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I answered her question by jumping to my feet and picking her up with an excited shout. “Are you fucking kidding me?! Of course I’m happy!”
Drea laughed, squealing when I spun her around and around. “Wait, wait. Stop. You’re going to make me sick.” She giggled.
I instantly stopped, panic shooting through me. “Oh, fuck. I’m sorry-I’m sorry-I’m sorry.” As gently as I could, I lowered her back to the bed, careful with every single movement I made. I knelt in front of her, grasping her hands, smiling widely. “You’re pregnant.” I said the words, but I still almost couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe that I was so fucking lucky to not only have the woman of my dreams, but that she would be pregnant with my child.
“I’m pregnant.” She nodded, smiling softly. “Turns out it wasn’t the sushi that made me sick.”
“I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong before.” I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against hers and closing my eyes. I breathed her in, her scent, her aura, this feeling of overwhelming joy and bliss taking me over. She was pregnant. Soon, we would have a little baby of our own to love and care for, a son or daughter who would be half her and half me.
I honestly couldn’t think of anything better.
A loud commotion from downstairs had me glancing over my shoulder with a frown.
“What was that?” Drea asked, her frown mirroring mine.
“I have no idea.” But whatever it was, it didn’t sound good. “Could just be Illayana and Lukyan fighting again,” I said, more to myself than Drea.
That overly suspicious part of myself didn’t believe that, though.
Getting to my feet, I moved to the bedside table and retrieved my gun. “Stay here.”
“What?” The affronted tone in her voice was clear as day. “Since when do you tell me to stay away from danger?”
“Since you’re pregnant with our child,” I quipped, arching a brow.
Her mind seemed to tick over at that, as if just realizing being pregnant meant she must avoid dangerous situations at all costs. “Oh. Right.”
“I doubt it’s anything.” I checked the chamber of my gun, making sure it was armed and ready to go before tucking it behind my back. “I’m sure it’s just Illayana and Lukyan being idiots, as usual. But wait here. Just in case. I’ll be right back.”
“I want it noted that I do not like this.”
“It’s noted.” I kissed her quickly on the cheek and left the room.
I made it halfway down the stairs before stopping dead in my tracks. The front door was open, the two dead bodies of the guards posted outside on the front porch. Seven men were standing in the foyer, each armed with a knife, machete, or axe. They all wore dark clothing, with balaclavas over their heads.
“It’s our lucky day, boys,” one of the men sang, hiking up his axe to sit on his shoulder. “We’ve hit the fucking jackpot.”
I assessed them quickly. I didn’t think they were associated with any criminal organization. If they were, they wouldn’t have broken in with simply knives and axes. Based on the duffel bags slung across their backs, I’d hazard a guess they were just garden-variety thieves looking for their next big score.
The family were all on their feet in the living room, eyeing the intruders. Tatiana held Aleksei, Nikolai had Ivana, with Father, Autumn, Mikhail, Lukyan, Lyla, Illayana, and Arturo standing protectively in front of them.
“All of you get over here. On your knees,” the head honcho demanded.
No one moved.
“Are you fucking deaf?” he snapped. “I said, on your knees!”
Again, nobody moved a muscle.
The fact that none of them had a gun worked well in our favor. It meant they had to get up close and personal for a kill.
Father looked at me, flicked his gaze to Nik and Tatiana, and then back to me. I nodded once. It went without saying. Protecting Aleksei and Ivana was the only thing that mattered.
“Nikolai, Tatiana, take the kids upstairs.” Father’s voice was no longer his own. The Butcher had taken over.
Without prompting, everyone moved to cover Nik and Tatiana as they walked toward the stairs, placing themselves between them and the intruders.
“Don’t move!” a man barked out.
