Chapter 96

Natasha:

I walked through the house’s now cold, empty halls.

I had to admit, I didn’t think that I would be missing Eleanor as much as I was, but man did I find myself so lost without her.

My heart ached for her, and I couldn’t help but find myself wondering what she was going through.

I put my hand on my stomach as I smiled at my baby who was growing inside me. My one consent in this messed up world that I was somehow going to have my miracle. It was one that I believed to be deprived from years ago, and even when I didn’t get my period or grew sick, the last thing that I thought of doing was to get a pregnancy test.

“We are going to get your auntie back, somehow, and she will be by our side again. And she will be holding you in her arms, and if I am lucky, I want her by my side during my labor.” I said, rubbing my belly. I just found out about it two days ago, and I was trying to find the right way to tell Nikolai. The man has been patient enough with me about the fact that I might never give him a child. I knew that it was going to be something that he was happy about. 

“I heard them talking, boss,” I heard from inside my and Nikolai’s room, frowning in confusion as I did. Nikolai’s voice was low, and I knew that he wouldn’t be talking to Killian through the phone when the man was at home. Plus, he wouldn’t even need to whisper whatever he was saying in the first place. “Eleanor is playing a game, and Killian is catching up to it.”

“I know, and I am going to play her own game.” I heard whoever was on the other line say. My heart raced, and I found myself freezing as I tried to process what was going on. “She thinks that she is being smart, but I am going to teach her the hard way what it is to play a game on me. It is time for the Ivanov blood to be dried, and she is going to be the reason behind it.”

I tried taking a step back, my heart racing as I put my hand on my lips only to trip on my footsteps. My heart raced, and Nikolai hung up the phone before rushing toward the door. I knew that it would be unwise for me to run. He could easily pull his gun out, and that was not something that I wanted.

“Natasha?” He asked, his eyes widening before I took a step back. He pulled me toward the bedroom, closing the door, and I shook my head in question, not believing what I heard. The man grew up along our side, it was impossible for him to be a traitor. I refused to believe that he was.

“Don’t you dare say my name.” I said, shaking my head at him. “How could you do that? YOU of all people, how could you do that to Killian? Your fucking best friend…”

“Natasha, you need to listen to me…”

“Listen to what? Huh? More lies? The woman has been missing for weeks, and the house has been breaking apart, and you are here plotting..."

"Natasha, this family deserved to pay for what they have made us suffer, and I am sick and tired of living under the Ivanov reign. Aren’t you? Don’t you want to build something that is different? Hell, aren’t you tired of being their…?”

“This family saved my life when I was nothing but an infant. This family took me in when I was to be abused by a man who hurt my mother on a daily basis. This family killed the man who abused my mother by locking me in the house to ensure that I did not speak…”

“Well, this family killed my own father right before my eyes…”

“Because he fucking betrayed the pack, you dimwit!” I snapped, stopping him. “And ignoring your hate for the family that took you in; what did that poor woman do to you? God knows how much pain she is in right now, and the fear that she has been living though. What did she do to you?”

I pushed him twice and he didn’t say a word for a few seconds before grabbing my hands, stopping me.

“She didn’t do anything, but you know that she is not part of this pack. I saved her the fuss of living here, and I earned us a free way to a peaceful life. It was two birds with one stone, Natasha.” He said, making my blood boil. The man was sick if he believed that this was okay.

“How did I miss that you were this monster? How did you think that the two of us can…?”

“Let’s run away from all of this, Natasha. Save ourselves, build our own family, our life, away from all of this. We would have not only secured ourselves, but my father’s blood would not have gone in vain.” He said, and I took a step back, heading toward my dresser as I kept my eyes on him. He didn’t know that I kept my gun there, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. Someone had to warn Killian, and I knew that he wasn’t going to allow me to do that. 

“You are sick if you think that I am going to do anything with you.” I said, pulling the gun out of my dresser. I looked him in the eye as I loaded it. The bullets were in the sachet beside it, and his eyes widened. 

“Natasha, put the gun down.” He said, raising his right hand at me. I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes.

“To think for a second, that I fell in love with you.” I whispered, putting my finger on the trigger. His eyes widened in surprise, and I watched as he pulled his own gun up before pressing his trigger. My eyes widened in surprise, and I looked down at my stomach as I heard the bullet fire. My heart raced, and I looked up at him before he shook his head.

“My baby…?”

“I’m so sorry, Natasha…”