Bratva-Ivan

Queen

5 months later

Veronica

It has been seven months. Seven months since Ivan rescued that dumb bi*ch. If Miguel had done his job he'd have her tucked away in Mexico getting the good wife treatment. But no. Ivan had to find her. Like he actually cared.

I didn't understand it. What he saw in her. She wasn't feminine, she didn't dress up or wear makeup. Her clothes were cheap. Wild hair colors. She wasn't made to be a queen. Not his queen. She was pathetic. And now she was carrying his heir.

That should be me. No matter how many cond*ms I sabotaged, how many drunken nights I tried to seduce him, I never got pregnant.

I couldn't let her have his child. That was my place. Queen of the Bratva. Sole supplier of his heirs. So I guess I had two options. Get rid of her and that bast*rd or send her away. I hoped she would be smart enough and leave if the threat to her child was great enough.

So I watched. I had changed my appearance enough I didn't think anyone would notice. It made me sick. Him doting on her. Rubbing her belly. Buying her cute baby things. It made my blood boil. So I put a plan in place. Get her alone and give her an ultimatum. If she was smart she would walk away. Save that little bas*ard growing inside her. Otherwise, I'd cut that fetus from her and walk away. Let her and it d*e slowly.

Hopefully, she makes the right decision. Not like I cared.

Ivan

Somehow, Olivia became more and more beautiful through the months. She was glowing. Her round belly and little wobbling walk she hated was beautiful. Every night I'd pamper her with foot massages and cuddles. It was perfect.

Today was her baby shower. Yelena had pulled all the stops. The garden was decked out in pink and what Olivia had decided would be the nursery theme, under the sea. She loved the ocean, so it made sense. Whatever she wanted she would get.

I had offered an interior decorator for the nursery, but she unsurprisingly declined. She wanted to do everything herself. So we spent nights painting and decorating. Talking about what we wanted for our baby girls' future. Olivia was still working hard towards her career. She was taking the bar in less than a month. I couldn't be prouder. Never in my life did I think I would be so lucky to have such a smart, amazing woman baring my children.

Ya, children. I wasn't even close to stopping kno*king her up. And so far she hadn't disagreed.

"Ivan, stop being a di*k and get over here to help your woman open her presents." Jesus. Ever since this pregnancy, Yelena has been like a mother hen. Making sure I did everything right. I didn't think I needed the monitoring, but she sure did.

"You know, baby, I can buy us everything. We don't need presents."

"I'm aware Ivan, it's more of a personal touch. I want all these people to be involved. Her family."

And she wasn't kidding. The entire MC and their old ladies had been invited, even some of the club girls Olivia likes. That was on top of my guys and their wives. Mikhail had been a huge help. On days when Olivia wanted to smack the sh*t out of me, he was there to calm the storm. They had gotten close. He was turning into yet another older brother to her.

Hard not to love her. She was perfect.

Olivia

I was stuffed. After all the food and cupcakes, I was certain I would turn into a human piñata. I decided to take a lap all around the grounds to work some of the calories off. I passed a few of Ivan's guys along the way, nodding and smiling. I had so many thoughts on my mind I hadn't even realized I had walked into part of the gardens I hadn't seen before.

A beautiful statue of a woman holding a boy and a girl, surrounded by lilies and multiple bird baths. The statue had to be at least 7 feet tall. A small plaque sat at the base.

"Нашей прекрасной маме, Юлии Соколовой. Она всегда в наших сердцах, сейчас и навсегда."

Huh. Now I wanted to know. I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture. I pulled up Google image search to translate. Assuming it was somewhat accurate, my heart broke. Tears blurred my vision.

(To our beautiful mother, Yulia Sokolov. Always in our hearts, now and forever.)

Ivan and Yelena had made a memorial for their mother. I don't know the full story, but from the jist of things, their dad was a giant piece of sh*t and their mother ki*led herself because of all the sorrow he caused. It broke my heart. Men in this world could be so cruel. I was so lucky with Ivan.

Suddenly I heard something behind me. I turned to look, but a sharp sting hit my neck. I tried to turn to see my attacker and a hand grabbed my mouth. My vision faded. My breathing turned ragged. Not again. Please. My baby.

By the time I woke up, I just hoped that my baby was alive. I had no idea what they injected me with. And who the hel* was it this time? How many enemies did I have? I was once again in a dark dingy room with no natural light.

It didn't take long to find out who my captor was. In walked the one woman I could go the rest of my life not seeing. Veronica. What did this bit*h want now? I was having Ivan's baby. He didn't want anything to do with her. Why hadn't she moved on like a normal person? Oh. Right. She's insane.

"Well well well. If it isn't my replacement. Wh*aring yourself out and getting knocked up to trap my man? Pathetic."

"I don't remember him ever claiming you, Veronica. So cut to the chase. I'm sick of this kindn*ping bulls*it."

She smiled. A cruel smile. A smile I didn't like, at all.

"Oh ya, how could I forget? I really didn't think Miguel was dumb enough to get caught. He was supposed to snag you up and leave, back to Mexico. Where you belong ."

My heart dropped into my gut. It was her. She was keeping tabs on me and reporting to them. If I didn't have a baby to protect I'd probably not be as afraid as I am right now. I mean it was Veronica. But also, if I didn't have this baby to protect I might not have just let lose everything I had eaten in the past 8 hours.

"Oh my God! Disgusting!" She gagged, plugging her nose.

Wow, really? This is what she finds disgusting? Not kidnaping a pregnant woman, tying her up and threatening her? For a man that wanted nothing from her? OK, priorities I guess.

"Since Miguel was too inept to get rid of you, I will. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to hurt an innocent child. Despite how much of an unwanted bas*ard it is. That child should be mine. So I'll give you two options. First, I c*t that thing from your womb and then you both d*e. Disappear and, eventually, Ivan would get over it. Or two, you both disappear back to Mexico. Far away. You tell Ivan you want a new life, away from Bratva. Away from everyone. Then I let you live."

I scoffed. "You do realize once you untie me I will actually rearrange your face, right? Baby or not."

She smiled. "Ya, I kinda figured you'd put your tough guy persona on. That's why I brought some of my dad's men with me. Mafia. They'll make sure you leave the country, or that you disappear. Either way, they work for me."

I swallowed. Hard. I don't think she was bluffing. And definitely knew she wasn't when about 10 definitely Mafia looking men walked in, all carrying firepower. Great.

"Once you're gone, I'll swoop in. Slowly, of course. He'll need someone's shoulder to cry on, and I'll be that woman for him. Eventually he'll move on, and I'll take my rightful place as Queen. Supplying him with heirs. "

This woman was insane. Absolutely insane. No way would Ivan believe for one minute I took off, let alone fall into her trap. And what would be stopping me from simply calling when I get there?

It's like she read my fu*king mind.

"Maximus will be joining you. Until you get settled, of course. And until I get settled right back into Ivan's arms. He'll take care of you."

The Max pri*k winked at me. Great.

She handed me my phone. "Type out a message. Make it good and don't you dare do anything stupid, or I cut that thing out of you." She flicked open a butterfly kn*fe and dragged it lightly across my stomach. I flinched. I had to play this smart. So I did as she asked. Typed out a simple message that no way he would believe.

*I've had a lot to think about these past few months and have decided this isn't the life I want. I need to have space for a while, maybe forever. The baby and I will be fine. Please don't try to contact me. You won't find me. I will make a good life for your daughter and I. Take care. You'll always be in my heart.*

Don't worry baby girl. We'll get back to daddy. Soon. I survived before and we'll survive again.