Cruel Promise (Oryolov Bratva, #2)

by Nicole Fox

The door swings open and I wait hopefully for the doctor to appear, but it’s only Phoebe. “Is everything good in here?” I grit my teeth together to keep myself from screaming. “Word of advice: don’t get pregnant. If you want a baby, adopt one. Use a surrogate. Just don’t. Get. Pregnant!” Phoebe retreats slowly to the farthest corner. “So is that a yes, or…?” Ruslan holds my hand tight and strokes it. “We’re powering through—” “We?” I snap. “We? I think your contribution to my predicament was months ago and it involved an orgasm. So I’m not sure what you are doing, but I’m definitely power—ahh!—ing through.” Ruslan gives me a sheepish smile. “Of course. This is all you, baby.” “Honestly, stop agreeing with me all the time. It’s infuriating.” Ruslan just nods. “Whatever you say, kiska.”

“Really? Because I feel like a wuss. How did Sienna do this three freaking times?” I’ve been thinking about Sienna a lot lately. She was the first person I thought of this morning when my water burst right in the middle of school drop-off. Yeah, that had been a lot of fun. The little kids thought I’d peed myself. “Sienna probably had the same thoughts and feelings you’re having right now,” Ruslan offers. “But then you push out a perfect baby and you forget.” “I won’t.” “Yes, you will. And I’ll remind you of that when we’re back here in a couple of years having our next one.” “I’m sorry—next one?” I screech. “I sure as fuck am not doing this a second time. We have four kids now. That’s plenty. Or we will, anyway, if this baby ever comes out.” I stare at my belly. “Please come out. Mama’s tired.” “And terrifying.” “What was that?” I snap. “I said you look so beautiful right now.” He chuckles and I can’t help but smile along with him. The door opens a second later and hallelujah, it’s Dr. Rollins with two nurses at his back.

Seeing Ruslan carrying our baby boy… it just feels so damn surreal. Who needs a ring? You don’t need to create a baby yourself to be a parent. And you don’t need to be married to be true life partners. “You did amazing, my love.” I wipe away my tears. “So did you.”