Bratva Beast (Bravikov Bratva #1)

Chapter 12

THE FOLLOWING MAY

ISABELLA

The doctor removes her gloves as Cynric holds my hand. “Ready to have the baby?”

My heart leaps into my throat. “What?”

“You’re dilated to four centimeters. I’d expect you to deliver your son by morning. You need to head to the hospital, and I’ll see you in a few hours. My nurse will call ahead.”

Cynric asks. “It’s not too early?”

She shakes her head. “No. She’s considered full term at thirty-eight weeks.”

Cynric squeezes my hand. “We need to decide on a name, Isochka.”

The doctor’s brow raises at the use of the nickname.

I swallow down my anxiety. I’ve seen babies born, helping to deliver a few myself in the emergency room, but never my own.

Stepping into the waiting room, Thane leans against the wall beside the doorway like a gargoyle, devoid of emotion. Papa allowed his return the previous week. He breaks out the best fake smile I’ve ever seen him give and he opens the door for us to walk through. “Where to?”

Cynric holds me tight against him with Thane walking just in front of my other side. “Hospital.”

Thane jerks his steps as he turns. “The baby is coming now?”

I nod my head. “Apparently.”

Cynric chuckles. “We’re not calling anyone. That’ll be your job when he’s here.”

Thane’s brow crinkles. “He?”

“My son, dumbass.” Luckily the two are conversing in Russian so no one is aware that they’re growling at each other.

Thane pushes the door open, and the SUV pulls up with Saxon driving. The first sharp pain catches me as I get settled in the back seat. “Oh.”

All three sets of eyes snap to me, waiting on bated breath. Thane growls. “Get to the hospital now, Saxon.”

Saxon startles at the demand but gently puts the vehicle in gear. It only takes a few moments, and we’re pulling up to the Maternity entrance. Thane jumps out to open the door and nods at Saxon. He’s first through the door, growling at a woman behind a desk, demanding a wheelchair.

“I’m fine, Thane. Women have babies every day.”

“Not my sister, she doesn’t.”

My heart skips a beat. This is the first time Thane has vocally acknowledged our family connection. Cynric’s hand tightens behind my back. “His being gone was the best thing.”

I want to agree out loud, but the pressure in my belly distracts me as my hand presses against my back.

“You’ve been feeling this since yesterday. You’re a med student.”

I shrug. “Yeah. I guess I didn’t put two and two together. I thought they were just Braxton Hicks. You know, the practice contractions.”

Thane barks at us. “Isn’t this baby early?”

Cynric nods. “About two weeks. Totally fine, brother.”

My heart warms at the thought of Thane’s change of being towards me. Is there some woman? A nurse greets us and walks us into an intake area. I hear two annoyed voices and the curtain moves. Thane is growling at a striking redhead sitting in a wheelchair. My eyes shift down to a swollen belly, and Thane’s new attitude clicks like I’ve just completed a five-thousand-piece puzzle.

Cynric’s annoyed gaze shifts as I take his hand in mine. “That’s Thane’s woman.”

“What?”

“That woman. It’s obvious. She means something to him. Look at his body language. He wants to pull her into his arms. I guess you’re not the only one giving Papa a grandchild.”

Saxon strolls into the room, catching his brother out of the corner of his eye. “Who’s the redhead?”

“Got no idea. But I think she’s going to matter to all of us.”

Thane turns to nod at Cynric, who returns the gesture. The orderly pushes the woman in the wheelchair, with Thane strolling to keep up.

THREE WEEKS LATER

CYNRIC

My son rests in the crook of my arm as my father stands in the doorway staring. “How’s my number one grandson?”

“Fyodor is good, thanks.”

Papa stares at us with an unusual expression of warmth. The last time he looked like that Isabella was saving my life. “You named him after me?”

“Isabella named him. She thought you’d like your middle name to be his. You would have known that if you hadn’t been gone for weeks.”

“I’ll have to thank her.”

The door opens and my wife strolls in. “Thank me?”

She walks over and takes the baby from me. My three-week-old son smiles at her presence as she nods at Papa.

“Thank you for naming him after me.”

“You’re welcome.” She sets him on her shoulder and he roots around at her neck. “I’ll bring him back after he eats.”

“That kid is always eating. Maybe you shouldn’t go back to work when your leave is up.”

I chuckle as she turns around and sticks out her tongue. My eyes focus back on my father.

“She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”

“Just like Mom did with you.”

My father shrugs. “Thane’s bringing his woman to dinner on Sunday. Will you be there?”

“Yes.” We’re finally going to meet the woman that’s turned my angry brother around.

Can’t wait to find out about Thane? Read the first chapter of Bratva Wolf.