Chapter 42

Forty-Two

R uby

Pavel is nicer than he looks. After the drugstore ordeal, and I sat quietly, a blink away from sobbing in the back seat, he pulled the car through a drive through, ordering a large apple pie blizzard for me—and because I grumped about not wanting to eat alone, he ordered Maxim's request for a fudge brownie blizzard, and a banana cream pie one for himself.

Banana cream pie ice cream, though…yuck.

I've now been pacing the bathroom for the last hour. About five minutes ago, I got the nerve to pee on the first stick. I haven't yet wrangled the nerve to look at it, however.

The sound of men's voices boom from the floor below, kicking me into action. I flip the stick and see—two pink lines.

Oh, God…no.

I cover my belly with my hand, fear and desperation bleeding into a love I know will only grow.

I tip my face up to the ceiling, letting my eyes close as I pray, "Let me be safe and healthy and strong for this baby, God. Please, please let me be worthy of this new life."

I shove the positive stick back into the box, and shove both boxes into the back of the cabinet. Then I adjust my dress, sweep fresh powder on my face, and pray I won't start crying again as shaky legs carry me from the bedroom, down the stairs, and into the kitchen where Kirill stands with Dimitri, Pavel, and Maxim.

The entire kitchen goes quiet at my arrival, but every man looks grim. My eyes connect with Pavel's, and I frown. Did he tell him?

I feel betrayed at the possibility, but as I stare at him, he gives me a subtle shake of his head. I sigh a breath of relief, before my eyes land on Kirill—who clocked the entire silent exchange.

Shoot.

"Wife." His voice is hard. "You left the house today."

"I did." I lift my chin.

"For what?"

"My stomach has been bothering me. I was going to talk to a pharmacist—but I just bought chocolate and candy instead."

I think his lips twitch. His eyes drop to my belly before they lift to mine. My heart, though, skips at least three beats. My breath stalls. Does he know?

Of course, he doesn't know. How could he possibly know? I've only just begun to suspect.

Maybe he's just looking at my stomach because it's the thing that's been acting up. And he's not wrong. Only, it's not my stomach acting up so much as the thing that's growing in it. The life. Our life.

Lord, we're having a baby.

I swallow hard. "Why is everyone so tense?"

"A new security detail arrives tomorrow," Kirill says easily, but I notice the way Pavel shifts uneasily. My current security detail is not happy about this new detail. My eyes remain fixed on my husband, because I sense that he's hiding something from me. Something important.

When he doesn't continue, my eyes slide to the men. I consider pressing, but decide now isn't the time. I'll ask him when we're alone, because I sense I'll have a far better chance of digging whatever secrets he's buried deep under the fear I see layering his depthless eyes, in private.

"Well." I start for the fridge, plucking a bottle of water from inside. "It's been a long day. I'm going to head to bed early, I think." I grab an apple from the bowl on the counter as I pass it, calling to the guys, "Night guys."

Kirill appears in the open door of the bathroom. I'm wearing one of his shirts, as usual, but tonight I've ditched the panties, and I feel incredibly exposed for it. Not that he knows that. The shirt hangs too low to expose anything, so my surprise will remain that way until he discovers it.

Stepping into the room, I watch him as I finish brushing my teeth. He reaches me as I drop my toothbrush into the holder, lifting my brush. Even as my eyes never leave his face, I can't help but sigh as the bristles meet my scalp, the brush running slowly through silky red waves.

Will our baby have my red hair or his shade away from black?

My body jolts at the thought, and Kirill frowns. "What is it?"

I gather myself. "Why are we getting another security detail? Pavel and Maxim seem plenty competent."

"They are. But more can't hurt."

I sense he's not telling me everything, and it hurts. I feel like he's lying to me. I take a moment to construct my words in my mind before I give them to him. "Please don't lie to me, Kirill. You mean too much to me—I love you too much to stand by and become the woman you spend your life lying to. I won't be my mother."

He swallows hard, my words a blow. The last man he wants to be compared to is my father.

Even though I considered my words, I hadn't considered the way they would hurt him. I drop my eyes in shame before he replies. "There have been threats."

My eyes lift, fear quickening in my heart. "Against you?"

He shakes his head. "Against you."

"Me?" I'm appalled. "Why would anyone want to hurt me?" The look he gives me explains it loud and clear. My father. My terrible, lying, scheming, scumbag of a father. A man I spent my life adoring and looking up to, so proud of. A bad, evil man I am coming to loathe more and more, with every day that passes. Quietly, I say, "I thought you said I would be safe with you."

"You will be. The extra security is a precaution to ensure that you remain safe with me, Ruby."

Ruby, not wife . This is serious. "Kirill…" My voice shakes. "What is the nature of these threats?"

His jaw tightens. "There is a bounty on you. Artyom has called it. Two million dollars."

"Two million!" I shriek. "I'm not worth that!"

His eyes darken. His fist tightens so much around my brush, I think he might crack the plastic. "You are worth far more than that."

I think I'm going to be sick. And this time, it has nothing to do with the baby I'm growing in my belly.

God—please protect me.

I have a bounty on my head, and I'm growing a life. How messed up is this?

"So, someone is trying to kill me for two million dollars?"

He shakes his head. "He wants you alive."

"For what?" I know the answer before the words fully leave my mouth. My hand lifts as a horrified sound escapes my mouth. Kirill gathers me in his arms, his words soothing even as I hear the deadly intent in them.

"You will be safe, Ruby. I vow to you; you will be safe."

He lifts me into his arms, sweeping me from the room in the current of his wrath as he lays me on the bed, stripping quickly from his clothes to join me. He wraps me in his arms again, the rage an endless ocean crashing through him as he vows again and again, "No one will hurt you. I will lay my life down for yours. I will keep you safe. You mean the world to me ."

It's not how I wanted it to happen, but the words slip from between my lips. It's a heartbroken cry of desperation whispered on the wings of a fraught prayer. "I'm pregnant."

I shudder in his arms as he holds me even tighter, his voice a deadly rumble in my hair as he says, "I know, wife. And I will protect you both with my life, for the rest of my life."