Page 22 of King of Shadows

“Yes.”

“Good.” I step closer. “Because if you think I’m going to abandon you and our child, then you have another thing coming. I want this baby too. I only asked because it’s your decision. I can’t force you to have a child you don’t want.”

Her expression changes. I touch her cheek.

“But if you’re asking whether I want this baby?” I smile. “Fuck yes. Are we clear?”

A smile spreads across her face as she nods. “Yes.”

“Good.” I bend down and sweep her into my arms. She lets out a surprised gasp as I carry her toward the bedroom.

“Kazimir!”

I smile. “Relax.”

I sit her carefully on the edge of the bed. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“No. I’m just tired.”

I study her face for another moment before sitting beside her. “There is something I need to tell you.”

Her expression turns serious. “Okay. What is it?”

I take a slow breath. There is no easy way to tell her this. But she deserves the truth.

“You already know I’m from Russia. My last name is Sokolov,” I begin. “What you don’t know is what brought me here. I’m part of the Russian Bratva here in Chicago.”

Her brows pull together. I continue before she can interrupt. “I’ve been working my way up the Bratva for years, and I’m next in line to become Pakhan.”

I tell her about Vadim. About the war between us. About how he’s been trying to take control and eliminate anyone standing between him and that position. I explain what had happened the night I ended up in her apartment. I don’t tell her every detail.

She doesn’t need to know about every body I’ve left behind or every violent thing I’ve done. But she needs to understand the danger surrounding me. And now her.

When I’m finished, she sits there staring at me confused. “So you don’t own a laundromat?”

I let out a breath. “I do. But it’s only a fraction of my business.”

I tell her about the nightclubs, restaurants, casinos, and other businesses I own. She takes it all in slowly. Then her eyes widen. “So you’re part of the mafia?”

I shake my head. “Not the mafia. The Bratva.”

“Oh.” She sits there for a moment.

“I’m sorry. The last thing I ever wanted was to put you in danger.”

I reach for her hand and explain that Vadim and his men now know about her. More importantly, they know how important she is to me. And once someone knows where your weakness is, they will use it.

“They’re going to come after me,” I tell her. “And if they come after me, they’ll come after you.”

She looks at me. “So what are we going to do?”

I hold her gaze. “I want you to marry me, Chloe.”

Her eyes widen. Then she screams. “What?”

Chapter 7

Chloe