Babies Of The Don+18

Chapter 8

•|• Thessira's POV •|•

I said it.

The lie sounded massive the second it left my mouth.

But Elijah recovered quickly.

His arm wrapped around my waist naturally, pulling me closer against his side.

“Problem solved,” he said coolly.

Alexsander stared at us.

At Elijah’s arm around me.

At my face.

Back to Elijah again.

“You’re married,” he repeated.

I nodded firmly even though my heart was trying to claw its way out of my chest.

“Yes.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

For the first time since meeting him, I saw real emotion crack through that icy control of his.

Not sadness.

Not disappointment.

Something darker.

Something possessive.

“How long?” he asked.

The question caught me off guard.

“What?”

“How long have you been married?”

“Five years,” Elijah answered smoothly before I could speak.

Five years.

Exactly the twins’ age.

My stomach dropped.

Please don’t think about that too hard.

Please.

Alexsander went very still.

Too still.

Like he was calculating something.

“You hide your husband well,” he finally said.

“I don’t discuss my private life at work.”

“No,” he murmured softly. “I suppose you don’t.”

But he kept staring at me.

And the horrible thing was—

I could feel him doubting me.

Like instinct was warning him something about this entire situation wasn’t right.

“You don’t wear a ring,” he said suddenly.

Damn it.

“I don’t like jewelry.”

His eyes shifted to Elijah. “And you?”

Elijah smirked slightly. “Lost mine.”

I almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous this entire conversation was becoming.

Except Alexsander wasn’t laughing.

He looked suspicious.

And dangerous men becoming suspicious was never good.

Then suddenly—

A child laughed upstairs.

My blood froze instantly.

No.

Alexsander’s eyes flickered upward automatically toward the apartment windows.

Every maternal instinct inside me exploded in panic.

“You should leave,” I said quickly.

His gaze slowly returned to my face.

“You have children?”

The question nearly stopped my heart completely.

“My nephews,” Elijah answered instantly.

Alexsander kept staring at me though.

Waiting.

Watching.

Like my reaction mattered more than Elijah’s answer.

I forced myself to nod casually. “They’re staying the weekend.”

Another long silence followed.

Then finally—

He stepped back.

Relief hit me so hard I nearly sagged against Elijah.

But Alexsander’s expression unsettled me more now than before.

Because he looked calm.

Too calm.

Like he was filing information away for later.

“I apologize for disturbing your evening,” he said.

The politeness sounded wrong somehow.

Artificial.

Elijah clearly thought so too.

“We’re done here,” he said coldly.

Alexsander ignored him completely one last time.

His eyes locked onto mine again, and the intensity there made my chest tighten painfully.

“If you change your mind about discussing the partnership privately…”

“I won’t,” I interrupted immediately.

A faint smile touched his mouth.

Cold.

Knowing.

“You’re a terrible liar, Thessira.”

My breath caught.

Then before I could answer, he turned and walked back toward the waiting SUV.

And God help me—

Even walking away, the man radiated power.

One of his men opened the car door for him.

Before getting inside, Alexsander looked back once.

Straight at me.

Not Elijah.

Me.

And something about the possessiveness in his eyes made fear curl down my spine.

Then the SUV door shut.

The convoy disappeared down the street moments later.

Only after the vehicles vanished completely did I finally breathe properly again.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

Elijah looked down at me with disbelief written all over his face.

“Married?”

I covered my face with one hand. “I panicked.”

“You think?”

“I didn’t know what else to do!”

He shook his head, though amusement briefly flickered across his face before disappearing again.

Then he became serious.

“He suspects something.”

The words immediately tightened my chest.

“I know.”

“That man is dangerous, Thess.”

“I know,” I repeated quietly.

Elijah studied me carefully for a moment.

“There’s history there.”

I looked away too fast.

Mistake.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Who exactly is he to you?”

The question made my stomach twist violently.

Because how could I even answer it?

A stranger.

A memory.

A mistake.

The father of my children.

A man I never expected to see again.

“Nobody,” I lied softly.

Elijah didn’t believe me.

I could tell.

But thankfully he didn’t push.

Instead he glanced toward the apartment building.

“We should get upstairs.”

Yes.

Away from the street.

Away from those terrifying gray eyes that felt like they could see through every secret I had.

But as we walked toward the entrance, one horrible thought kept repeating itself inside my head.

Men like Alexsander Volkov didn’t let things go.

And tonight—

I had just given him a reason to look even closer.