They returned from Granite Falls just as the city was dawning under an overcast sky. Ash got out of the car with a sweet, relaxed smile, still with the smell of the forest on his skin. But as soon as he set foot in front of his house, he felt the tension cut like glass.

Dusty was there. On the sidewalk. Arms crossed. Jaw clenched. The look... dangerous.

-Where the hell have you and Viktor been? -He spat without saying hello.

-What...? What's wrong with you? -Ash frowned. What are you doing here?

Dusty growled, taking a step closer. Where was Viktor two nights ago?

 

Ash swallowed nervously. He didn't understand anything.

-We went to Granite Falls, for a few days... What's going on?

-What's going on,“ Dusty interrupted him with restrained anger, ”is that some bastard tried to take my son. He broke into my house, Ash! With Dawn in it! Do you have any idea what could have happened?

Ash's heart skipped a beat.

-That doesn't make sense... Viktor wouldn't do something like that. It can't be him!

-What the hell do you know about Viktor? -Dusty hissed, his eyes red with rage. You don't know him. I do! That guy fucks everything that moves, don't think you're special.

Ash looked at him angrily. The air was burning in his lungs.

 

-Your wife tried to get into his bed! Viktor turned her down and she lied! You know that and God knows it!

-And you really think he turned her down? -Dusty let out a hollow laugh. Do you know what that bastard did? Don't make me laugh. He's playing with you, just like he played with everyone else.

Before he could answer, a movement in the window froze them. They both turned their heads at the same time.

A face.

The same face.

The kidnapper.

Dusty ran like a wild animal, smashing down the side garden gate. Ash followed him to the back, panting.

Dusty caught up with the guy. He rammed him into the fence so hard that the air came out of the other's body like a hiss.

-WHO SENT YOU, HUH? WHO SENT YOU? WHO?!

 

But the bastard was silent. Not a word. He just looked at him. As if he knew something. Like he wasn't afraid.

Ash pulled out his cell phone. He was shaking.

-I'm going to call the police!

-NO! -Dusty shouted, "Don't call!

 

The kidnapper took advantage of the distraction. He hit Dusty with his elbow, broke free and ran off into the trees.

-FUCK, ASH, YOU'RE STUPID! -Dusty shouted, shaking his head angrily, "I'm warning you! Stay away from Viktor, he's ruthless, dangerous! If anything happens to my son... I will show no mercy.

 

And without another word, he left. The door was left open. The cold wind blew in and Ash locked it, throwing all the bolts, setting off the alarm. Silence crushed her.

Her body trembled.

Her legs were weak.

And then...

Nausea.

It came over her suddenly, like a toxic wave. She ran to the bathroom. He knelt in front of the toilet. He vomited. He took a deep breath. Another retch. The world was spinning.

Stress?
Fear?
Or...?

 

Her fingers trembled as she searched the drawer.

A predictor.
Silence.
Heartbeats.

Seconds that seemed like centuries. And then...
The two lines.

Positive.
Very clear.

Pregnant.

 

Ash looked in the mirror. Sweat on her forehead. Eyes shining. Mouth ajar.

-Am I happy? -he whispered.
-Yes? -Another voice inside her answered.
-Or terrified?

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ash couldn't sleep.

The house was quiet, but his mind was a whirlwind. He huddled under the blanket, with the dim light of the lamp on, staring at the ceiling as if he could find answers there. The predictor was still on the counter, like a secret about to explode.

His cell phone vibrated.

Viktor 💬: “Baby, everything okay?”
Viktor 💬: “Where are you, I'm worried.”
Viktor 💬: "I love you. Please answer."
Viktor 💬: “I'm on my way.”

Ash didn't answer. Dusty's words haunted her like ghosts, “Viktor is ruthless... You don't know him... If anything happens to my son, I will show no mercy.”

And then...
Ding-dong.

The doorbell.

Ash slowly sat up. He walked to the window. Pulled aside the curtain.

Viktor.

Standing in front of the door, in the thin rain, black jacket soaked through, eyes full of worry. So handsome. So dangerous. So his.

For an instant, he hesitated.
But he opened it.

-What's the matter, baby? -Viktor whispered, rushing in and closing the door behind him.

Ash burst into tears. She threw herself into his arms, trembling, her soul in pieces.

-I can't... I don't know what's wrong with me... -he cried in a broken voice.

Viktor hugged her tightly, the contact with her body made him horny. That woman made his cock harden, he kissed her neck and she moaned giving him permission to make his fantasies come true... He stroked her back as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. His expression changed. Cold. Attentive. He knew Dusty had been here. The kidnapper told her before he got rid of him. She talked to him. Why doesn't she tell him? What else is she hiding from him?

 

Doubt was growing, but she felt in heaven with his cock inside her pussy, Ash bouncing all over him, driving him crazy, she wouldn't look at him.... and Viktor's intrusive thoughts were becoming more frequent....

What if she starts to get suspicious?
What if Ash becomes a threat?
Will I have to... kill her?

And then... Viktor cummed, flooding her whole pussy with semen....

He got up on his way to the kitchen to get water and....

He saw it.

In the kitchen. On top of the counter.
The predictor.
Two pink lines. Clear. Blunt.

Viktor walked toward it. Ash followed him, his eyes red-rimmed.

-Honey..." he whispered. I was going to tell you. I'm...

Viktor picked up the predictor. He held it in his hand as if it weighed tons. He turned his head slowly, dark eyes boring into her.

-You're pregnant.

The air grew thick.

Ash could barely breathe. He was afraid of her reaction.
But Viktor... he was silent.
And then... he smiled.
Not a fake, predatory smile.
But one of those rare, almost forgotten ones.

A clean smile. Real.

-Really? -he asked, with a breath in his voice.

Ash nodded, lips quivering.

Viktor set the predictor down on the counter and walked toward her, slowly. He cupped her cheeks with both hands, as if they were made of glass. He kissed her on the forehead. Then on the lips. Then he hugged her so tightly that she seemed to melt into his body.

-You... you and I... are going to be family," he whispered. For the first time... I have something real.

Ash didn't know what to say. She just clung to him.

And everything dark...
Everything violent...
Everything in him that wanted to disappear...

vanished.

For now.