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Not a single hand goes up, as I had expected.
“So, you see that we don’t have any other option but to fight. I know it’s going to get a little dirty, but if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be the Bratva, right?”
There are a few nods and smiles from the group, and I feel satisfied that everyone is as convinced as they can be about such a precarious mission. It’s dangerous and risky, but doing nothing would be suicide. We can’t afford to wait any longer.
I turn the projector back on and click back a few slides, coming back to the image of Carson’s house. “I need some volunteers for the Carson ambush,” I say.
Every single hand in the room raises, including Lily’s. If I don’t involve her, I know she’s going to be angry, but I can’t risk the triplets. I’ll bring her, but she’s staying in the van until we’re done with Carson. Bringing her into that house is a line I won’t cross.
29
Lily
With fifteen minutes to go until we bust into Carson’s house and torture the location of the Red Hitters out of him, the last thing I want to be told is that I can’t leave the van.
“You’re staying here,” Ivan says, his tone firm and his eyes unwavering.
He thinks that because I’m pregnant, I’m going to be a risk to this operation. Either that, or I’m going to be in more danger somehow, but that’s an incorrect assumption. I was fine until he knew I was pregnant, and then suddenly everything changed?
No, that’s not the way things work. If I was okay to go on missions and be by his side when he was working before we knew I was pregnant with triplets, there’s no reason why I can’t do it now. It’s not like I’m waddling, visibly pregnant and barely able to move without holding onto his arm for support.
“I’m going in there with you. It’s safer that way,” I insist as he slings a rifle across his back, hunching over in the van like he’s going to throw the door open and make a run for the house at any moment. We still have fifteen minutes, but Ivan is eager to get started.
“It’s not safer in the house,” Ivan grumbles. “You’re here, you’ll be fine, and you’re not going into the house.”
I shrug. “Nothing is stopping me.”
“I’m stopping you,” he growls, grabbing my wrist and tossing a handcuff around it. He attaches the other side to the steering wheel. “There, now you can flee if you need to, but you can’t leave the van.”
I tug on the handcuffs, but their metallic edges dig into my wrist when I pull. I won’t be able to get loose without hurting myself. “Jesus, is this really necessary?” I whine.
“Yes,” he snaps. “You’ve shown every intention of disobeying my commands, and for that you must be held accountable.”
“I’m the mother of your child, Ivan. You can’t do this to me,” I say, rattling the handcuffs against the steering wheel.
“Sorry, darling,” he replies, planting a kiss on my lips. “Some things are more important than the things you want.”
I scoff. “Name one.”
“Your safety, for instance,” he says, smirking as he puts a finger under my chin. “I can’t have my pretty girl getting hurt.”
I jerk my head away from him. “You just want to control me.”
“If I have to, I will,” he replies, leaning back. “I know you think I’m being cruel, but that’s what a man does when he’s truly in love. Your safety is more important to me than how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to, but I’ll only be happy when you’re safe.”
“Charming,” I reply sarcastically.
“Thank you,” he teases, flashing a cocky smile. “Now, stay here while I check a few last-minute things. I’ll be back in a second.”
“What? Where are you going?” I yelp as he throws the van door open and jumps out into the darkness.
“I’ll be back soon,” he promises, blowing me a kiss before slamming the door shut and disappearing.
Great. This is just wonderful.
I slump down in the driver’s seat of the van, considering taking the whole thing and driving straight into Carson’s house. The keys are still in the ignition, and I doubt Ivan is actually coming back. He’s starting the raid without me, trying to trick me into thinking it hasn’t happened yet.
I let out a deep sigh, staring at the steering wheel as I try to come to terms with my predicament. He’s right not to let me join, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. My emotions have been all over the place since I became pregnant with triplets, and that hasn’t changed.
