Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the bathroom to get ready. Thirty minutes later, I made my way downstairs, but the second I stepped into the kitchen, the smell of bacon mademy stomach twist painfully. I gagged, backed out immediately, and headed straight for the SUV where Wexler waited.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Safin?” he asked.
I nodded, unwilling to risk opening my mouth.
The rest of the day passed in a fog, and by the last class, I’d actually fallen asleep.
The following days blurred into each other, and I felt worse with each passing one. I tried to stay upbeat around Wexler. I didn’t want him reporting anything to Avit. He already had enough on his plate dealing with the Bratva’s day-to-day business.
One night, after studying and spending an hour glaring at the useless memory card with zero progress, I sat on my bed scrolling through the group chat with the other women.
Vera spoke about her pregnancy, how it wasn’t nearly as brutal as her last, that she wasn't puking nonstop and needing IV drips. But apparently, the smell of Jaroslav’s cologne made her violently nauseated now.
Katya teased that at least she could still tolerate Jaroslav himself.
Then Vera listed a few more symptoms, and my eyes slowly widened: constant exhaustion and headaches that wouldn’t quit.
And suddenly I felt like the walls of my room were closing in.
Wait.
Could I be pregnant?
Shit.
No. No, no, no. I couldn’t be…right?
I spent that entire night tossing and turning, running through so many scenarios in my head that I barely slept. By morning, the thought had rooted itself so deeply in my skull that I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I had missed my period. And even though Avit and I had only slept together twice, both times, it was unprotected.
My stomach didn't just drop, it plummeted.
With shaky hands, I texted Mandy and asked her to bring a pregnancy test to school. Because there was no way I was walking into a pharmacy with Wexler and asking for a pregnancy test. It was too damn risky.
Mandy didn’t ask a single question, just said she would, like the amazing bestie that she was.
The next morning on campus, we greeted each other like usual and walked straight to the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, Mandy grabbed my hand and pulled me to the farthest stall.
She pulled out the test and smirked. “It’s Avit, isn’t it?”
My face went hot and Mandy snorted.
“I…I can’t say much about it. It’s…complicated.”
She lowered her voice. “Well, being with a mafia boss would be.”
“You knew?”
She gave me a look. “After everything that happened with the Rykovs and Safins over the past few years? Anyone who doesn’t recognize those men must be living under a rock.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
“Sienna, I'm sure you had your reasons. And when you're ready to spill the tea, I'm here to listen.” A mischievous smile spread across her face. “I just want to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Are those men as hot in real life as they are in the pictures?”
I shook my head seriously. Mandy’s smile began to drop until I grinned. “They’re a thousand times hotter.”
