Page 137 of Thorns of Lust

I was thrilled about the baby. The baby’s father… not so much.

Slipping my feet into the shoes, I headed out of the room and down the stairs. Music and the clinking of silverware echoed through the luxury hallway. I headed to the nearest exit, hoping to find Yan by the car. Vasili would surely tell him to be ready.

My feet came to a halt at a voice calling my name. I realized too late whose voice it was. I was just about to resume walking when he called me again. I stopped, then slowly turned around to come face-to-face with my baby daddy.

Jesus Christ.

“Leaving without saying goodbye again?” he taunted.

My spine snapped upright, and I glared at him.

“Any more murders of innocent women or children you want to share?” I snapped back.

His eyes flashed with a terrifying darkness and his jaw clenched.

“You could have asked for an explanation,” he said in a low tone. I was about to keep walking when he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. He pinned me in place with his eyes darkening like storms in the night. “You’re pregnant with my child.”

The words left him with such ease, as if finding out a mere stranger to him was pregnant with his child was an everyday occurrence. Maybe it was. God, what did I get myself into?

Konstantin and madness went hand in hand.

“What do you want, Konstantin?”

“You.”

I gulped, a strange feeling twisted in my chest. It bled into my veins and spread. And all the while an awareness tickled the back of my mind.

“I already told you, we were temporary.” He didn’t respond, just stared me down. Probably trying to intimidate me. “I-I was honest from the start.”

“We’re getting married.”

“For the hundredth time, no.”

His eyes darkened with a warning. “You’re pregnant withmychild.”

“You’re assuming. It’s a stomach bug.”Sort of.

His calm façade cracked, anger and callousness in his eyes. For the first time since I’d met him, menace crossed Konstantin’s expression. It was more terrifying than anything I had ever experienced. Was this the man that executed a woman on her knees? Were those his true colors?

His jaw clenched and he took a step forward, towering over me. “I let you go once so I could protect you,” he said roughly. I frowned, wondering what he meant. “I never forgot you.” His voice grew harder with each word. “But you, Tatiana, you forgot me.”

Was he talking about the fucking restaurant? We met for a fleeting moment only. I didn't have patience for this bullshit today.

“I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about,” I hissed as I turned to leave.

“My child willnotbe born outside of wedlock.” Illias took my hand into his and squeezed it. “Do you fucking understand me?”

“You’re a monster,” I breathed out. “A killer.”

“And what do you think your family is?”

I jerked my hand out of his grip.

“My brothers don’t execute women on their knees, Illias. They are a different kind of monster. It’s your kind that I won’t tolerate.”

My breathing shallowed. My heart raced. My ears buzzed.

“Push me, moya luna, and I’ll snuff out that pretty blue inferno in your eyes,” he said in a calm tone.

“Shall I get on my knees now so you can put a gun to my head and pull the trigger? It’ll save you time,” I answered just as calmly while my heart raced in my chest, hammering against my ribs.

Something in his gaze flashed, almost as if the thought excited him. “Oh, Tatiana. I’ll have you on your knees. But you’ll enjoy every minute of it.” Then he left me, staring after him and with his warning ringing in my ears. I knew full well this wasn’t the end.

Only the beginning.