Page 98 of Baby for the Bratva King

“I know.”

“He’s dangerous.”

“I know that too.”

Fleur studies my face, her disappointment becoming fear. “You have to stay away.”

“I wish love was that simple.”

“You’re in love with him? Why? Because he loves you?” Fleur shakes her head, letting me know she disapproves. “That’s all you ever wanted—to be loved by a man.”

“Wait,” I blink, going back a few steps. “I never said Felix loved me.”

“No,” says Fleur, pulling out her phone. “But he just said it.” She flips the device around, showing me the latest gossip. Of course, Felix was caught out in public.

He stands behind my father’s building, tousled hair flying in the wind. “I’m in love with Saskia. We’re having this child together, and one day I plan to marry her.”

“That serious?” I say, completely taken aback.

Pain strikes across Fleur’s face, like she feels sorry for me, or hates me. Perhaps both. “Don’t you see?”

“See what? When was the last time Felix addressed the cameras? He’s never declared his love like this for anyone, not even that super-hot Victoria’s Secret model he dated last year.”

“The one with the nice ass and lips?

“Yeah.”

“Still not important,” says Fleur. “Felix is trying to save himself, divert the attention.”

“Why would he need to do that?”

“Because our father has put him in an incredibly vulnerable position. The mafia allegations are true, which gives him a motive.” Fleur steps forward. “Push the love narrative and hope the other one falls through.”

I wince at her honesty, because she does have a very valid point. Felix even admitted this himself earlier. His Bratva encourage him to take the same approach.

Where the fuck does this leave me? And who do I become? A heartbroken single mother?

“You have to let go, Saskia,” says Fleur. “For your own safety, and for the baby’s—if you choose to keep it. Promise me.”

Just as I expected. I give her my word and break the promise, because I can’t stay away from him.

I run my hands over my face, smelling steel and my grip solution. The smell makes me nauseous, but when I take my hands away, the feeling stays. The room spins, and I lose my balance.

“God, Saskia. Here.” She grabs a chair. “Take a seat.”

“No.” I hold onto the pole for support, shaking my head profusely to erase, not just the nausea, but the stabbing pain in my heart.

Felix is saying what he needs to to survive. It’s the same reason he created the business, the Bratva. Everything he does is about survival, protecting himself no matter what.

I think about our journey, him encouraging me to surrender; the tender way he kissed me on the lips the other night like it meant something. What if he just knows how to charm people?

“He would never say those things.” I stare at the floor. “He’s kept his life private for years.”

Fleur snakes her hand around my back, which makes the pain worse. I want Felix here. I want him to reassure me that everything will be okay, but how the fuck am I supposed to believe him?

“He told me he’s a bad person,” I say, recounting more facts. “He kills people to set himself free.”

“He what?” blurts out Fleur.