Cruel Paradise - A Mafia Romance Chapter 182

“So… that’s everything.”

Emma looks stumped for words. She just stares back at me with her lips slightly parted. Highly distracting.

“Ruslan… God, I’m so sorry. Your father must be devastated.”

“He was—and he will be when he finds out the rest of it. But this was the only way. I couldn’t trust Adrik or Vadim with freedom. I won’t risk your lives again.”

Emma shakes her head. “It’s a lot. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the chance to explain sooner.”

“I didn’t deserve the chance to explain myself, Emma. What I said was terrible. You had every right to leave, every right to want to protect the kids from me. But I meant what I said to them: I want to be their father. I love those kids. And—I love you.”

“Wow,” she breathes softly. “You’ve never said that before.”

“I was scared to say it. But… I’m not anymore.” I take both her hands in mine. “I want you to worry about me, Emma. I want you to wait up for me and ask me what the fuck I’m doing. I want you to be there for me when I’m old and gray. I want you in every conceivable way and I will forever.”

Her eyes grow even wider. Those blue irises are mesmerizing. “Forever is a long time, Ruslan.”

I shake my head. “Not nearly long enough for me. But it’ll have to do.”

She smiles. Tentatively at first and then more and more freely. Like she’s really starting to believe me now.

“Does that sound good to you?”

She laughs and throws her arms around me. “It sounds like paradise.”

EPILOGUE: EMMA

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Ruslan Oryolov.

The big, bad Bratva pahkan of New York City. Hotshot CEO, shark of a businessman, and all-around tough guy.

I’ve never seen him sweat so much.

To be fair, he’s not the only one dripping in sweat. I’m soaking right through my hospital gown. The contractions are close together now but the nurses don’t seem in any hurry to prep me for the delivery theater.

Which is bullshit. This baby needs to come out. Like last week.

“Ice cube?” he asks me, holding out a bucket of them.

“I don’t need a fucking ice cube, Ruslan. I need this baby to get out of my body!”

“Soon, baby,” he assures me. “Soon.”

I wince as another contraction starts up. Ruslan grabs my hand and I squeeze hard as the pain rips through my body.

“Oww…!”

He kisses the side of my forehead and when he pulls away, there’s a glistening sheen of my sweat on his lips.

Oh, gee, how sexy.

“Don’t kiss me,” I snap. “I’m disgusting right now.”

“Are you insane? You’re glorious. Look at everything your body is doing. We’re at the finish line,” he assures me. “Just a couple more minutes—”

“You said that half an hour ago!”

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.”

I scowl at him. “Ice cubes!”

He hands them over without hesitation and turns his attention back to Phoebe. “How are the kids doing?”

“They’re good. Very excited. Amelia just took them down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. I’m gonna head down there myself. You guys want anything?”

“Oh sure. I’ll take a Big Mac and a side of fries,” I deadpan between clenched teeth. “Can you make that happen? Because these ice cubes just aren’t cuttin’ it, y’know?!”

Phoebe looks at Ruslan. “You’ll let us know when Emma’s back to normal?”

I hurl an ice cube at her but she hides behind the door and gives me a triumphant smile.

“Don’t worry. It shouldn’t be long now. Go, be with the kids,” Ruslan tells her with a save-yourself expression that I don’t appreciate one bit.

I jerk upright as another contraction starts tearing down my spine. Ruslan wedges himself in behind me and massages my back and hips while I try to breathe through the pain. His hands are gentle yet strong and it eases the pain considerably. Honestly, he’s been so damn great throughout this entire process that I start to feel a little prickle of guilt. I’m sure it’ll disappear when the next contraction hits.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime, my love.”

“I know I’m being a bitch. I’ll apologize properly after this kid’s out of me.”

Ruslan chuckles. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’re a fucking warrior.”

“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.

“How’re you doing, Mrs. Oryolov?”

I don’t bother correcting him. I’m in too much pain to go through the whole we’re-together-and-in-love-but-we’re-not-currently-married-or-engaged spiel.

“Doc, I need to have this baby,” I tell him desperately. “You gotta do something.”

Dr. Rollins parts my legs gently and checks to see how far I’m dilated. “Hmm…”

“Seriously. Induce me if you have to. Or just cut me open and pull the kid out because I can’t take—”

“Looks like we’re ready to roll.”

I stop short. “W-what?”

He smiles at me. “In a few short minutes, you’re gonna meet your baby,” he announces, getting to his feet. “Let’s get her prepped for delivery.”

I turn to Ruslan slowly. “I-it’s time…”

He grabs my hand. “I know you’re scared—but don’t be. You can do this. And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”