Two weeks later

I stood in front of my mirror, checking out my outfit and making sure no hairs were sticking out from my slicked-back sock bun.

I placed my wallet, phone, and keys in my pocket before walking out of the room. Stopping in the middle of the kitchen and living room, I noted the dining room was full of takeout boxes. I'd told Caroline countless times to clean up after herself, but she never listened. That girl was tempting me, but I didn't have time for that now; I had a doctor's appointment in the next hour.

The ringing of my phone stopped me from walking out the door of my apartment. I looked and saw the caller ID: Mr. Mason. Oh, that's my boss.

"Hello, Isabella, how are you doing?" I heard his gruff voice as I instantly picked up the call.

"I'm fine, boss. Is there a problem at the office? Because I requested this day off," I said, a hint of steel in my voice. I'd be damned if he made me come all the way there.

"No, that's not it. I just want to let you know that you will be reporting for the meeting with the Davison brothers in LA."

"Okay," I replied, forcing a tight-lipped smile he definitely couldn't see.

"Have a nice day."

As the call ended, I let out a deep sigh. I liked my boss; he was kind and a good family man, but a trip to LA was not what I was up for now.

I locked the door of my apartment, walking to the elevator to head downstairs to my packed car, my regular bitch face already set. I needed to get this whole thing done and fast so that I could just come back home and do nothing.

                ************

"So, Miss Romano, I'm going to need a urine sample." My doctor walked in with a cup.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, grabbing the cup from her hand and finishing the rest of my bottle of water.

"Oh, I just want you to do that before I say anything else, just in case it's a false alarm." She shook her head.

Nodding, I walked over to the bathroom, not wanting to question the woman, just doing as told.

But I couldn't help but ask myself what type of false alarm she could raise.

Finishing up, I washed my hands and flushed the toilet before walking out and passing the cup to her. She nodded and smiled at me as she walked away towards another room, while I just sat down.

Just give me my damn fucking shot, it doesn't take this long, I thought, a flicker of irritation rising in me.

After a good twenty minutes of waiting, the doctor came back in, writing on her clipboard.

"So, it looks like you won't be getting your birth control shot today, Isabella." She clicked her pen and smiled up at me.

"And why not?" I asked, tilting my head at her, my anger starting to simmer.

What the hell is happening? I just want my goddamn shot!

"Well, instead, you will be getting these. It seems that you missed your last shot, and these are your options to deal with your pregnancy." She passed me a pamphlet, all of them holding babies on the cover.

"Pregnant? I'm pregnant?" I looked up at her, hoping that she was reading someone else's file by accident and not mine.

"Yes, Miss Romano, congratulations. There are other options if you don't want to keep the baby-abortion or adoption-but I think it's important you take the time to think about it before you make a decision," she said, leaning against a table and looking at me.

"No, I'm going to keep the baby," I said, rubbing my face, feeling a wave of stress wash over me.

I didn't have the heart to abort a child. Even if it wasn't technically alive yet, it was still a growing human being. It was my human being, and I wasn't about to put him or her up for adoption. If you're going to do dirty, then you've got to take responsibility for the aftermath. That's something I always told myself, and I don't give a damn what everyone else does, but this is what I'm doing.

Damn me and my heart.

I collected my things and got the prenatal pills from the doctor, talking more before I left, heading out front to schedule my next appointment.

After all the baby talk with the doctor and making the appointment, I was feeling kind of excited now. I'd always wanted a kid, and even though it wasn't planned and I would be a single mom, it didn't matter to me how it happened.

Before heading home, I stopped at the pharmacy and grabbed a pregnancy test. I would need to show my mom this, but the problem was how I would tell her about all this. The worst would be my father and brothers; it would be a hell of a drama.

Walking out of the pharmacy, I had the same feeling of being watched. I didn't know why, but for the past few weeks, I'd been feeling eyes on me too much. I brushed it off and hurried to get some ice cream and go to a park to digest this whole information, because it was a lot.

After my whole wandering about, I arrived at my apartment at night. Walking in, I saw that the whole mess Caroline had left had been cleared. Damn right! Because she wouldn't want an angry pregnant woman on her ass.

I walked down to the kitchen, going to grab something to eat. I opened the fridge and saw the salad and spicy tuna that I'd left. Walking to my room, I opened the door and placed the food on my nightstand, pulling my bra off and throwing it in the laundry basket in the corner.

