Neither of us says a thing as the tech finishes up the ultrasound, flips the lights back on, and leaves. Her parting words as she wheels the cart out the door are that the doctor will be in to see us soon. We're silent as we wait. We're nearly silent as the doctor comes in and starts chatting about weight, growth, and development, all of which our baby is doing perfectly.
Viktor doesn’t step away again, remaining at my side. He doesn't talk until the doctor steps out to write me a prescription for a different type of prenatal that doesn't upset my stomach quite as much.
"I want you and Eliza to move in with me."
It takes me a moment to understand what he's saying, and another moment to process what that means.
"Viktor, we barely know each other… I'm not going to cut you out of this baby's life, but that’s a little too much too soon."
He doesn’t say anything at first, so I continue. "I'm not uprooting Eliza like that. I just..." I'm honestly unsure what else to say in response to such a lunatic request. No, now that I thinkabout it, it wasn't a request. There was no question mark implied at the end of the statement.
"You misunderstand me." Viktor steps closer until he's towering over me, and suddenly his ample size doesn't seem so comforting anymore. "You will move in with me, you and your daughter. That's the best way for me to keep you safe."
"Why the hell would I need you to keep us safe? We're perfectly safe in our apartment. It's in a good part of town, and a cop lives down the hall. I also have extra deadbolts on the door and an alarm system. And the doorman is incredibly careful; he vets anyone coming into the building. We’re fine.”
Viktor morphs in front of my eyes from the genteel man I’ve seen so far into something more dangerous, more menacing, more commanding. I lean away from the glint in his eyes, which sends a shiver down my spine.
"None of that will save you when my enemies learn you’re carrying my child."
I feel cold, a chill spreading down my limbs and making the tips of my fingers tingle while my stomach begins to churn.
A knock on the door, and the doctor walks back in swiftly, all business as she holds out the prescription for the new prenatals. That is, until she notices the tension in the room and the fact that the temperature has dropped quite a few degrees since she left.
"Are you alright, Miss Walters?" she asks, her gaze going to Viktor, then landing on me. She gets my attention and holds it meaningfully. I know I can tell her it's not, and she'll call security. But what are they going to do about Viktor? I'dalways thought Peter calling his dad a ruthless mobster was an exaggeration.
But I'm starting to think it was the truth.
"I'm okay," I say quickly, probably too quickly, with a smile that's too bright. But I don't want my poor doctor to get pulled into a situation I'm rapidly coming to understand is precarious.
The doctor gives Viktor a long, searching look and leaves. I slip off the exam table, grab my purse, and follow swiftly after her. We pick up Eliza and Iliya on the way out and leave.
My mind is whirling, my hand clutching Eliza's tightly as I wonder what the hell I accidentally got the two of us into, and how I'm going to make sure I can protect my daughter.
"Mom." Eliza tugs at my hand, then points to a little cafe. "Can I get a muffin? You didn't give me my snack in the car."
I'd been so shocked to see Viktor and then to find out he knew about the baby, I'd completely forgotten Eliza's snack.
"Iliya will take her," Viktor says smoothly. "Why don't we go sit in the garden while they get something?" His gesture indicates a small courtyard with roses, trees, grass, and benches.
"Come on, Iliya!" Eliza says, pulling at the big man's paw. The only reaction I see from him is a further tightening of his jaw, but he follows obediently so she can show him their display of muffins.
Viktor leads me into the courtyard, and we sit in a far corner in the sun. It feels good on my face.
"Do you feel a little calmer?" Viktor asks, his voice not quite as scary as before.
"I don't know how I feel," I admit after a long pause.
"I know this is sudden, and very unusual?—"
His mouth thins as I snort my opinion on that.
"But this is for your safety, and for Eliza's. You don't even have to think about it as moving in with me but just moving to a new place."
"With lots of extra security and rules and someone watching me twenty-four-seven?" I ask. "No, thank you. Eliza and I are fine, and I'll call you if anything happens. But I'm not giving up my freedom and scaring my daughter just to suit your paranoia."
Annoyance flashes in his eyes, but he doesn’t press. "Okay. It's your choice, but I'll still put extra security in your building. Is that a fair trade?"
I look at him and realize this is the best offer I’m going to get. “Fine.”
