Secret Bratva Daddy

Chapter 27Sydney

27

Sydney

T he gentle hum of the ultrasound machine fills the room as I lay on the examination table, my heart racing with anticipation. Avros stands beside me, his large hand engulfing mine, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. The cool gel on my swollen belly makes me shiver, but Avros's warmth beside me is a comforting constant.

"Are you ready to see your baby?" Dr. Johnson asks, her kind eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiles at us.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Avros squeezes my hand gently. "We're ready," he says, his deep voice rumbling through me.

As the doctor presses the wand to my belly, the grainy image on the screen comes to life. The rapid whoosh-whoosh of our baby's heartbeat fills the room, strong and steady. Tears prick at my eyes as I watch our child move on the screen, tiny hands and feet becoming visible.

"Everything looks perfect," Dr. Johnson assures us, pointing out various features. "Strong heartbeat, good size for gestational age. Would you like to know if they’re a boy or a girl?"

I look up at Avros, seeing my own excitement mirrored in his eyes. We'd discussed this, deciding we wanted to know, but now that the moment is here, I find myself hesitating.

"It's up to you, myshka ," Avros murmurs, bringing my hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Whatever you want."

His tenderness, so at odds with the dangerous man the world sees, makes my heart swell. I nod, turning back to the doctor. "Yes, please. We'd like to know."

Dr. Johnson smiles, adjusting the wand slightly. "Well, congratulations. You're having a little girl."

The world seems to stop for a moment as the words sink in. A girl. We're having a daughter.

"A girl," I whisper, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks. "Avros, we're having a little girl."

I look up at him, expecting to see joy, but what I see instead takes my breath away. Avros, the feared bratva boss, the man who can make hardened criminals tremble with a single look, has tears in his eyes. His expression is one of awe and vulnerability I've never seen before.

"A daughter," he says softly, his accent thicker with emotion. "Our little princess."

The love in his voice, the tenderness in his touch as he places his free hand on my belly, it's almost too much. This man, who has seen and done things I can barely imagine, is completely undone by the thought of our daughter.

As Dr. Johnson finishes the exam and leaves us alone to get dressed, Avros helps me sit up, his hands gentle yet possessive on my body. He kneels before me, his face level with my swollen belly.

"Hello, little one," he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my skin. "I'm your papa. I can't wait to meet you, to hold you in my arms. I promise you, my princess, I will move heaven and earth to keep you safe and happy."

His words, spoken with such fierce devotion, bring fresh tears to my eyes. I card my fingers through his hair, marveling at how this dangerous man can be so gentle, so loving.

"She's going to have you wrapped around her little finger," I tease gently, my voice thick with emotion.

Avros looks up at me, his eyes shining with a mixture of love and determination. "Just like her mother does," he says with a soft smile. Then his expression turns serious. "I swear to you both, I will be the father she deserves. The husband you deserve. I'll do whatever it takes to protect our family."

The intensity in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. I know Avros means every word, that he would burn the world to ash to keep us safe. It should frighten me, this glimpse of the ruthless man he can be. But instead, I feel safer than I ever have before.

"I know you will," I say softly, cupping his face in my hands. "And we'll be right here beside you, supporting you every step of the way. Our little family against the world."

Avros stands, pulling me into his arms. I melt against him, feeling the solid strength of his body, breathing in his familiar scent of expensive cologne and something uniquely him.

"My girls," he murmurs into my hair. "My everything."

As we leave the doctor's office, Avros's hand on the small of my back, guiding and protecting, I can't help but marvel at how much my life has changed. A year ago, I was a struggling grad student, barely making ends meet. Now, I'm engaged to one of the most powerful men in the city, carrying his child—his daughter.

The sunlight hits us as we step outside, warm and bright. Avros's security detail surrounds us immediately, a reminder of the world we live in. But for once, their presence doesn't make me nervous. Instead, I feel a surge of gratitude for the protection they provide, for the lengths Avros goes to just to keep us safe.

"What are you thinking, myshka ?" Avros asks as he helps me into the car, his hand lingering on mine.

