Chapter 25

The night of the party, she put on the dress that she had Dmitry go to several different stores for.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought she looked too fat and was sure everyone there would make fun of her.

Putting on her earrings and necklace, she sat down, feeling like she was about to cry.

She looked up when Dmitry entered the room, looking hot and sexy in his suit.

He walked over to her and knelt before her, lifting her chin with his hand.

He could see how sad she looked.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She looked into his eyes, feeling her eyes filling with tears.

“I look terrible. I look fat, and here you are, looking so handsome. You shouldn’t be seen with me. Go to the party by yourself. There will be so many beautiful women there; you could have your pick of any of them.”

“Woman, sometimes I just want to put you over my knee and spank you. But seeing you are six months pregnant, I can’t do that.”

“Dmitry, how can you say that to me?” she asked.

He got up, pulled her to her feet, and had her stand in front of the full-length mirror.

He stood behind her.

“Look in the mirror. Do you know what I see?”

“Someone fat and unattractive,” she replied sadly.

He let out a low growl.

“No, you silly woman. I see a beautiful young woman who is carrying my child—one who is pure of heart and makes me smile when I am feeling down. No other woman can compare to your beauty; I want only you. You being pregnant turns me on, and I…I think motherhood suits you.”

She turned around, putting her arms around his neck.

“You always know what to say to make me feel better. I’m so sorry for being so bossy and moody lately.”

He pulled her close, giving her a kiss that lasted so long that she thought she was going to pass out from lack of air.

“Now, are you ready to go?”

She nodded her head, taking his hand when he held it out to her.

She felt so much better after hearing what he had to say.

It’s not like she liked the way she had been acting; she just couldn’t help it.

When they walked into the hall where the party was being held, he placed his arm around her waist.

She was sure this was something he normally wouldn’t do with the other women he had dated, and it made her feel special.

She noticed how all the men looked afraid when they saw Dmitry and how the women were drooling over him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see everyone watching them as they walked by and over to the bar.

He kept his arm around her waist as they walked toward the bar, knowing that she was nervous being around so many strangers.

“I’ll have a scotch on the rocks,” he said to the bartender and then looked at her.

“What would you like?”

“Just an orange juice,” she replied, looking around the room.

After getting their drinks, they walked around and were stopped by several people that wanted to chat with him.

They were approached by a man in his late fifties.

“Mr. Smirnov, I’m so glad you could make it tonight, and who is this lovely woman by your side?”

“Charlie McFarland, I would like you to meet my lady, Danica Burke.”

He bowed to her but did not try to shake her hand.

“It is a great pleasure to meet you, and I see you are expecting. How far along are you, my dear?”

“Six months,” she replied, glancing over at Dmitry.

Charlie looked over at him.

“Would you happen to be the father?”

He looked at Charlie, his hand tightening around her waist.

“I am pleased to tell you that it is my child.”

“I am very happy for you, and hopefully it will be a boy to carry on your business—God forbid—if anything were to happen to you. Dmitry, could I possibly have a private word with you?”

“I can spare you a few minutes; meet me in the other room.”

He turned to her when Charlie walked away.

“I must speak to him alone. Will you be okay for about twenty minutes?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Please do not leave this room; I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

He gave her hand a light squeeze before he walked away.

She started walking around, and since no one was talking to her, she went over to the buffet table and picked up a small paper plate.

She placed some finger foods on it.

She was checking out the different pieces of chocolate when a man came up and stood beside her.

He was around Dmitry’s age, but unlike him, he was thin-built and had short blonde hair.

“I recommend the truffles; they’re delicious and will melt in your mouth.”

She smiled.

He was the only one who talked to her.

“Thank you. Maybe I will take one of them.”

“I haven’t seen you around here before, and believe me, I certainly would have noticed you. So I see you and your husband are expecting a child.”

“I’m not married.”

She wished that she hadn’t said that to him after seeing the look in his eyes.

“That’s good news for me. I want to introduce myself. I am Jeffrey Adams. And you are?”

“Danica Burke,” she said, shaking his hand when he held it out to her.

“Thanks for the chocolate suggestion,” she said.

She started to walk away but realized he was following her.

When she sat down, she noticed how he sat next to her.

She looked around for Dmitry.

She knew he would be angry and jealous if he saw this man sitting with her.

“Are you here alone?”

She moved further away from him with her plate on her lap.

“I’m with somebody—the father of my baby—and I suggest that maybe you go hit on another woman because if Dmitry sees you here, he will be furious.”

“Will he hurt you?” Jeffrey asked as he looked around the room.

“Oh, it is not me he will hurt—just you.”

“I’m sure I can handle him. Give me your phone number, and I’ll call you sometime.”

She looked at him in anger.

“Can you not see that I’m pregnant?”

“I can see that—and that is what has drawn me to you. I have this fetish about pregnant women. I love making love to them.”

