Chapter 24 And it all clicks into place . Hes Russian . Hes insanely wealthy . Hes all sorts of crazy possessive and overprotective . Hes surrounded by men who look like they enjoy a good gangland murder every bit as much as a good bruschetta . I slump in my own chair . Holy … shit . You are totally a mob boss . Pasha has the gall to smirk . Thats all the answer I need . I press a hand to my stomach . Shit shit shit . Shiiiiiiiiit . This is your baby . Im pregnant with your baby . So now , you understand why I need to keep you safe . You and our baby . As much as Im working on making friends with the government , I have plenty more enemies who wouldnt lose sleep over harming you so long as it harms me . His words sound garbled in my ears . Im trying to just draw in the next breath , exhale , and repeat . Im pregnant . With a Russian mob bosss baby . I fucked a mob boss . A criminal . An insanely hot criminal , but this is not the time to split hairs . I just … I just got my new apartment ! I dont mean to yell and I hope its not actually coming out as yelling . The last thing we need is every eye in the restaurant on Don Corleone here or whatever the Russian version is . But Im panicking . Im panicking and struggling to maintain a grasp on whatever shred of control over my life I have left . I paid a deposit and everything ! Do you know how cutthroat the real estate industry is in this city ? Oh my God , hes actually laughing at me . This man has the balls to laugh at me . Pasha waves at me to sit back down when I move to stand up and march the hell out of here . I dont obey because I want to I obey because Im surrounded by , like , twenty plus armed men who take their marching orders from him . 21-29 Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting , Now He Regrets 20.4 % napter 24 Shit . My babys gonna be a mob boss one day . Better that than a debutante , right ? And that momentary thought is how Im suddenly snorting up and coughing on my raspberry sweet tea . Now , Pashas the one being waved back down because no , I do not need his help ; I just need a moment . Come to think of it , I dont want his help . Thanks , Pasha , really . I offer him my most magnanimous smile so he knows theres no hard feelings . For everything . Youve been wonderful , and youre absolutely right this food is too amazing to skip for salad . So again , thank you . He casually lofts a brow . But … ? But I dont need your help . Or your money . Or your protection . The other brow joins his hairline . Oh , really ? Why do I have this sinking feeling that hes not taking me seriously ? Really really . Im a big girl . I can tie my own shoes and everything . Ive got a great job with great employers , and a solid paycheck- I will provide for my child . The tone of his voice brooks no argument . Hes not raising his voice or expressing any anger , but the muscle in his jaw is ticking and I think I think Im actually starting to irritate him . With respect , I offer , I am grateful to you for your generosity . And your willingness to be part of my babys life . However- Our baby . I have no desire to become a kept woman . I sure as shit have no desire to bow to some archaic , misogynistic notion of being barefoot and pregnant while the father of my children goes out and does … whatever the hell it is you do . Weapons dealing , mostly . Weapons dealing . Fantastic . Truly the stuff role models are made of . I tap my finger on the table the same time my leg starts shaking ; its a nervous tic I developed after a certain traumatic event occurred to make me hate guns with every fiber of my being . So tell me , Pasha , what exactly are your plans for our child ? Raise them up to be your … what ? Heir ? Prince in- waiting ? Take over the family business someday ? Chapter 24 Ills gaze doesnt leave mine as he nods . Thats the general iden . No thanks . This time , I shove my chair back hard . Im done , Out of here . Sit down . Tuck off I turn to march straight the hell out of here , but Im blocked by the slow rise of three of his men . They only look at me to silently suggest I listen to the boss man and play nice , but otherwise , they wait respectfully for his orders , I realize this is difficult to understand . Pashas voice moves with him as he rises and steps up behind me . Once his hands rest on my arms , his men step back and give us plenty of space . So here are the notes : yes , I am a mob boss . These are my men , from my Bratva , and I am their pakhan . They do as I say Everyone in my household does as I say . And since you , moya plamya , are carrying , my child , you are now part of my household . Which means you do , in fact , need to do as I say . Tears sting my eyes . I dont want to look at him . I dont want them to see me cry , I just want to go home and hide under the covers until all this blows over . Until he forgets about me . Until I no longer matter to him . But what then ? Will he take my baby ? You should have told me . Its the only thing I can manage through the lump in my throat . Pasha turns me around and wipes my fallen tear away with his thumb . Youre right ; I should