Time Stood Still (Volkov Bratva #3.5)(24)

“Why do you think that?”

His eyes roamed her face, taking in her expression, and maybe because he was trying to ease the fear inside of her, he smiled. “It will work out, I’m sure.”

“I want you to remember something, Lauren because I’m sure, you will think I don’t in the upcoming months.”

“Anything…”

“I love you.”

“I know that, Mish.”

“And I love my sister, and I’ll do anything I have to to protect the both of you. Even if I have to make sacrifices to do so. Do you get this?”

“There’s something you’re not telling me, Mish. I’m not going to freak out—much. You can tell me.”

He sighed, kissing her forehead and she knew, despite her request, he wouldn’t be telling her anything more. And while they laid together under the stars on the last night of their honeymoon, she wondered what they would be walking into when they got back home.





CHAPTER NINE





6 weeks later…

At three in the morning, the streets of Manhattan were still bustling, though not nearly as busy as it usually was during the day. While most were asleep at this unreasonable hour, Lauren was hunched over a toilet, dry heaving since there was very little left in her to throw up. She had been in this position for a little more than ten minutes, but it felt like an eternity as she kneeled on the cool tiles, purging everything from her stomach.

When she was sure that she was done—or was able to move without that churning feeling in her stomach—Lauren slowly got to her feet, going over to the sink to splash water on her face and brush her teeth, breathing deeply through her nose, more than glad that the nausea was passing. Her hands were shaking just slightly, a light sheen of sweat on her face and sticking the shirt she wore to her back, but it was more because of her nerves than anything else.

That, she was sure of.

When she and Mishca had returned from Sardinia weeks ago, things had went from good to better, especially since things had been pretty quiet around Mishca. Since she was practically helping run one of the clubs, Lauren had chalked her fatigue up to the hectic work schedule, but now…she didn’t think so, especially when that nausea grew worse.

Of course, she had wanted to say it was something she had ate, but from what she’d read about food poisoning, it’s symptoms weren’t anything like what she was going through, and it definitely didn’t last for weeks at a time.

Besides, she was hardly eating in the first place.

A sneaking suspicion had hit her when that first wave of nausea hit, like an instance, but she dismissed it just as quickly, knowing that it wasn’t possible considering she was on birth control.

…Then, at the first thought of that little pill she was meant to take daily, she thought of their lost luggage…and the fact that they had been tucked away in the side pouch of her bag. She had been meaning to refill her order since then, but she had forgotten all about it until a few weeks ago.

Lauren wanted to ignore her symptoms, hoping that it would pass, but after tonight—another night spent on the floor of the bathroom—she had no other choice. She had to know for sure.

Dressing in a pair of sweatpants, along with a light jacket, she grabbed her keys, closing the bedroom door behind her as she exited.

“Heading out?”

She nearly jumped a foot in the air at Alik’s question, surprised by his casual presence in her home. He was stretched out on the couch, Timberland boots placed on the floor neatly beside where he sat. The TV was on, a movie playing that she didn’t recognize, the volume so low that he couldn’t possibly have been paying it much attention.

Lauren glanced around, her hand tightening on the strap of her bag as she contemplated what to do next. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s Thursday.”

He didn’t have to explain what he meant. Though the monthly meeting between the bosses was usually held during the day, Mishca had a habit of switching things up now, never holding the meeting in the same place, nor during the same hours.

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

“Your boss asked my boss for a favor. I’m just following directions.”

“Right. Okay then…”

“What can I do for you?”

Lauren shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just going to the store—”

He shrugged, already reaching for his boots to pull on. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t think it was in her best interest to argue with him, so instead of arguing, she waited for him to finish lacing up his shoes and followed him onto the elevator.

Despite the fact that the street was nearly deserted, Alik stuck close to her side, his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans.There was a small bodega at the corner, the beaming sign at the top of the window still on. There was a girl, on older than Lauren, behind the front counter, her attention on the book she was reading.

Lauren scanned the hanging boards above the aisles, spotting the one she needed to browse. She looked over to Alik. “Can I shop by myself?”

“You got five minutes.”

She didn’t have to ask what he would be doing in the mean time. With those parting words, he headed towards the front counter.