“I hear we’re jumping ahead a bit on your prenatal schedule,” she says with a wink. “Let’s take a peek.”
I lie back on the bed, heart thudding. Gel hits my skin, cold and jarring. Dr. Moreno starts the scan. Suddenly, a loud thumping sound fills the room, rhythmic and fast.
“Is… is that the heartbeat?” I ask, breathless.
The doctor’s smile widens. “Yes, that’s the heartbeat. One of them, at least.”
One of them?
My head jerks toward her. “What do you mean one of them?”
She turns the monitor slightly so I can see. “See these two little shapes here? Those are your babies.”
She pauses, eyes twinkling. “Twins?” I whisper, blinking at the screen like maybe I heard her wrong. “You’re serious?”
Dr. Moreno nods, her soft smile still in place. “Very.”
I don’t know what to say. My mouth opens and closes like a guppy. My heart’s beating out of rhythm, too fast.
Two babies. Two lives.
Before I can form another thought, the door flies open. Yuri moves like a storm in a suit, eyes scanning the room like he’s ready to kill someone.
The doctor freezes, startled. “Sir, I’m sorry, but you can’t just barge in here.”
“It’s okay,” I say quickly. “He’s the father.”
She looks at me, then at him. I give her a reassuring nod and a smile. She cleans the gel off my belly and pulls my gown back down. “I’ll give you two a moment then, but from what I’m seeing, everything looks good.”
I thank the doctor. She gives me one last smile before exiting the room quietly.
“I should’ve had guards on you,” Yuri says. “I was a damn fool. I thought Spalding was the only threat. I didn’t think anyone else would make a move. I was wrong. I’m sorry.” He paces, jaw tight, energy barely leashed. “There are men stationed in the building now. At the doors. On your floor. You’ll have full protection, twenty-four seven.”
“Yuri—”
“No one touches you again, do you understand?” His eyes flash. “Not while I’m breathing. Whoever did this… I’ll find them and they will pay.”
I reach out and take his hand. He stops and looks at me. “I’m okay,” I say softly. “So is the baby. Both of them.”
His brows knit in confusion. “Both?”
I press the call button.
Dr. Moreno returns with a knowing smile. “Did you need something?”
I nod. “Can you show him?”
She sets everything up again, the screen flickering to life. The sound returns, familiar now, but still miraculous. Two tiny heartbeats. Racing. Alive.
Yuri stares at the screen then drops to his knees beside me like something in him just gave way. His hand squeezes mine, gripping it tight, grounding us both.
His eyes are fixed on the monitor, unblinking. He doesn’t speak. He just listens.
And for once, there’s no calculation. No strategy. No Ivanov mask.
Only wonder.
CHAPTER 26
