Page 38 of Dark Seduction

Lev, the father of my soon-to-be child, has been practically a ghost. Our interactions are strictly professional, limited to emails about his endless meetings and travel schedules.

I rinse my mouth and stare at my reflection, trying to find that resilient woman who's used to tackling life head-on. Right now, she looks a bit pale and frazzled.

What if Lev decides he doesn't want this baby, doesn’t want us? The thought twists a knot in my stomach that has nothing to do with morning sickness. I'm worried, genuinely scared about facing this alone.

I think of my dad back home, the man with the strictest of morals. The news of his daughter, unwed and pregnant by a man who has both experienced and doled out brutality, would just about give him a heart attack.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I straighten my blouse and head toward the breakroom, my thoughts swirling. Just as I round the corner, I almost bump straight into Maura. Her face lights up immediately, her smile warm and welcoming.

"Maura!" I exclaim, both surprised and relieved to see a friendly face.

"Dalia!" she responds, her arms opening wide as we hug.

"It's so good to see you.”

“Likewise.”

"What brings you here?" I ask, stepping back with a curious tilt of my head.

"Just dropping off some lunch for Luk," Maura responds, holding up a small, insulated bag. She studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she’s trying to read something in my face.

"Hey, would you like to grab a quick coffee with me?" she suddenly suggests.

I laugh softly, the sound more nervous than I intend. "Sure. With Lev barely being here I’ve got nothing but time.”

Maura's smile doesn't waver as she nods. "Great, let’s get out of here for a bit. A change of scenery might do us both some good."

Relieved for the distraction and the company, I agree, following her out of the office and into the crisp air outside.

We settle into a quaint little coffee shop just a block away from the office. It’s a cozy spot, with mismatched chairs and small, bistro tables. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans fills the air, mixing with the sweet scent of pastries.

Maura has a steaming latte in front of her, the foam artfully swirled on top, while I nurse a cup of chamomile, my new go-to.

"So," Maura begins, her voice gentle, "how are you holding up after that night at the gala?"

I stir my tea, looking up. "I'm managing. But what about you? That attempt was aimed at your life. How areyoufeeling?"

Maura exhales deeply, a wry smile touching her lips. "Believe it or not, it's not the first time someone's tried to take me out. It’s unsettling, sure, but I’m hanging in there. Luk's been incredible through it all. He’s on the case, you know? I trust him completely with my life."

I nod, sipping my tea. The warmth from the cup spreads through my hands. "You two seem to really have a solid thing going.”

She smiles, looking down at her latte. "We’ve been through a lot together, that's for sure." Her eyes meet mine again, and there’s a flash of something strong and resolute in them. "How about you, Dalia? How’s your relationship with Lev?”

I nearly bump my cup off the table, my surprise at Maura's question causing my hands to shake.

"What do you know?" I blurt out, a bit sharper than intended. I quickly wave my hand, apologizing. "Sorry, I didn’t mean tocome at you like that. It's just… a lot’s going on right now. Well, I mean,nota lot’s going on right now, and that’s part of the problem.”

Maura laughs it off with an easy grace. "Hey, no worries. I get it. Bratva men can be a handful."

I lean in, intrigued despite myself. "But you and Luk seem pretty stable to me."

Maura stirs her latte, her gaze drifting past me for a moment. "Well, our marriage wasn’t your run-of-the-mill romance tale. I was more or less a peace offering to Luk from my stepmother."

My eyes widen, and I nearly choke on my tea.

"Yeah," Maura nods, her smile rueful. "Sounds a bit old-world, doesn’t it? But thankfully, Luk turned out to be a dream. There’s something about these Ivanov men," she muses, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I set my tea down, my mind racing. "I can't even imagine."