Blood & Agony: A Dark Criminal Romance (Pins and Needles: Moscow Book 1)

by Elizabeth Knox

Nodding, I take the cup and go in the bathroom connected to the exam room. I go about my business, wash my hands, and then step back out into the room with cup in hand.

  The doctor tells me to place the cup on the counter and to sit back down. I follow her every move as she removes the lid and sticks a pregnancy strip in it. After a minute or two she looks at the stick and nods.

  “Well, you’re not sick, Dema, you’re pregnant.”

  Oh my.

  Um.

  All thoughts fly out of my head. The doctor goes about advising me to set an appointment up with an OB/GYN. I nod, unable to say anything else to her. My nerves are shot. I need to figure out how to tell Kronid. I knew we were on the same page about our relationship, but we hadn’t spoken about children. Though neither of us have said anything about birth control either.

  Leaving the doctor’s office, my guard drives me to Pins and Needles. This is something I find to be a good thing about having someone with me who can drive.

  On the way to the shop, I try to come up with a way to tell Kronid but every time I think of the scenario, it always ends with him showing me the door.

  God, I hope it isn’t the case.

  The thought of carrying his child means the world to me, and I really hope he’ll be happy about this as well.

  As we pull up in front of Pins and Needles, I open my car door and step out as my guard rounds the front. He follows me to the doors, reaches out, and pulls the door open for me to enter. I murmur a thanks to him and walk inside.

  Inside, I wave to Trista who works with me as well, having replaced the dreadful receptionist. I wave to Meghan too, but I don’t stop. I’m on a mission to make it to Kronid’s office. I only hope he’s not too busy.

  I knock on the door and wait for him to call out. The door opens rather than him yelling. I find Michail holding it open for me.

  “Dema,” he greets me with a nod as I step into the room.

  Kronid stands and rounds his desk as he sees me. “What’s wrong, sirenă?”

  “I’m pregnant,” I blurt the second the door shuts behind me, not even caring if Michail is here with us.

  Kronid stills and I can’t stop myself from rambling. “I’m sorry. I know this probably isn’t what you wanted. We . . . we hadn’t spoken about this yet and I’m sure you’re not ready for something this major between the two of us, but . . . I really want to keep this baby. It’s a part of you and me and I love you. I couldn’t think of losing a child that we created and I . . .”

  Kronid’s eyes seem to smile as he covers my mouth with his hand to shut me up.

  “Sirenă, I couldn’t be more thrilled than I am right now. You’re carrying my child, our child,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead. Kronid removes his hand from my mouth and pulls me into his arms. “Michail, give me a minute with Dema will you,” he calls out.

  “Sure thing, boss,” Michail says and leaves the room quietly. The only sound in the room besides mine and Kronid’s breathing is the quietness of the door shutting as Michail closes it behind him.

  “Now, sirenă. Why would you think I didn’t want you to have our child?” Kronid asks, stroking a hand along my spine.

  “We . . . hadn’t talked about children before,” I murmur quietly.

  “Dema, when it comes to you, I will . . . do anything for you. I never thought I’d have children, but with you I’ll take as many as you want to give me. You’ve suffered enough agony and heartache to last a lifetime. It’s time for us to have some happiness and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you and our children are nothing but happy for the rest of my life.”

  Tears well in my eyes as I lean my head against his chest. Kronid’s not a man to lie and I know he means every word of the promise he’s just proclaimed.

  I silently make my own promise to be there for him no matter how much blood he has to spill. With blood and agony there is always a reaping of rewards that come our way. He’s my reward for the pain I’ve felt for years and I’m his redemption.

  Want more of the Pins and Needles series?

  Blood & Torment will be releasing soon!

  Pre-Order it here!