𝑴𝒀 𝑲𝑵𝑬𝑬 𝑩𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑪𝑬𝑫, 𝑹𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺, 𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚, 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒎. The cityscape blurred past in a frantic rush of skyscrapers and shadowed streets, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic thrum of the tires on asphalt barely registering as I focused on the task at hand. I tried to steel myself, but the unease gnawed at me like a constant ache.
If there was anyone who knew more about Volkov, it was him.
I rested my head against the cool glass of the car window, the chill seeping into my skin offering a fleeting reprieve from the tension knotting in my chest.
Valentino's hand settled on my knee, the sudden weight of it making me freeze. The sensation was grounding—his touch both a reminder of his presence and a silent command to settle myself. I hadn't realized I was bouncing my knee more frantically than normal until his hand stopped me, halting the frantic movement.
"You seem nervous," he said, his voice calm and even, though his eyes remained fixed on his tablet. Despite the lack of eye contact, his words hit me with the force of a physical blow, carrying an undeniable weight. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was truly nervous.Was it because of Viktor? Or Volkov? Or was it the fact that Viannie hadn't stirred once since yesterday?
Should I schedule an appointment with my obstetrician?
The weight in my chest grew heavier with every passing second, and the faint sound of Valentino's voice—calm, collected, and utterly unaffected—only made it worse, like an anchor pulling me deeper into my own unease.
I paused, suddenly aware of the frantic beat of my heart. Slowly, I inhaled, each breath coming slower, more deliberate. Instinctively, I began to count, like I always did when the pressure became too much. One, two, three... It was the only thing I could do to keep myself tethered, to stop the wave of panic from crashing over me. But no matter how much I counted, the uncertainty lingered, settling deeper into my bones.
"And you're not?" I shot back, the words coming out sharper than I intended. "Your company could've been breached."