have . But I cared too much . I didnt want to ruin your life with mine . He … cares about me ? No. Dont let him love bomb you and railroad everything youve worked so hard to achieve . Thats the same shit Conrad did . I … I just dont need the stress . Not right now . Its bad for the baby . He genuinely seems to take that into consideration . Of course . Speaking of which : Im coming to your next appointment . I dont … My cheeks heat . I dont have one scheduled yet . He sucks in a breath that sounds like the tail end of his patience . I will arrange for- No , thank you . I can manage . His face shifts like hes putting in a ton of effort not to steamroll me into whatever it is he wants instead . Chapter 24 Then youll let me know when and where to be . I nod even as I swallow past the huge knot in my throat . Ill text you . See that you do . And Daphne … Pashas face hardens . Im not heartless . But I am a man who has no choice when it comes to protecting my own . As of now , that includes you . I dont acknowledge his words with my own , or even a nod . Im too scared that , if I do , Ill be entering into some Faustian bargain Ill never be able to escape without groveling at his feet for crumbs . I just want to go home , please . I hear him sigh again . But he nods and signals for his men to let us through , and they part without hesitation . Against everything in my self preserving instincts , I find myself enjoying his arm around me as we wind our way toward the exit . The way he helps me dodge a chair here , a table corner there . Hes not a happy camper , but hes still showing a great deal of care and consideration for me . My heart squeezes . I know better than to want more with him . Hes too dangerous , too unpredictable . That doesnt stop my heart from wishing . Pasha walks me to my car . His men trail at a respectful distance . When he sees the champagne roses peeking through the passenger window , he stops and his face darkens at once . I didnt know you were seeing someone . Im not seeing anyone . For all you know , they could be from work . When I open the door to toss my handbag in , he snatches the card from the vase and narrows his eyes . His stifled glare shifts to me . Youre going back to him ? Fuck no . I snatch the card from his fingers and rip it into tiny shreds . He wishes . Then explain why they arent in the trash . I roll my eyes . Because they didnt do anything wrong . And they happen to be some of my favorite kinds of flowers . So excuse me for wanting to enjoy a little beauty in my life hey ! Pasha grabs the vase from my car without asking . Give them back ! I yelp . I dont want to throw them out ! Ill take good care of them , he spits . You can come see them whenever you want . Chapter 24 Pasha- No. He steadies his gaze on me again , but instead of anger or impatience , its a very targeted possessiveness that hits straight at my core . If you want flowers , tell me . Ill send you flowers . Ill deliver them myself . But no way in hell is another man going to fill your home with some pathetic attempt to Woo you away from me . I should slap him . I should run . I shouldnt feel the way I suddenly do , all … hot and fluttery , wanting to climb him like a tree and beg him to make me his good girl . I mask the shake of my head with a scoff . Whatever . I fumble with my keys inside my purse , yank them out , and stomp over to the drivers side . Hopefully , hell interpret the tremor in my fingers as anger , frustration , grief . Something other than aching arousal . We dont bid each other goodnight . Surprisingly , Pasha doesnt even attempt to shoulder his way into my car . I honestly half expect him to , either to wrestle the steering wheel out of my hands or … ahem … wrestle me in the back seat . Instead , he simply stands off to the side and watches me drive away . No wave , no shouted second thought . But I think , in the dim light of the security lamp , I see him smirk . Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Title: Caution! Cute Baby Alert! In "Caution! Cute Baby Alert!" by CrushReel, Scarlett's life takes an unexpected turn after a night with the enigmatic billionaire, Robert, leaves her pregnant and alone. Rejected by her parents and believing her baby to be lost, Scarlett's world unravels. Little does she know that secrets lie beneath the surface, waiting to be unveiled. Exploring themes of love, loss, and newfound strength, this modern romance novel delves into the complexities of relationships amidst wealth and power. Scarlett's journey from abandonment to resilience resonates with readers seeking a tale of redemption and hope. Set against the backdrop of luxurious mansions and high-stakes office drama, the story weaves a captivating narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. What sets "Caution! Cute Baby Alert!" apart is its ability to blend heartwarming moments with gripping twists, creating a unique reading experience that lingers long after the final page. Available to read at CrushReel, this sweet romance promises to tug at your heartstrings while delivering a compelling storyline that defies expectations.