Before I could get comfortable in my bed, start eating my food, and watch some Friends, I heard a knock.

Groaning and standing up, I pushed myself to the door, thoroughly annoyed. I didn't know many people, and I sure as hell knew that wasn't Caro. Who the hell could be at my door at this time?

Opening the door, I froze. This was not what I expected.

"Hello, Bella," he spoke, his Russian accent thick and, in my personal opinion, totally hot.

"How do you know my name? How do you know where I live? And what are you doing here?" I asked calmly, hoping he wouldn't see my foot moving to go towards the back of the door so it couldn't open any further than it already was. Just my luck, he did.

This had happened before a few times, where one of my random one-night stands came back to my apartment, and sometimes a stalker. But I guess you could say it was something normalized for me. At least with the family I grew up with, creepy was not so weird.

"I know people, Krasotka,( beautiful)" he stated instead.

" I believe you have something to tell me lybuov (love)"

Pretending to think, I shook my head. Honestly, the whole pregnancy thing hadn't even fully sunk in, and he expected me to look for him and tell him, a person I had no idea who he was.

He had me pinned against the wall within seconds, the door closed and locked.

"I don't like liars, Krasotka (beautiful). I'll ask again: Do you have something to tell me?" His hand was on my neck, and his body was pressed up against mine.

He looked scary, but I felt like that was why I was attracted to him in the first place. He was super hot. If I weren't into guys who looked like him and owned an accent, then I would be terrified of him. But right now, I was more turned on than anything.

I opened my mouth to talk, but I just whispered when a shiver ran up my spine.

With a smirk and a shake of his head, he let go of my neck and caged me in, a hand on both sides of my head.

"So you're not going to tell me that you're pregnant, or that it's my child?" He shook his head in disappointment.

"I just found out I was pregnant a few hours ago, and do you have any idea that I'm not even sure if the baby is yours? It could be someone else's for all you know," I raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, how the hell do you even know about the baby?" I asked.

"I have men watching where you go and who you are with for a while now. Then I heard you went to get a pregnancy test after going to the doctor. I made my way to the hospital. The doctor gave your information more easily than I thought she would. I thought you would have gone home, but I hear you were roaming from one place to another, then my men couldn't find you again."

 His expression was hard, his face didn't show any emotion.

"I don't like not knowing where you are, lyubov," he stated, a growl in his voice.

I felt his English wasn't perfect, but it was better than most. I mean, he didn't make full sentences, but he made sense.

"Of course you had people spy on me," I scoffed.

"What is your name? The least you can do is tell me who you are, since you know all about me."

"Vladimir," he answered, but I didn't need his help to know that his last name was Volkov.

My father and brothers had made me look at pictures and memorize the names of those I should never get near, and I could remember that he was one of them.

Russian mob boss. The one time I get knocked up, it couldn't be with a normal guy, with a normal job and a normal family.

I sighed and shook my head, a mix of feelings churning inside me, unsure how I should react right now. But I knew I'd messed up so much.

I don't know what Vladimir expects from me, all this is still foreign to me and him coming here and demanding for answers on something that i just found out about is foolish and to top it up him being a mob boss is not what i expected, i'm fucked i can already imagine how bad all this will go.

I sigh and shake my head in a mix of feelings, and not sure how I should react right now.

 "What do you want?" I look back up at him.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, why are you here? Usually, men like you agree or disagree with paying for a child, yes? Or tell me to get an abortion, it's up to you." I roll my eyes.

"One, roll pretty little eyes at me, very disrespectful. I do not like it when people are disrespectful.

Two, I am here because I plan to be in both your and your baby's lives." He said all of this with the same stone facial expression, it wasn't in a heartless way, but more of a blank look.

His eyes narrowed at me as I raised an eyebrow at him, "Who says I want you in my life? You can be part of baby life, but what makes you think I want you in mine?"

"You may not agree right now, but you are mine, Lyubov. Like it or not, you are mine," he declares.

Something about that sentence got me wet and horny, hearing him be all possessive and demanding, but that was the toxic person in me; she was rising, and I needed her to go back down.

