Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
People would whisper about her mother, point at her, and maybe even consider her a traitor as well. He wouldn’t allow that to happen, but rumors always ran rife through their circles. They would instantly pin the crimes of her mother on her. Everyone was always looking for someone to blame, regardless of the situation.
“You can’t be serious,” said Alix.
“Not the answer I was expecting.”
Alix put her hand to her mouth and once again he saw the tears in her eyes. “You’re proposing to me.”
“You’re expecting my child.” He’d not gone around fathering a bunch of bastard children. All he had was Sofia, and now he had Alix, and their child. He wanted to do everything in his power to bind her to him, and if that also meant drawing Angeloff out of the woodwork, then that was exactly what he was going to do.
“But … you … this … are you sure?”
“Yes.”
There was no hesitation and it wasn’t just for the plotting he was currently doing. No, this was because of Alix. He needed her. Craved her. She had to stay by his side, no matter what.
Reaching out, he pushed some curls off her face. “I can take care of you, Alix. I want you to be with me. Not just as the nanny to my child, but to the mother of ours. I know Sofia adores you.”
“I’ll never be able to replace her mother,” Alix said.
“Why not?” he asked, seeing the surprise in her eyes as they widened just a little more. “It’s not like her mother was ever good at the job. She ignored Sofia. She wouldn’t feed her, cuddle her, or spend time with her. I did all of that.” He’d never told a soul, not even his own father, what his first wife had been like. She’d hated Sofia from the moment she came out of the womb. Time didn’t heal anything. Dmitry had done the hard work. While his wife had hated their child, he’d loved Sofia the moment he saw her. He’d known there would be disappointment because she was a girl, but he’d loved her instantly.
“Yes,” Alix said. “I will marry you.”
To seal the deal, he kissed her hard, knowing deep in his heart and soul that he’d made the right decision.
****
The ring he’d given her was enormous. Alix was a little embarrassed by the sheer size. Not only had he given her a large wedding ring, there was also a notification in the newspaper. Dmitry had organized it all, including the photographer, who wanted to take pictures of the happy couple. Again, she didn’t know how this could work, seeing as he was Bratva, but it would appear Dmitry was a wealthy bachelor, and his Bratva side was only a rumor. His whole name was shrouded in mystery.
Along with the wedding, the news of her pregnancy had also been leaked. She knew this by the guards talking and also by the small headline that announced Balakin’s new bride was already expecting. As for Sofia, she was so happy about the news of them getting married, and also a new baby.
Alix didn’t stop taking care of Sofia. The truth was, she loved Sofia like she was her own child.
Dmitry wanted a quick wedding and within a matter of weeks, the dress had already been chosen. They were having the event at his home, and the guests had been notified. Where Alix expected the wedding to take a few months to organize, within a matter of days and weeks, Dmitry already had everything lined up the way he wanted it. The man was a master at getting what he wanted.
“I’m not going to have any guests,” she said late one night as Dmitry arrived to their room.
Again, it still seemed odd for her to think of this room as her own.
She had put Sofia to bed alone tonight as Dmitry had a lot on his plate. Alix already knew he’d not been able to locate George and whoever else he was on the hunt for. She wished she knew where to find George to help him. She had a feeling he was constantly looking over his shoulder.
“There will be plenty of guests and they’ll be guided between the husband and the bride,” Dmitry said. “Come and shower with me.”
She’d already had a shower but she wasn’t going to deny her future husband anything. Putting the wedding book aside, which the planner had given her, she climbed out of bed and followed him into the bathroom.
Dmitry was already naked as she entered and she couldn’t resist looking at him, seeing all of his glorious, heavily inked, muscle-bound body on display. All she wanted to do was touch and lick every single inch of him, but she held back.
She went to strip out of her pajamas as it was starting to get cold, but Dmitry stopped her, pulling her into his arms. She loved it when he did this, his thick arms holding her, surrounding her, and she knew deep in her heart everything was going to be okay.