IRIS
The next two weeks pass in relative bliss, you know, aside from the looming threat of being discovered by Sergi. Our new identities arrive, courtesy of Alexei, and more plans are made and completed for New Year’s Eve while Nik works on gaining more allies and stacking the odds against his father.
I feel that plotting another person’s murder is wrong; taking a life should be avoided at all costs. But then, Sergi is so evil, has always been so evil, that he no longer deserves the life he’s got.
We spend most of our time on the hidden beach or resting in the house, just enjoying each other’s company. My stomach grows as our child does, and each of the guys loves having their palms resting on it, feeling him move. Nik has taken to singing Russian lullabies softly as I fall asleep, his lips near my stomach, and it’s so sweet it brings me to tears every night.
Pregnancy is no joke, and if my now swollen ankles and feet aren’t bad enough, for the past couple of days, I’ve had a low, throbbing headache that just won’t go away. I’m rubbing my temples when Andrei finds me lounging on one sofa, Hunt, Bubby, and Roman out, checking our perimeter as the guys do every day. Nik is working on his encrypted laptop while Rowan is somewhere checking the weapons.
Andrei’s brows furrow as he looks at me, his gaze landing on my ankles.
“Do you have a headache, Iris?” he questions, grabbing the medical bag that he keeps near to him and kneeling beside me. Nik’s tapping on his laptop stops and something in the pit of my stomach clenches.
“Yeah, I’ve had for the past few days and nothing shifts it,” I tell him, sitting up and holding my arm out when he pulls the blood pressure cuff from his bag. “Why?”
“Let’s just check your blood pressure first,” he states, his voice calm as it always is, but there is an intensity, a focus that reminds me of the bleeding I had back in Russia. “That can’t be right,” he mutters after several moments, checking the reading again.
Nik comes over, sitting behind me and taking my free hand in his. It makes me realise how cold my hand is, his warmth seeping into me.
“What is it, Andrei?”
“Her blood pressure is 160 over 95. That’s dangerously high for a pregnant woman.” I take in a sharp inhale, my mouth going dry at the implication that something is wrong.
Clearing my throat, I try to calm my racing heart. I’m sure it’s fine. “I’m just stressed. We all are.”
“Even so, we need to test for protein in your urine,” Andrei says, getting out a pot that I know he’s going to ask me to pee in. It won’t be the first time I’ve had to do it since becoming pregnant. “If that’s elevated too, we could be looking at preeclampsia.”
“What?” The word is whispered, my blood turning to ice in my veins at the mention of a condition that can be fatal to both mother and baby.
“Let’s not get too worried just yet, Iris. And it’s a treatable condition with the right medications, monitoring, and rest,” Andrei assures me, and my racing pulse calms a little. “Let’s do the test and take things from there, okay?”
“Okay,” I reply in a shaky voice, Nik standing up and then taking my hand to help me up too.
“I’ll help you, Dorogaya,” he tells me softly, not letting go of my arm as we head to the bathroom. “Whatever this is, we will deal with it and everything will be fine, I promise.”
I hold on to his promise like a lifeline, not even blushing as he helps me collect the urine sample. We’ve gone beyond that point anyway, and it’s also really fucking hard to see a tiny pot to piss in when you’re pregnant.
Within a few moments, we’re back in the main living room, the rest of the guys waiting for us, Bubby and Dima too. I lock eyes with Hunt and then burst into tears, the fear and worry overwhelming me, and in seconds, he’s gathering me into his arms, kissing my temple and whispering reassurances while Nik hands Andrei my sample.
“Iris?” Andrei’s voice filters in after my cries have quieted down, and I look up from Hunt’s chest to find him standing next to me. “It’s come back elevated, so I’m pretty certain, along with your other symptoms, you have preeclampsia.” I take in a sharp breath, Hunt’s arms tightening around me as Rowan comes over to sandwich me between them. “I’m going to arrange a meeting with an obstetrician that I know who can be trusted so he can give us more information, but it’s a perfectly manageable condition, okay?”
“O–okay,” I reply, taking in an inhale.
“Nik? Can you help make that happen? Video if possible?”
“Of course,” Nik replies, taking Andrei’s place at my side and cupping my damp cheek in his palm. “This will be fine, Solnishko.”
Then he presses a quick kiss to my lips before heading to the table with Andrei, Roman coming over and taking his place.
“We’ll take care of you and our baby, Princess. This doesn’t change that. We just need to take extra special care,” he tells me, leaning in and pressing his forehead to mine while Hunt and Rowan hold me.
Within moments, we have Dr Clive on video, an older gentleman with kind blue eyes and grey hair. After going through my results and symptoms, he confirms the diagnosis.
“Now, I’m going to be honest here, Iris,” he states, his attention solely focused on me, even though the guys are pressed close to me as I sit on one of the dining chairs. “Without proper medical supervision, this condition can escalate quickly. The only cure is delivery, but at twenty-nine weeks, that brings its own risks for you and your baby.” I take in a sharp breath, clutching Hunter’s hand so tightly in mine I’m surprised I don’t break it. “But the good news is you can do that easily where you are with some extras that I’ll send through, especially with Andrei, a very capable young man.”