Scoffing, I turned on my heel and walked back to my room, deliberately ignoring him. A soft thud

of footsteps behind me confirmed he was following. I try showing that I didn't give a fuck about

him right now, even though I secretly wanted him to fuck me right here and then. But I need to not think with my head because this person here, the father of my child, is a threat to my family, and it will be a bigger problem if he finds out who my father is.

Looking at my food, I dropped it carelessly after Vladimir's unwanted visit, and I picked it up. If I need strength to get the fuck out of this situation, then I need to eat.

"Why are you still here?" I ask to take a bite of my salad.

"I will be staying here for the time being. Start packing your belongings tomorrow. You come home with me next week." I glanced at him, then deliberately averted my gaze back to the TVs.

"Tomorrow I have work, meaning I'm doing shit you are telling me. I also have a business trip to prepare myself for with my boss, and I will be damned if you think I'm some puppy you can just tell what you want and it does it, the fuck not!" Audacity must be cheap these days, I would like to know where he purchases his, because what the actual hell!

Vladimir watched her defiance with an unreadable expression. His silence was more unsettling than any shout could have been. He walked over to the TV, and with a swift, almost casual movement, he unplugged it. The screen went black, plunging the room into a stark quiet.

"You will not go to work tomorrow," Vladimir stated, his voice low but resonant. "Your business trip has been canceled. Your only business now is with me and our child. You will pack your belongings, and you will come home with me next week. This is not a request, Lyubov. It is a

declaration. You understand?"

He stepped closer, his imposing presence filling the space between them. "I am not asking for your permission. I am informing you of what will happen. You carry my child. You are now under my protection, whether you believe you need it or not. And my protection comes with certain...

expectations. Disobeying me will have consequences you do not wish to face, for yourself or for those you care about."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "As for where I purchase my 'audacity,' it comes from a place where consequences are fast and absolute. You may think you are free to make your own choices, but that illusion ends now. You and the baby are in a dangerous position. The world I

live in is not for the faint of heart, and now, you are part of it. Your safety and the safety of our child depend on your cooperation."

He continued, his gaze unwavering. "I will be staying here until we return to Russia. Consider it a necessary measure to make sure you understand and you comply. I have business to attend to tomorrow, but I will return. You will be ready to begin packing."

With that, he turned and walked towards the door. The quiet click of the lock as he opened it seemed to echo in the room. He paused in the doorway, his silhouette framed against the hallway light. "I expect you to be ready. Do not test my patience."

He left, and the sound of the door closing behind him was a final, heavy punctuation mark. The sudden silence in the apartment was deafening, amplified by the black screen of the unplugged television. My salad sat forgotten, a single bite still on the fork. I stared at the empty doorway,

the weight of his words pressing down on me. A mob boss. My baby's father was a mob boss.

 And he was demanding that I uproot my entire life to go to Russia with him.

Tears pricked at her eyes, hot and insistent. I fought them, trying to swallow the sudden lump in my throat. This couldn't be happening. My life, my carefully constructed independence, was

crumbling around me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push back the fear, the anger, the overwhelming sense of being trapped. I couldn't cry. I wouldn't. I had to be strong.

Just as I was battling the rising tide of emotion, the front door burst open. Caroline rushed in, her face pale, her eyes wide with alarm. "Oh my God! What's wrong? I just saw a really scary man leaving our Apartment! Are you okay? What happened?"

The dam broke. The carefully contained tears spilled over, tracing hot paths down her cheeks. I choked back a sob, unable to form words, and collapsed onto the couch, the full force of the terror and despair finally overwhelming me.

The world spun around as a wave of nausea hit. I scrambled to my feet, hand clapped over my mouth, and bolted for the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before I was violently ill, the retching mingling with the ragged sobs that tore from my throat.

Caroline was right behind her, a steady hand immediately gathering my hair away from her face. She rubbed soothing circles on my back, murmuring comforting words until the dry heaves subsided and only the shaky tremors remained.

When I finally pushed myself back, wiping my mouth with a tissue Caroline handed me, Caroline looked at her with a mix of concern and bewilderment. "Isa, what the hell is going on? You're never like this. You're always the strong one. What is it?"

My voice was a raw whisper. "I'm... I'm pregnant, Caro."

Caroline froze. Her usually animated face went blank, her eyes wide and unseeing for several long seconds. The silence in the small bathroom was heavy, broken only by my shaky breaths.

"Caro? Please, say something," I pleaded, my voice cracking.

