She wore a simple, sleeveless black dress that skimmed her knees and black flats. Her morning sickness had mostly settled, but the heat took her down fast. She’d passed out a few times over the last few months.
The first time it happened, she was out shopping with the women. When I got the call, I'd planned to lock her in the house until the baby was born, consequences be damned.
But my family dragged me off that ledge, reminding me that Sienna was inches from graduating. Dr. Decker gave us a plan on how to manage the spells and how to keep her and our child safe. So, I forced myself to breathe and support her in every way that I could, even if every instinct in me wanted her sealed in bubble wrap and kept her hidden away.
On campus, she lived in her regular hoodies, sweatpants, and parked herself directly under the AC vent. But the second she climbed into the car with me after class, she stripped down to a tank top and boy shorts. I always kept a coat in the back seat for emergencies.
Not that I minded my wife half-dressed in my car. Sienna in fewer clothes was a blessing to every part of me, and she never pulled away when I touched her, which was often.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, brushing my thumb along her cheek.
“Excited…nauseous…relieved?” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I cupped her jaw, leaned in, and kissed her softly. She kissed me back.
“I’m proud of you, angel,” I murmured against her lips. And I meant every damn word.
Someone cleared their throat, and I glanced over. Mandy stood there, grinning broadly.
“Hey, lovebirds. Hi, Mariya.”
“Hey, Mandy,” Mariya replied. I lifted a hand in greeting as Sienna pulled her into a quick hug.
“Are you ready to graduate?” Mandy asked.
“Oh, definitely,” Sienna grinned.
God, she looked happy. I’d burn down the world to keep that smile on her face.
“Then kiss your husband, because I know you want to, and let's go inside with the others. We’ve got fifteen minutes until showtime.”
Sienna turned toward me, and I kissed the hell out of her, coaxing a tiny little moan that made my cock twitch.
“Well, damn,” Mandy said, fanning herself. “I think I got pregnant just watching you two.”
Mariya and Sienna laughed.
I smiled at Sienna. “I’ll see you when it’s over.”
“You will.” She gave me one last soft smile before taking her gown from Mariya. Mandy hooked an arm around her and guided her inside, Wexler and a small team trailing them.
The rest of the family stayed at the house to set up her celebration. With Vera ready to pop any day now, Jaroslav shut down any idea of dragging her out here. Pyotr was helping the women prep, and Marten and the others had business to handle. Because Bratva business didn’t pause for graduations, pregnancies, or anything else.
And the more of us gathered in public, the bigger the target. More men meant heavier security, which meant more attention. Sienna hated the spotlight before, and more so now after Oskar.
So, I had plain-clothes security detail covering every inch of this venue. Every door. Every exit. Every blind corner. She’d been taken once, once…and that was all I needed to ensure she'd never be taken again. And in a place this crowded, I wasn’t giving fate a second chance.
Mariya slipped her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s get inside and find our seats.”
We stepped into the university auditorium, found our seats, and a security detail sat around us.
“If you smile any wider, your face is going to crack,” Mariya murmured as we settled in.
I chuckled. “I’m proud of my wife. After everything she’s been through, especially these last six months, seeing her cross that stage today…that’s something to be damn proud of. I just wish her mother were here to see it.”
Mariya squeezed my arm. “I’m glad you married her. If she’d ended up with anyone else, she might not be crossing that stage at all.”
“And I’m glad she has all of you,” I said quietly. “Especially now that Mandy’s leaving for her internship in the UK.”