I glance over at Andrei, who is blushing, and it’s too cute, especially as Dima presses a light kiss on his head.
“What can we do, doctor?” Hunt asks, his voice more serious than I think I’ve ever heard it. This must be making his Daddy protector vibes go into overdrive.
“Well, rest is good to help keep her blood pressure down. Plus daily monitoring of her blood pressure, protein levels, and any other symptoms. A low-sodium diet may also be of benefit,” Dr Clive tells us, and I see Roman making a note of all he says on his phone. “Keeping stress low is a must.” I can’t help the huff of unamused laughter falling from my lips. Clive pauses but doesn’t comment. “And no marathon sex sessions, though if her blood pressure remains low with the medication, you don’t have to forgo it completely.”
My cheeks blaze, my eyes widening as I try not to look at the four men who I have sex with.
“Define marathon?” Roman asks, and I snap my gaze to him, my mouth agape.
“Roman!” I hiss.
“No, it’s good to get all the facts.” Dr Clive chuckles. “So, it doesn’t need to last hours. One or two orgasms are fine, and um, maybe keep it to one partner at a time.” The last part is the first time I’ve heard him sound a little flustered. I just want the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
I’m not ashamed of my unconventional relationship. I just never thought I’d have to have this kind of talk with a stranger with everyone present. I swear I hear Bubby mutter “cringe” under his breath, and it takes a lot for me not to hide my still burning face with my hands.
“Got it, Doc. Thanks,” Roman states casually as fuck while making another note on his phone, and I give him the stink eye.
“You’re welcome, son,” Clive replies, looking back at me. “Any questions, Iris?”
“Um, I don’t think so. It’s a lot to take in,” I answer, some of the colour draining from my face at just having to deal with another thing.
“I know it can be a bit of a shock, but you seem to be in excellent hands, and I’m only a video call away if anything changes,” he assures me before saying his goodbyes, and the screen goes dark.
“Before you hopped on, I asked if we needed to relocate to somewhere more populated,” Andrei states from across the table. “He said not right now, the stress of travel could make things worse, but I’m going to add that into our planning just in case things change.”
He looks from me to Hunt, then Nik, whose jaw is clenched tight. “What we do need is the specific medications he’s sending through and better monitoring equipment, ideally for blood pressure and the fetal heartbeat.”
“Can we get those things from the mainland? Or do we need to contact Alexei again?” Rowan asks, and it’s the first time he’s spoken since we discovered my new condition. His voice is quiet, but his body is tense, poised, and I can feel the tension running off him as he leans against the wall.
“Roo?” I ask softly, and he turns to look at me, a gaze of drowning in his eyes. “Come here, please.”
He doesn’t hesitate, just walks over, and I get up, stopping the protest that I can feel about to come from the others. Then I make Rowan sit in my chair before I settle in his lap. His arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and he takes a deep inhale, his nose buried between my neck and hairline. His body loses some of its tension, and I know this is what he needed. To make sure I was okay.
“To answer your question, we could definitely get those things on the mainland, and that would be quicker than waiting to contact Alexei and then for him to procure the items,” Andrei answers, and I glance at Hunt, then Nik.
“Hunt should go with Andrei and Dima,” Nik states, and I see it costs him to let Hunt go and not demand he’s the one to do it. “My face is too well known, and if my father’s men are there, which I bet they are, they’ll know me straight away.”
“But won’t we need Andrei to monitor Iris?” Roman questions, and I’m nodding.
“I can show you what to do, but I think just keep her resting for now until we can start the medication is the most important thing,” Andrei tells him, standing up. “Can we organise to leave now? Then we’ll have nightfall to cover our return.”
“I’ll call the boat I have a contact with. It’s smaller than the Knight yacht, so will be more inconspicuous.” Nik strides off to make the call, and I let Hunter help me up.
“Back to bed with you,” he orders, though when I open my mouth to protest, he just gives me that look. The one that means I won’t win this.
“The twins can join you. Nik and Bubby can make sure you’re safe while we’re gone. Please, Iris.”
I soften, my protests dying on my lips at his plea.
“Okay, Daddy,” I whisper, letting him lead me back to the bedroom that we all share. “I’ll be good while you’re gone.”
“That’s because you’re my special girl,” he tells me softly, pulling back the covers and helping me get into bed. I actually am tired. I guess the stress of the past couple of hours is hitting, plus my headache still is making its presence felt.
My eyelids drift shut as he leans over to place a kiss on my forehead, the bed dipping either side of me as Roman and Rowan get in.
“Aren’t you guys gonna be bored sleeping with me?” I mumble, snuggling into Roman’s chest as Rowan wraps himself around me from behind.
“Nah, I often watch you sleep, Lamb,” Rowan comments casually, like that’s normal. I guess for him, for us, it is, because it’s actually super romantic and I really like that he does it.
“Yeah, I could spend the rest of my life lazing around with you and die a happy man,” Roman adds, kissing the top of my head and sighing.
“This is the best place in the world because you’re here, Princess.”
A happy breath falls from my lips across his skin as I let sleep take me, knowing that whatever this new challenge is, however scary it is, I’m not facing it alone. Not anymore.