Caroline blinked, shaking her head as if to clear it. "I'm just... shocked. That's all. Shocked." She paused, then her eyes sharpened. "Wait. Do you remember that family I told you my family hates? The ones I got pregnant for the head of the family."

"You got pregnant for the head of that family?!" Caroline exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Isa, this is... this is a lot to digest. I need a drink."

Caroline walked briskly to the kitchen, her movements a little stiff with shock, and Isabella followed her, tears welling up again. As Caroline reached for a bottle, I started to cry properly, big, silent tears rolling down my face. Caroline turned, her expression softening, and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"He was the man you saw leaving," I mumbled into Caroline's shoulder. "He wants me to move to Russia, so that my life and our baby's life are in danger the longer we are away from him and his safety. There's nothing I can do."

Caroline held her for a moment longer, then pulled back, her hands on my shoulders. Her gaze was firm, a spark of her usual fire returning. "Wipe your fucking eyes, Isabella! My Isabella is not some crybaby. And that man... seriously, how did you fall for a face like that? He looks like he could strangle everyone in a five-mile radius!" Caroline tried, awkwardly, to lighten the mood.

A watery laugh escaped my lips, a small, fragile sound.

"Listen," Caroline continued, her voice now serious. "If what he told you is true, if he is who you say he is, then you go along with him for now. But first, you tell him exactly who you are. Let him know your true identity. See if he still cares about you and the baby then. And for God's sake, give him hell for being such a pushy man!"

I smiled, a genuine, albeit faint, smile. She hugged Caroline tightly. "Thank you, Caro."

Caroline hugged her back, then pulled away, a playful smirk on her face. "And by the way, with all this drama... was the sex that good, jeez? Why didn't you guys use protection? Not that I'm blaming you, but seriously!" A crazy laughter bubbled out from me, I love this girl, who always knows how to lighten my mood

I pulled her in for a hug, soaking in the warmth from her. I wonder how tomorrow with Vladimir will go.

.

The initial warmth was a deceptive comfort, quickly replaced by the jolt of full awareness. A heavy, unfamiliar weight pressed against me, and my eyes snapped open to the sight of a muscular arm draped across my waist. Vladimir. His presence in my bed was an immediate, jarring intrusion. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm that accelerated as a familiar wave of nausea surged through me.

I scrambled from the bed, my hand clamped over my mouth, barely reaching the bathroom before my body rebelled. Violent retches tore through me, mingling with ragged, involuntary sobs. A strong hand was instantly there, gathering my hair, while a thumb rubbed soothing circles on my lower back. I registered a low murmur of indistinct words, lost beneath the tumult of my distress. When the storm subsided, I rinsed my mouth and meticulously brushed my teeth, pointedly avoiding his gaze in the mirror. Anger simmered within me, fueled by his unannounced entry into my home, and a cold dread tightened its grip as I thought of Caroline.

Where was she? What had he done?

I reached for my phone on the nightstand. A message from Caroline appeared, offering a small reprieve: "Left early. Didn't want 'Mr. I ll-Kill-Everyone' to make me more scared than I already am. Good luck. See you at work." A small sigh of relief escaped me; at least she was safe.

I turned, encountering Vladimir's intense, almost dreamy gaze fixed on me. I attributed the unsettling feeling to the hormonal tide surging through my body.

"I can help you with your thoughts," 

Vladimir stated, his voice a low rumble.

"No, you can't. You don't even know what I'm thinking," I retorted, pushing past him.

"I know," he countered, his gaze unwavering. "Because of that look you give me."

Ignoring him, I moved to select an outfit for work, opting for a tailored navy blue pantsuit with a crisp white blouse. A shower became a necessary ritual, a means to cleanse away the lingering remnants of morning sickness and the disquiet his presence brought. I left him in the bedroom, needing a moment of solitude.

Refreshed, I emerged from the bathroom, drawn by the enticing aroma of food. Vladimir stood in the kitchen, casually preparing breakfast. He looked undeniably good – his strong, exposed chest visible above sweatpants that hung precariously low on his hips. I wryly noted that at least my child would inherit favorable genetics.

"Come," he instructed, gesturing to the table.

I took a seat, and he placed a plate of a perfectly cooked omelet and fresh fruit before me. "Why don't you pack? Where are you headed?" he asked, his gaze unwavering.