I smile up at him, feeling a rush of love so strong it almost takes my breath away. "I'm thinking about how lucky our daughter is to have you as her father. How lucky I am to have you as my partner."

Avros's eyes darken with emotion. He leans in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispers, "I'm the lucky one, Sydney. You've given me everything I never knew I wanted. A family. A future. An entire world to protect, outside my empire. A reason to be a better man."

As we drive home, Avros's hand resting possessively on my thigh, I let my mind wander to the future. I picture a little girl with Avros's dark hair and my green eyes, running through the mansion's gardens. I imagine Avros teaching her to ride a bike, his strong hands keeping her steady. I see us as a family, gathered around the dinner table, laughing and sharing stories.

But even as these warm images fill my mind, I can't completely silence the whisper of anxiety. Our world isn't safe. Avros has enemies, people who would use me and our daughter to get to him. How will we protect her? How will we explain Avros's business when she's old enough to understand?

Avros seems to sense my unease. His hand tightens slightly on my thigh. "What's wrong, lyubov moya ?" he asks, concern evident in his voice.

I hesitate, not wanting to dampen the joy of the moment. But Avros and I have promised to always be honest with each other. "I was just thinking about the future," I admit softly. "About how we'll keep her safe."

Avros is quiet for a moment, his jaw clenching in that way it does when he's deep in thought. When he speaks, his voice is low and fierce. "I swear to you, Sydney, no harm will ever come to our daughter. I'll dismantle my entire empire if that's what it takes to protect her. I'll burn my whole world to the ground—because soon, she'll be my whole world."

The vehemence in his voice both comforts and worries me. "I don't want you to give up everything you've built," I say, placing my hand over his. "I just want us to be a family. A normal, happy family."

Avros brings my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "We will be, myshka . I promise you. I'm already working on legitimizing more of the business. By the time our princess is born, things will be different. Safer. More... above board."

I nod, wanting to believe him. Wanting to believe that we can have it all—the love, the family, the safety. But a small part of me wonders if it's truly possible. Can a man like Avros, with his past and his power, ever truly leave that world behind?

As we pull up to the mansion, Avros helps me out of the car, his hand protective on my lower back. The front door opens before we reach it, revealing Miron's grinning face.

"Well?" he demands eagerly. "Do I have a niece or a nephew?"

Avros's face breaks into a rare, full smile. "A niece," he says, his voice filled with pride. "You're going to have a little princess to spoil rotten."

Miron whoops with joy, pulling me into a gentle hug before clapping his brother on the back. "A girl! Oh, this is perfect. I can already picture her wrapping you around her little finger, big brother."

As we enter the house, the air filled with laughter and excited chatter about nursery colors and tiny dresses, I feel a sense of rightness settle over me. This is my family now. Unconventional, sometimes dangerous, but filled with more love than I ever thought possible.

Later that night, as Avros and I lay in bed, his hand resting protectively on my swollen belly, I can't help but voice the question that's been nagging at me.

"Are you disappointed?" I ask softly. "That it's not a boy?"

Avros props himself up on one elbow, looking down at me with an intensity that makes my breath catch. "Disappointed?" he repeats, his voice rough with emotion. "Sydney, I have never been happier in my life. A daughter... a little girl who will have your strength, your kindness, your beauty. How could I be anything but overjoyed?"

His words wash over me, soothing away my insecurities. I reach up, tracing the strong line of his jaw. "She'll have your strength too," I murmur. "Your protectiveness, your loyalty."

Avros turns his head, pressing a kiss to my palm. "She'll have the best of both of us," he agrees. "And we'll give her the world, myshka . Everything she could ever want or need."

As Avros leans down to capture my lips in a tender kiss, I let myself believe in the future he's painting. A future where our daughter is safe and happy, where our family thrives despite the dangers that may lurk in the shadows.

It won't be easy. There will be a delicate balance to maintain between Avros's world and the innocence of our child. But as I feel our daughter kick, as if agreeing with her father's words, I know one thing for certain:

Whatever comes, we'll face it together. As a family.