Sexy in how she explored what she liked and disregarded his twisted orders.
Smart in how she applied herself to beginner courses to educate herself.
She was flourishing, and it was a reward each and every day to witness how much she was changing.
After her appointment, the doctor left our bedroom. Kalina lay on the bed, though, smiling at me as I sat on the edge of the mattress and gazed at her.
“What’s that smile for?” she asked me.
I stroked my fingers over her delicate hand.
“I’m impressed.”
She laughed once. Music to my ears. “Impressed that I’m cooking a healthy bun in my oven?”
I leaned in to kiss her. “No. Just impressed by all you’ve done.” Before she could be self-depreciating or dismiss my praise, I added more. “You’ve overcome trauma. You’re going to school. You’re learning how to manage this pregnancy. I am proud of you, Kalina.”
She sat up to kiss me, cupping my face and sighing happily after she parted her lips from mine.
“All thanks to you.” She scooted to get off the bed, and I stood with her. “Not just because you give me freedom and space to decide things for myself, but for the simple fact that you ever found me on that bench.”
I held her hand as we exited the room. Misha would be home soon, and he and Kalina had started a habit of preparing his after-school snack together. I couldn’t wait for her to move in with me. Wherever that would be. I felt it might make her feel better to be here when she delivered, to borrow and lean on the expertise and backup advice from Gabriella, Raisa, and Sadie. But already, I was getting addicted to the light in her eyes when we’d house hunt. How she’d imagine what could go in which empty rooms and where she might want to decorate for the holidays in them.
Making her smile was my greatest achievement.
“Raisa is the one to thank on that note,” I replied. “She was the one who was glum about not knowing where you were. On New Year’s Eve, she’d admitted that she wished she could get in touch with you. Luka overheard her, and he assigned me to handle it.”
She reached up to kiss my cheek. “Well, then, if she’s not too uncomfortable, maybe I should pay her another visit and thank her again for staying curious about me after all this time.”
“I should thank her as well.”
Because we had time before Misha would be home, we headed toward the area of the mansion where Raisa had been staying. Because she was so close to having her baby and she didn’t want to deliver in a hospital because it had the risk of lessened security, she was set up in another wing near mine.
“And maybe if she’s bored with bed rest again, I can talk to her about those ideas she asked me to look into for the foundation.”
Another huge smile lifted my lips. Hearing Kalina talk about her work with Raisa and Gabriella was more of a gift. A blessing. Due to her past of being controlled and sheltered and abused by herbrother, she seemedmorecommitted to helping other women who might be in unfortunate circumstances. Raisa wanted to give back to the world, and she’d schemed with Gabriella to focus on creating a fund and facility for homeless women, women on the run, and also young expectant mothers or single mothers with no resources. It was a perfect setting for Kalina to give back as well, and I was a witness to how much joy she got from putting in time as an administrative executive.
Little did they know, we were in the talks of having Simon team up and help behind the scenes. If women were showing up at the future facility and needing assistance with exes or others from Mafia families targeting them, we’d employourstyle of help in removing the assholes from the face of the earth.
When we neared Raisa’s room, though, it was quickly clear that our timing was lousy. Between the low groans that sounded more animalistic than womanly and the screams that had me tensing in panic, I feared something was very wrong.
Ivan’s strong, calm voice of coaching his wife through contractions explained it all.
“She’s having the baby!” Kalina gripped my hand with excitement.
A nurse stepped out of the room then and glanced at us. “Oh. She’s here,” she called back into the room.
“Kalina?” Raisa called out.
“Yes?” she replied.
“Help!”
I released her as we approached the door, but I didn’t enter.
“Help?” Kalina asked. “I don’t know how…”
“Just be here. And hold my hand. I don’t know. Just be here so I have someone who would actually know and empathize with what I’m—” She cut herself off with another low groan of pain, wincing as she bent over and held her belly.