"I'll pack tomorrow. I'm going to work. I need to inform my boss I won't be available," I replied, taking a bite of the surprisingly delicious food.

"You email it," he stated.

"No," I insisted, shaking my head.

He moved to my side, his hand settling firmly on my waist. "If you go, you go with two of my trusted guards."

I hesitated, then conceded with a nod. "Fine."

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, then walked into the living room, where I now noticed a tailored suit laid out on the couch. Minutes later, just as I finished eating, Vladimir emerged, impeccably dressed. He extended a hand towards me.

"Hold on, let me get my things," I said, quickly gathering my phone and a few essential items into my bag. Then, I took his hand, and we walked out, hand in hand.

As we stepped outside, two men stood by a sleek, black car. One was undeniably imposing and heavily built; the other appeared more approachable. Vladimir gestured towards them. "This is Alexie," he said, indicating the more intimidating figure. "And this is Ivan." He then turned to me. "They will ensure everything goes well when I am not around." He pulled me gently to face him. "I will come to see you. You eat and take care of yourself." He produced a card and offered it to me. "Get anything you want."

I attempted to decline, but he gently pressed it into my hand. "You hold it." He kissed my head once more, then walked towards the other black car. The vehicle was a high-end luxury sedan, its dark-tinted windows and polished exterior exuding an aura of expense and power.

The car's interior was a silent cocoon, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. I attempted conversation, primarily to break the oppressive quiet. "So... long day, huh?" I directed at the rearview mirror, hoping to catch Ivan's eye.

Ivan offered a short, clipped "Da," his gaze fixed on the road. Alexie, in the passenger seat, remained a block of stone, seemingly impervious to any attempts at interaction. I sighed, leaning back against the plush leather, realizing this ride would be a quiet one.

After a few minutes, we arrived. I stepped out, walking into the building with my two "bitches," as I'd decided to humorously refer to them. I entered the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor, where my office and Caroline's were located. 

Upon arrival, I walked straight to Caroline's office, swinging the door open. Caroline greeted me with wide, worried eyes. "Oh my God, you came! And with a personal security detail, I see," she whispered, glancing at Alexie and Ivan, who stood stiffly by the entrance to our office floor, radiated an air of unapproachability.

"Long story," I muttered, but couldn't help but crack a small smile. "And yes, they're forming hard heads. Ivan seems a little softer than Alexie, though."

We kept our voices low, sharing hushed jokes and worried glances about the new developments. Alexie remained a stone wall, but I caught Ivan almost smiling a few times during our conversation. It felt strangely normal, even with two imposing men guarding the door. After our brief exchange, I walked out of her office, heading to my own.

Hours later, while immersed in a report, the office door opened, and Vladimir walked in. I looked up, startled by the unexpected arrival. Vladimir scanned the room, his eyes landing on me.

"I thought you had quit," he said, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet office.

I sat up, trying to project an air of calm. "I just wanted to assist my sweet boss with something before my official departure."

Vladimir's jaw tightened. "Sweet boss?" he repeated, a hint of something cold in his tone. The jealousy was evident, and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"Stand," he commanded. I noticed then that Alexie and Ivan were no longer by the door. They must have been instructed to wait outside. Vladimir walked over to my chair, and before I could react, he sat down and pulled me onto his lap.

I gasped, utterly shocked, yet his touch was surprisingly gentle, though firm. My face was close to his, and I found myself looking deep into his eyes – dark, intense, and surprisingly vulnerable at that moment. I found myself mirroring his gaze, lost in the depths of it. He leaned in, and his lips met mine. I accepted it instantly, a warmth spreading through me that caused a flush.

His kiss was deep and strong, a possessive claim that left me breathless when he finally pulled away.

"I want us to work," he said, his voice slightly rough with emotion. "You give me a chance. I have never been... a lover. But I want to learn. I want to be good to just you and baby."

I was dumbfounded for a few minutes, his words echoing in my mind. The vulnerability in his voice was unexpected. "Let's... let's start with a date," I finally managed to say.

A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "We will go on a date tomorrow. We leave in the next two days. Anything you want, I will do." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "You should not expect this treatment for everyone else. Not even your roomie."

I laughed, a genuine, joyfulsound, and leaned in to kiss him again. "I know," whispered against his lips.