Pregnant For the Mafia Boss

Chapter 20

VIKTOR'S POV

My phone rang at 11:47 PM.

I'd been awake for thirty-six hours straight, coordinating search teams across Montenegro, reviewing surveillance footage until my eyes burned, and systematically destroying anyone who got between me and finding Bella.

The caller ID showed Alexei.

I answered before the first ring finished. "Tell me you found her."

"We found her."

The relief that crashed through me is so intense it was almost painful. I gripped the edge of my desk to keep myself upright.

"Where?"

"Podgorica bus station. She was trying to run again." Alexei paused. "Boss, she's safe. We have her. But..."

"But what?" My mind is already racing ahead. "Is she hurt? The baby..."

"Physically, they're both fine. But Viktor, she doesn't want to see you."

The words hit harder than they should have. I'd known this was coming. I had known that Bella would fight me to death, hate me, refuse to even look at me after what I'd done.

But hearing it confirmed still felt like a knife to the chest.

"I don't care what she wants," I said, already grabbing my jacket. "Where are you taking her?"

"The safe house outside Podgorica. But boss, she made me promise not to tell you yet. She needs time..."

"She's had eight weeks. I'm done giving her time." I was already moving toward the door. "Keep her there. I'm on my way."

"Viktor, if you push her too hard..."

"Then she'll hate me more than she already does. I can live with that." I paused at the door. "But I can't live with her running again. I can't live with Sokolov's men finding her before I can protect her. So we do this my way. Understood?"

There is silence. Then: "Understood. But boss? She's not the same girl who left Moscow. She's... harder now. Angrier. You need to be prepared for that."

"I am."

Another lie. But I hung up before Alexei could call me on it.

The drive to Podgorica normally took two hours. I made it in ninety minutes, pushing the SUV to speeds that would have gotten anyone else killed on Montenegro's mountain roads.

I didn't care. Bella was at the safe house. Bella and my baby. And after eight weeks of searching, eight weeks of wondering if I'd ever see her again, eight weeks of living in hell...

I am finally going to get her back.

The safe house is a villa on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high walls and armed guards. Alexei met me at the gate, his expression cautious.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"Upstairs at the guest bedroom. We had a doctor check her out, she's dehydrated and underweight, but both she and the baby are healthy." He fell into step beside me as I strode toward the house. "Boss, go easy on her. She's been through hell."

"I know what she's been through." Because I'd put her through it. Because I'd driven her away. "Has she asked about me?"

"She specifically asked me not to tell you we found her." Alexei grabbed my arm before I could enter. "Viktor, she's scared. Not of Sokolov's men, but of you too. She thinks you're only here because of the baby."

"She's right." The admission came easier than I expected. "The baby changes everything."

"Does it?" Alexei met my eyes. "Or are you using the baby as an excuse to get her back? Because if you're only doing this for your heir, if you're going to hurt her again..."

"I'm not going to hurt her." I pulled free of his grip. "I'm going to protect her. There's a difference."

"Is there?"

I didn't answer. Just pushed through the front door and took the stairs two at a time.

The guest bedroom is at the end of the hall. Two of my men stands guard outside, they straightened when they see me, but I wave them away.

This conversation needs to be private.

I stand outside the door for a long moment, my hand on the handle, trying to figure out what the hell I was going to say.

I'm sorry seems inadequate.

I love you would sound like a lie.

I am wrong about everything is true but that wouldn't fix what I'd broken.

Fuck it. I'd figure it out as I go.

I opened the door.

BELLA'S POV

I hear the door open and knew instantly, and instinctively, who it is.

Viktor.

I'd been sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the ultrasound photo in my hands, trying to prepare myself for this moment. Alexei had promised me time. Had promised he wouldn't tell Viktor I'd been found.

But I should have known better than to trust promises from Viktor Konstantin's men.

I didn't look up or even acknowledge his presence. I just kept staring at the tiny bean-shaped shadow on the ultrasound, trying to remember how to breathe.

"Bella."

His voice is exactly as I remembered, deep and rough, with that hint of Russian accent that used to make my heart race. Now it just made my stomach clench with anxiety.

"Get out."

"We need to talk."

"No, we don't." I finally looked up and met his eyes across the room. "You can leave now. I'll stay here until the baby is born, then I'm gone. That's the deal."

Viktor closed the door behind him. Locked it.

The click of the lock made my pulse spike with something that wasn't quite fear.

"There is no deal," he said quietly. "You're not leaving."

"Watch me." I stand up, and tucked the ultrasound photo carefully into my purse. "I came with Alexei because I was tired of running. But that doesn't mean I'm staying in your world. After the baby..."

"After the baby, you're still not leaving." He took a step closer. "You're carrying my child, Bella. My heir. Did you really think I'd just let you disappear?"

There it was. The truth I'd been dreading.

"So that's what this is about." I laughed bitterly. "Not me. The baby. You want your heir?"