Forced Mafia Bride (Yezhov Bratva #2)

Chapter 26 – Nikolai

“I’ve got you.”

“We’re going to do this together.”

Everything echoed in a torturing slow motion: the heartbeat on the monitor, the footsteps and voices of the medical team swarming around us, their efficient movements a blur, her agonizing screams when the contractions hit, the sound of her tears, her nails digging into my skin as she held on tight, fighting for our baby. Fighting for us.

The seconds seemed excruciatingly longer and more painful. Until....

Until we heard him cry.

Then, my heart stopped.

I’d heard babies cry. Heck, I helped Freya change Alina and Alexei’s diapers one time. But this was different, more personal. The wails hit my chest, snatching my breath away at the first sound, and when the nurse picked him up, his stretched-out tiny arms and legs pinched me in the gut.

Rosalyn was already fast asleep on the bed. The doctor said the pain knocked her out. So, I held the little fighter—our son.

Mine.

The last time I experienced a feeling as pumped as this was the first time I rode a motorcycle in the estate and bashed into Egor’s car on his way inside. The excitement hadn’t let me think straight. I laughed and cried at the same time, even after he punched me in the face for being reckless.

This....

This was more intense.

I stood in that hospital room, cradling my newborn son in my arms like the nurse showed me. Little Cian Nikolai, named after Rosalyn’s old man. Yet, he was a miniature version of me—same piercing eyes, same stubborn jaw.

I laughed, feeling my chest swell with pride. The moment I laid eyes on him, something shifted inside. Being a father hit me like a ton of bricks. A sudden surge of protection, of responsibility, consumed me.

I glanced over at Rosalyn, still sleeping like an angel. Gazing at her, something else stirred. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but this woman…she got under my skin. Maybe it was the way she smiled when I held her hand or how she fought through the pain.

I knew I loved her.

I knew I couldn’t live a day without her in it.

But even now, that love waxed greater and stronger, and it dawned on me that she wasn’t just the mother of my child; she was more. I saw it in her eyes—fire, loyalty, heart.

In that moment, I knew I’d do anything to keep her and Cian Nikolai safe. Anything.

****

An hour later, after I put our little champion to sleep in his cradle, I stood watch over Rosalyn, her chest rising and falling with each breath. I traced the perfect lines on her face with my eyes, admiring how more beautiful she glowed. As though sensing my eyes on her, her eyes flickered open, and I smiled.

“The princess is finally awake. You deserved the rest. I don’t know how you women do it.”

Rosalyn’s eyelids fluttered open, a faint smile on her lips when she straightened up on the bed. “You haven’t called me that in a long time.”

“You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that.” She blinked and whispered, “Niko…the baby?”

“He’s right here. You gave me a son. A beautiful son. You want to hold him?”

She nodded and gave me a funny look while I gently placed little Cian in her arms. Her warm gaze flickered from his face to mine and back to his again as she gazed at him like he was the only thing that mattered.

“Were you crying?”

“What?” Quickly, I arched a cocky brow, suppressing a sniffle. “Fuck no.”

“Shh! Language. We don’t want our son picking up cuss words first.”

I laughed, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. My throat tightened. This woman, my woman, holding our son…the picture was like nothing I’d ever seen. No art or painting or sculpture could beat it.

Rosalyn’s face contorted, tears streaming down. “He’s so perfect.”

I wrapped my arms around them, pulling them close. “Yeah, he is. You are, too. You both are perfect”

Emotion choked me. This little family, we were in this together now.

Rosalyn looked up, her eyes locked on mine. “Thank you, Niko.”

For what, I didn’t know. For being here? For loving her? For giving her a son?

It didn’t matter.

What mattered was that they were mine, and I was theirs.

My family.