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“That’s… well, shit, congratulations!” I finally manage to sputter out.
A lightness has taken over my chest, but I’m not exactly sure how to react. I’m shocked… but far less so than I was when I first learned that Valentina was pregnant.
“It’s… private, though. Please, don’t tell anyone.”
Roman has had a hard life. Add to that the natural Barinov instinct to not share any personal feelings or details no matter how pressing they may be, and you have a recipe for a man who lives behind an iron wall.
“And… you’re happy that she’s pregnant, right?” I ask.
“Of course.”
“Just making sure.”
Slowly, the shock starts to wear off, and another feeling appears in its place.
Pride.
Roman broke through his iron wall for me.
… But the pride doesn’t last alone for long. Good feelings rarely do in this life.
Angst follows quickly behind.
Shit. Does that mean I’m going to have to tell him some personal shit now?
“Does Valentina know?” I ask.
Finally, traffic starts moving again. The windshield wipers are on, but they’re hardly helping. It’s quickly turning into a monsoon outside.
“No?” Roman shakes his head, chuckling. He already knows what I’m going to say next.
“Fuck,” I laugh. “She’s going to be pissed when she learns that you told me first!”
“I’ll tell her it was a fair trade…”
“A fair trade?”
Then, it clicks.
Roman isn’t only telling me this huge news because he trusts me. Sure, he obviously trusts me, but he’s telling me something so personal because he wants me to share something personal back.
Shit.
I knew it.
But I’m not angry. This is how we work. This is our world. Brothers or not. We’re always tactical.
“What’s going on with you and the girl?”
It’s the exact question I was dreading.
Wiping a hand down my face, I can’t help but let out a less-than amused chuckle. Hell, with the rain pounding against the car, the headache I really should have is threatening to take over my swirling mind.
“We’re learning to live together,” I rumble, rubbing my temple.
“That sounds like something a married man would say,” Roman replies.
“I was joking…” I sigh. “The reality is, I’ve been looking for a way to use her properly. It’s been a struggle, but I think I’ve finally found out how.”
