Forced to Marry the Russian (Nikolai Bratva Brides #2)

Chapter 21 - Lev

Lev paced the bedroom as he waited for Zia to leave the bathroom.

They’d returned home after she told him she was pregnant. He needed to know if she was pregnant. His mind was void of any other thought as his nerves worked extra time to keep him uneasy, which was something he’d never experienced before.

He hoped she was pregnant with his child. It meant their lives would change forever, but in a good way. They would become a complete family.

He heard the faint rustle of movement from the bathroom and paused, straining to catch any sound that might give him a clue. His thoughts raced—what if it was positive? How would he handle the news? Would he be a good father? And if it was negative, how would Zia feel? How would he comfort her?

The door opened slowly, and Zia stepped out, her face a blend of nervousness and something he couldn’t quite read. She held the test in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. Lev’s breath caught in his throat as he stopped pacing and waited for her to speak.

She took a hesitant step toward him, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his heart ache. “Lev,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She held out the test, and he took it from her gently, his hands shaking as he looked down at the result.

Two pink lines.

He glanced at her, then at the test. He wasn’t certain what it was, but if it was what he thought… He could feel his joy bubbling.

His heart seemed to stop for a moment before racing. A wave of different emotions crashed into him at once. Happiness, love, fear.

He looked up at Zia, who was watching him with wide, teary, blue eyes. “We’re going to have a baby?” he asked, his voice strained with emotion.

Zia nodded, tears spilling over her cheeks as a radiant smile broke across her face.

“I am going to be a father.”

“Yes, Lev. You’re going to be a father. We’re going to be parents.” She paused and sniffled. “I know this is not what you wanted, but—”

Lev pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he never wanted to let go. “God, Zia. This isn’t what I wanted, but it’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever felt. I’ve never been happier in my life than I am right now,” he whispered into her hair, his own tears mingling with hers.

He meant every word. The joy he felt wasn’t one that words could describe, only tears. He was going to be a father. He was going to have a complete family of his own. A little bit of fear tugged at him, too, because of the war with the Irish mob. But that didn’t matter. He was going to protect his family no matter what.

He was going to keep them safe, and he was going to be the best father to their unborn child.

“We’re going to be parents, Lev,” Zia said, her voice trembling with happiness. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “So, you’re not angry?”

He shook his head. “I’m not. Thank you so much, Zia. Thank you for coming into my life and changing everything. You have no idea how much you mean to me.”

She meant so much to him that the thought of losing her would be the end of the world for him. He was excited about becoming a father—about them becoming parents. But fear lurked beneath all of that excitement.

Fear and Lev Nikolai were two words that didn’t mix, but now they did because he had more to lose. He had a family he needed to protect. A wife and an unborn child. It made him vulnerable.

The terror that came with that realization almost drained away the happiness inside him, but it also gave him determination.

He had to get rid of Cillian Moore before his child was born. He had to take out his enemy before he dared to hurt his pregnant wife. He had to win the war no matter what.

Zia cupped his face, reeling him back to the moment. Her gaze bore straight into his soul as if she could see his heart and feel his thoughts. And maybe she could. This woman who’d brought so much light into his life could see through him. “I know things are not going well in the mafia, but we’ll get through this,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I love you, Lev.”

And before he could stop, he heard himself saying the words back. “I love you too, Zia.”

Zia’s eyes widened with disbelief. “You… love me?”

He swallowed, feeling a rush of warmth gather around his chest. He’d finally let himself admit and confess his feelings to her, and he was going to tell her everything he’d been holding back from saying.

“Yes, I do.” He inhaled. Nothing ever made him anxious, but the beautiful woman standing in front of him—his wife and the mother of his unborn child—did. “I think I fell in love with you the first time we met at the bar, but I was too foolish not to recognize that feeling for what it was.”

A smile spread across her face, and her eyes gleamed with unadulterated joy. “I never thought you would ever say it back to me. To be honest, I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same or be excited for the baby.”

He huffed a laugh. “I would kill for you, Malyshka. I would let the world burn for you and our unborn child. If that isn’t love, then I have no idea what it is.”

She flattened her hands on his chest. “I know you will. Thank you for making my night.”

“I should be thanking you for making me the happiest man alive.”

His phone rang before she could reply. Konstantin’s name flashed on his screen. He answered. “What now?”

Konstantin cleared his throat. “We found a woman looking for your wife, Chief. I think she’s the same girl we’ve been trying to find. Her name is Amy Spencer.”

Lev turned his attention to Zia. “What did you say your friend’s name was?”

“Her name is Amy. Amy Spencer,” Zia added. “Is something wrong?”

“I can’t say. Remember the club I told you we just opened?”

Zia nodded. Her big blue eyes grew wide with anticipation.

Lev smiled and tucked a lock of curly hair behind her ear. “Get dressed; we’re going to the club.”

“By this time? Why?” she asked.

He didn’t want to lie to her, but he wanted to give her a little surprise. “I have work to do.”