry man behind the wheel declares.

Blinking rapidly, I blow out a breath. “Sorry, I’m so sorry!” Grimacing, I scurry along to my vehicle, dumping all my crap in the back of the car. Leaning forward on the wheel, I hold on to it for dear life, wishing I never met Andrei.

But why did it feel so good when he touched me? I do my best to convince myself I’m never going to have to deal with him again. He can’t hurt you. He’s going to stay in jail. Because that’s where bad people go, Sophia. To fucking jail.

Clashing cymbals from my bombastic ringtone jolt me back to the present, and I blindly search around under my seat for my cell phone. Picking it up, my pulse drops realizing it’s Ava.

“Hey, girl. I’m glad you called. You’re never going to believe who I just interviewed!”

“I called at the right time, then. I’m stuck on this criminology essay, and I wanted to ask you a question.”

I’m thankful for the distraction. “What is it?”

“Forget about that for a second, I want to hear about what the interviews were like! Were they dangerous and hot?”

Sinking into a deep breath, I roll my window down slightly. “I interviewed Andrei.”

A loud gasp filters through the phone. “You what? Not Andrei, the one you slept with?”

“Fucking yes! Him!”

“What’s he in for?”

“Murder.”

“Oh, my fricking God. I have so many questions. Did he know you were doing the interviews? Do you think he set it up?” Ava asks, her questions making me want to vomit.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. All I know is I can’t believe who I picked.”

“Me neither! This is juicy. I need the blow-by-blow. Pun intended.”

“Ava, stop. This is so serious. I made a mistake,” I admit, remorse filling me.

“Not necessarily. You didn’t know.” The sound of another call flashes on my phone, and for some reason I think it’s the prison administration. Not that I would know why they’re calling me. Andrei has me rattled, and it’s disturbing. It’s a good thing that it’s the doctor’s office calling.

It must be from the other day. I make sure to attend my checkups regularly, and yesterday was no exception.

“Hey, can I call you back? There’s an important call coming through.”

“Sure, sure, go, but you better call me back.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” I click over to the other caller, relieved about who it’s from.

“Hi, Sophia. It’s Dr. Caruthers here. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”

Wiping the thin layer of perspiration on my brow, I keep my eyeline on the steady stream of traffic in front of me, willing my heart rate to go back down.

“Er, no. Now’s a good time. Is everything okay?”

Dr. Caruthers chuckles. “That depends on what you call okay. I’m ringing with some news from your blood test.”

Oh no. Please don’t tell me something’s wrong again. I don’t need this…. Preparing myself for what she has to say, I bite back my fear.

“Go ahead.”

“The blood test shows by early detection that you’re pregnant.”

I feel my heart drop out of my chest, the traffic now a blur of dizziness. A faint feeling rushes through me. “Can you, umm, can you repeat that?”

“Yes, I can,” Dr. Caruthers says patiently. “It sounds like you’re in shock, but yes—you’re pregnant.”

“No, no,” I reply in short breaths, shaking my head. “There must be a mistake. I can’t be pregnant!” I shriek, the horror of it all sinking in.

“No. I’m 100 percent sure, and I will be sending you the results. We can conduct a separate pregnancy test should you need it. You are two weeks along.”

I find myself looking up in the front view mirror to the brick prison building, doom descending on me and my future.

I didn’t use protection with Andrei. What a rookie mistake. One that’s going to cost me my life, or at the very least flip it upside down.