"I know.” I brush damp strands of hair from her forehead. I won't let her see my fear. Not yet. Not when she looks so beautiful, so at peace.
I ease myself from her body, rolling to my side but keeping her close. Her head settles naturally against my chest, as though she belongs there.
Every cell in my body wants to hold onto this moment forever, but I can't ignore the potential consequences of what just happened.
“I hate to ruin your moment, but we have a problem.”
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “What?”
“I didn't use protection. If you get pregnant?—”
"From one time?" She lifts her head, looking at me without a concern in her expression. "I don't think that's likely."
For a moment, I’m caught up in the thought of her carrying my child.
Of a life with her and a little girl who looks just like her, has her same smile and spirit.
But I can’t let myself dream of things that can’t ever be. "That's a myth. Women can absolutely get pregnant their first time."
Valentina shrugs with that characteristic Dante confidence. "I'm supposed to start my period in a few days. I'm pretty sure I'm not fertile anymore."
I want desperately to believe her, to let this worry dissolve and enjoy our stolen night together.
But I've spent my life planning for worst-case scenarios.
It’s why I’m still breathing today.
"Let's hope to hell you're right," I say, pulling her closer. "If you got pregnant?—"
"Then I'd have something of yours to keep forever.”
Her words only deepen my dread.
I understand the reality she's still too caught in the afterglow to fully comprehend.
A pregnancy would mean death for us both.
But there’s nothing that can be done about it now, so I simply hold her. But my mind is rarely at peace.
Quickly, it moves away from a potential pregnancy to why Maksim made a move on her tonight.
"Why would Maksim ambush us like that?" I murmur against her hair, more to myself than to her.
Something doesn't add up. Maksim is brutal, but he's also strategic.
Kidnapping the sister of the Don, his future bride, so brazenly?
The risk outweighs any potential reward.
Even for a man like him.
"Does he need a reason? He seems like he’s always half-cocked,” Valentina responds.
"For kidnapping you, yes. It doesn't make sense. He gets everything he wants in a few weeks. Why jeopardize that?" I just can’t wrap my brain around it, unless it’s in response to my pulling a gun on him. Maybe I’m the target.
She tenses in my arms. I pull back to look at her face, finding an expression that resembles guilt.
"Valentina," I say with growing dread, "what aren't you telling me?"
