Filthy Secret

ALEXEI

We drove to the hospital in angry silence. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but did she have to make it so hard? When she held that knife against my throat, I started to see her as something other than my captive. Instead, I saw her as my queen, one who would protect our child no matter who tried to intervene.

She would need that in Russia.

Not that she knew she was headed to my home country with me. It would be hard to smuggle both of us in, but not impossible. I flicked a glance her way, noting the waning of color on her face.

I loved my dark-skinned beauty looking healthy and fresh. This imprisonment hadn’t been easy on her, but as soon as I had my empire back under my rule, she’d want for nothing.

I’d make sure of it.

When we pulled up to the smallest hospital I’d ever set eyes on, I gripped her upper arm.

“Let me do all the talking.”

Sloane whimpered and grabbed her stomach with her other hand. I let her go; I didn’t want to cause more pain.

“Can I help you, folks?” A nurse rushed towards us, probably because Sloane was slumped over.

“Yes, my fiance is bleeding. She’s been sweating, and she also just found out she’s pregnant.”

I saw Sloane’s eyes roll up into the back of her head as I explained. I caught her just before she sank to the floor. There was a flurry of people rushing towards Sloane, and I was pushed to the side. They took her away from me, and I had to fight not to lose my shit. Another nurse showed me where I could wait for an update.

I couldn’t sit still. There was an itching underneath my skin. I wished I could kill everyone here for laying eyes on my queen, but she needed them to help her and the baby. I should’ve listened when she said something was wrong.

I was a fucking asshole.

A few hours later, a doctor who looked younger than me approached.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Sir? Are you family of Sloane’s?” He held a little clipboard in his hand. This set my heart racing. Was Sloane damaged further?

“Yes, that’s me. I’m her fiance.”

“Well, she nearly had a miscarriage. We were able to get it stopped, but

I’m going to have to advise that she stays on total bed rest.” I sighed in relief. It wasn’t fatal.

“Wait, I plan to take her back to Russia for our wedding. Can we not do that?”

The doctor shook his head in denial. “That would be ill-advised. Her blood pressure is higher than I would like to see, as well. Unless you have your own personal doctor that can be on the flight with her, and even still, I would be wary.”

“Thank you, doctor. I need to see her now.” I needed eyes on my malishka.

“I’ll take you back right now. She’s resting, but should be alright.”

“Thank you again.” I shook the man’s hand for saving my queen and our little growing heir.

She’s lying on the hospital bed when I entered the room, slightly propped up with her eyes closed.

“Malishka,” I croaked.

“I’ll give you two some privacy.” The doctor closed the door gently behind him on his way out.

Sloane’s eyes fluttered open, and her dark brown orbs focused on me.

“Alexei?” She waved me over to her. I grabbed the pitcher next to her bed and poured her a cup of water, since she sounded hoarse.

“Drink, malishka.” I held the cup as her tongue wiggled the straw in place without moving her arms. I almost broke into a smile. Never had I seen something so adorable until now.

“What’s going to happen now?”

“We are going back to the cabin. Things will have to change. I’m not sure you’ll be on board with all the changes.”

“Like what?”

I saw a hint of that fire in her eyes, but it was subdued, probably because of the drugs. I would ask the doctor to give her the maximum dose provided it wouldn’t harm the baby.

“I’m not going to confine you, but if you don’t want to lose the baby you’re carrying, you will do well to listen to me going forward.” “I can do that.”

I looked into her eyes for any hint of guile but found none. I had to take her word for now. I would also start working on that project I had in mind.

It was time for me to take this a step further.

We finally returned to the cabin after moving mountains to get a drugged Sloane released early from the hospital. I tucked her into bed, and she was out like a light.

Perfect.

I worked through the rest of the day fortifying the house. We wouldn’t be able to leave anytime soon. I made necessary phone calls to find a doctor that would be content to sit in my pocket. Sloane wasn’t leaving me, ever, nor would I give up on the idea of reclaiming my throne. I just had to wait until after she had our child.

I could do that.

I walked to the edge of the property and opened the shed. I knew Sloane hadn’t noticed it, since we were in a rush to get to the hospital. In the dim moonlight, I looked at the project I’d been working on in secret.

The cage wasn’t large, but it would be perfect for Sloane’s stature. This would get her into Russia; I just needed to bide my time. Even if I had to force my kids into her over and over, Sloan wasn’t leaving me.

Not ever.

I closed the shed again, whistling. Unfortunately, things were about to get a lot bloodier.