The Darkness Within

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty One

A few days later, Sergei tells me that he's taking me out, and to dress casually.

I don't know where he's taking me, and I don't bother guessing, either. He'd just enjoy seeing me off-balance if I pestered him for details.

The raid in which Sergei's men will target the Rostov's distribution centers is happening later in the week, and Sergei's had me sitting in on strategizing sessions with his men about it, encouraging me to offer input.

Today, however, it doesn't look like we'll be swamped with meetings. I don't get the sense that Sergei is taking me out for further business, though I can't know for sure—it's difficult to tell with him.

As I descend the stairs into the main foyer, dressed in jeans and a warm sweater, I see Sergei already standing by the front door, typing rapidly on his phone. He glances up at me, gives my outfit a once-over, and nods in satisfaction.

Without offering a hello, he commands, "Let's go."

Igor drives us to the mystery destination, looking as stern and prepared for a fight as always.

Which is why I'm surprised when he pulls up in front of an orphanage. The building is old, but it looks like it's had renovations to make it habitable. It's a two-story structure, made of gritty red bricks.

I turn a steady gaze on Sergei. "Are you planning on adopting?"

A small smile graces his lips, gone as quickly as it appeared. "No, but this is one of the orphanages I donate to. I visit twice a year to make sure my money's being put to good use, and not being siphoned into the owner's pocket."

That's not the real reason he's brought me here, however. If I had to guess, Sergei wants to study me around children—see how I act around and interact with them. Likely because he intends to get me pregnant at some point down the line. With how distant I've been around him since I found out his crucial omission, he probably thinks a baby will bring us together. That might explain why he's been doubling down efforts to seduce me since the gym session where he tricked me into wearing a vibrator.

He hasn't actually touched me, but he makes constant innuendos and remarks, and any time we're in near proximity, he casts me looks of such blatant hunger that it's impossible not to get flushed over them.

I recall how he didn't wear a condom or pull out the night of the meeting.

"I got my period two weeks ago," I tell him. In other words, I'm definitely not pregnant.

If that was his intent with coming inside of me, which is exactly the sort of cunning move he'd make, he failed.

Sergei's expression doesn't change even slightly. "I'm aware."

How he knows that is beyond me, but I'm not entirely surprised. Sergei seems to know about everything that goes on in his household.

"I have no interest in having children," I inform.

The thought of pregnancy itself doesn't appeal to me whatsoever—morning sickness, weakness, difficulty moving and breathing, swelling in the body...none of that draws my interest.

I take a moment to consider what's starting to seem like an inevitability: eventually bearing Sergei's child. I know he'll want an heir at some point. No time soon, since his main focus is still expansion of his empire, but perhaps a few years down the line.

I won't pretend that I'll manage to keep him at a distance forever—beyond him having proven finesse at tearing down the walls between us, I also know eventually the distance will bore me.