My eyes shifted to the screen where a soft rhythmic sound cut through the static. My heart warmed, and a bright smile lifted my mood. “It’s so cute,” I murmured, listening to the small, steady beat.
Nik drew closer and towered over me, his gaze pinned on the screen. He didn’t say anything, but the look on his face told me all that I needed to know.
This man would cherish his child and wouldn’t mind going to any length to keep them safe. He had the look of a father in those cold eyes of his, and it sparked something inside me.
At the moment, a fierce instinct kicked in, and I knew that just like Nik, I would burn the world to protect this baby. I placed my hand on my lower abdomen, my heart melting with delight as I stared at the blurry image on the screen.
This child was the one thing linking Nik and me in ways I never wanted. But this was my reality now, and the sooner I accepted it, the better. I glanced up at Nik, but his eyes were fixed on the screen. I didn’t realize that he’d been holding my hand this whole time until he squeezed gently against my fingers.
I felt a strange warmth spread through my body, as if his touch had stirred something inside me. My mission was getting tougher and tougher by the day because now I was stuck between survival and duty.
How could I bring myself to destroy the father of my unborn child? Was it really worth it?
I had yet to find anything tying him to the human trafficking crimes in the city. He told me himself that his gangdidn’t partake in such activities. Wasn’t that enough to make the Bureau look away?
I knew my emotions were starting to cloud my judgment since I began entertaining this thought. Nik might not be guilty of this particular crime, but he sure was guilty of others. Drug dealing, racketeering, money laundering, et cetera. But I still didn’t have any proof of these crimes.
How could I work effectively while under twenty-four-hour surveillance? The only reason I made it this far was because I hadn’t been caught. If I ever got sloppy and Nik found out my mission was to bring him down, there was no telling what he’d do to me.
The thought of it alone scared the shit out of me.
The soldier in me wanted to complete the mission because Nikolai Tarasov had destroyed countless lives. He deserved to be locked up behind bars for all his atrocities. However, the emotional side of me— the part that knew I was about to become a mother—thought differently.
There was more at stake here than just my life. One wrong move might land me in so much trouble, and if anything happened to me, the baby would be affected. It was too big a risk. I couldn’t take it.
This mission now felt like a chain rather than a purpose.
Maybe I never should’ve reached out to the director, promising her the evidence she needed to put Nik away. Perhaps if I hadn’t made that call, I would’ve just simply abandoned the mission without feeling guilty or pressured.
Besides, the Bureau hadn’t even known I was still alive until I made that call. Now I regretted it. I should’ve just kept my mouth shut and accepted my fate at the mansion.
Nik was already changing into a version I never thought possible. And deep down, I knew he had the potential to be more—for his child and for me.
Calling the director was a big mistake; I saw that clearly now.
I’d never been more trapped and more confused in my life. This game was getting out of hand, and my chances of survival were growing slimmer by the day.
If this went south, and I somehow survived, it would only be because Nik would want me to give birth to his baby. Then, I’d be his prisoner for real, and the second the child was born, he would end my life.
Fear crept into my heart, and I swallowed hard, realizing just how much trouble I was in.
I’m fucked.
Chapter 22 – Nik
The sex of the child was irrelevant right now; all that mattered was that a baby was on its way. It was my responsibility to ensure everything was in order before the delivery day.
I must be prepared for the likes of Richard Kane, who would seek to make a move on myDikayaand the child we were expecting. In my world, enemies would do anything just to prove a point. If he could come after me in my club, he would go after those I cared about.
BeforeDikayaand this child, I never had to worry about any loose ends. I was invincible—untouchable because I had no weaknesses. But now, I was responsible for not just one but two lives.
My mind was caught in a storm, especially after seeing the little creature’s form on the screen. Its faint heartbeat still lingered at the back of my head, reminding me of the life inDikaya’swomb—my future. My legacy.
Ever since the visit to the clinic, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the baby. I’d been quieter than usual and found myself reflexively withdrawing fromDikayaand everyone else. I needed some time to myself to process and plan my next move.
I was doing the same thing I once criticized her for. How ironic!
I finally understood why she demanded some space—the pressure was overwhelming. It had been a few days since the ultrasound, and we hadn’t had our usual banter, let alone a decent conversation. I found no peace or relief at the bottom of the bottle. So, I resorted to the one thing I was good at.