She was starting to become annoyed with this man.

“You have no idea who I’m here with, do you?”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Dmitry Smirnov—he’s who I belong to, so for your safety, I suggest you move on.”

She saw the fear in his eyes when she mentioned Dmitry’s full name.

Jeffrey stood up immediately and started apologizing profusely.

“Please forgive me. I am so sorry to have bothered you. I do hope that you will not mention this to him. I will leave you now—and again, I am so sorry.”

She was glad when he left. Normally, she would not have played the Dmitry card, but the man was getting on her nerves.

She then got up and started walking around, trying to interact with the other women. But every time she got close, they just walked away.

Feeling hurt and lonely, she made her way out onto the patio and stood by the railing, looking out at the night sky. She wasn’t sure how long she was out there when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

It startled her, and she jumped.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. But why are you out here when I told you to stay inside? God, woman, you are going to be the death of me.”

She felt the loneliness leaving her when she turned around and saw him.

“You took longer than you said you would, and I felt I needed some fresh air, so I came out here. If you want to be angry with me for disobeying you, go ahead.”

“You were in a good mood when I left. What happened to change that?”

She turned away from him.

“It’s nothing.”

He turned her back around to face him.

“Tell me.”

“I tried to strike up a conversation with a couple of the women, but they just walked away. Sometimes I feel so lonely, and I have no female friends to talk to. The ones in my art class, they’re nice to me and all, but they lead a different life than what I do.”

She rested her head on his shoulder when he put his arms around her.

He could understand how she felt. It wouldn’t be easy for her to make friends with him.

No normal person would want to be around someone living with a mafia boss. He lifted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes.

“The music has started. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

She placed her hands over her stomach, lovingly rubbing her belly. It was something she found herself doing more and more.

“I would love to dance with you. I promise not to step on your toes this time—at least I’ll try not to.”

When they went inside and headed toward the dance area, she noticed the women who had snubbed her earlier watching them. Smirking at them, she laced her arm through his.

She knew the reason why they ignored her was that they were jealous she was with him and that they weren’t. When they started dancing, she made a point of putting her arms around his neck and snuggling into him.

She wanted them to see that she was the one he picked to be with—the one having his baby and sleeping in his bed.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look in this dress?”

“Yes,” she answered, smiling.

“Let me know when you get tired, and we’ll go home,” he said, moving his hand down to feel her stomach.

“I can’t wait for our son to be born.”

She snickered.

“You don’t know it’s going to be a boy.”

Then a thought came to her, and she looked at him, giving him a stern look.

“You don’t know. Right? Please tell me you didn’t go behind my back and ask the doctor.”

“Do not give me that look, and no, I haven’t asked. I believe it’s going to be a boy. I know you were hoping for a girl. Don’t worry, maybe the next one will be a girl.”

When the second dance started, one of his men walked over to him, whispered in Dmitry’s ear, and then walked away.

He stopped dancing, took her hand, and walked her over to the other side of the room.

She saw the worried look on his face and knew something was wrong.

“What’s going on? What did he say to you?”

“I’m so sorry, but something has come up that I need to take care of. I will have Craig drive you home.”

“But you promised me a night out, and I bought this dress specially for tonight.”

“I said I was sorry. Now come with me,” he said, walking her out of the building and toward his car.

When they got there, he turned her to look at him.

“I promise I will take you out again, but I must attend to this matter.”

She was upset that their night out ended so soon but became more worried when she saw him and his men checking their guns and placing them back inside their jackets.

“Dmitry, you are scaring me. I get the feeling this is something very dangerous. Please don’t go.”

He cupped her tiny face in his hands, smiling at her.

“I must go.”

She knew there was no point in arguing with him. Lowering her head, she let a single tear fall down her face.

“What if something happens and you don’t come back to me?”

“I give you my word nothing will happen to me. I will return to you and our child.”

He didn’t care that his men were standing nearby when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was a long and passionate kiss.

“This should keep me going until you are back in my arms.”

Dennis walked over to them.

“Boss, we have to go now.”

She turned to look at Dennis.

“You better keep him safe, or you will have me to answer to. Bring him back safe and unharmed.”

Both Dennis and Dmitry stared at her with their mouths wide open. Not once had she ever talked to them in such a serious and firm tone.

Yes, she was becoming more assertive, and they sensed that if anything happened to him, she would go after his men.

Once she was in the car and Craig drove off, Dennis turned to his boss.

“Wow, I think you have found the perfect woman. To be honest, she scared me. I better make sure you don’t get hurt, or she just might kill me,” he said when they got in the other vehicle and drove off.

Dmitry sat back in his seat, turning his head to look out the window—and he smiled.

Yes, his little princess was turning into one fierce female. One minute, so soft and mellow; the next, this badass who had him thinking he better watch his step around her.