by Lucia Franco
My lips parted, my heart shattering down the center. I got up and stood in front of Kova, palming his cheeks. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him. I felt his breath on my neck, the way his body trembled against mine. I broke down, my heart emptying, and I cried with him. He pulled me tighter and put me on his lap. Kova tried to look at me, but I wouldn't let him and I kept my head down. I leaned in, breathing him in, needing him so desperately. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I placed my face against his chest, and I could hear his erratic heartbeat. I looked up at him just in time to see one lone tear fall down his beautiful face.
"You will never understand how truly sorry I am. For everything I have ever done. To you. To us. For all the pain I have caused you. You must know whatever you want to do, whatever you decide, I will support you. I love you so much, Adrianna, that at times it is hard for me to deal with. Damn the consequences. We are a team—but the truth is, when you exhale, I inhale. Not the other way around. I might be the beast beneath your beauty pushing you to succeed, but you are the anchor that holds me steady in a churning ocean threatening to drown me. It is how it has been for me since day one, and it will continue to be that way. Always remember that. So whatever you decide, I will support you."
I cried harder than I’d ever cried in my life.
I cried for myself.
I cried for Kova.
I cried for our child we'd never get to meet.
I cried harder, feeling his sorrow as my own.
After a few moments when the tears subsided, I pulled back and took a deep breath. Kova wiped my face and we stared into each other's eyes without saying any more words.
There was nothing left to say. He was right. This would definitely change things.
Easing myself from his lap, I moved to use the bathroom. The emotional stress of this conversation was killing my stomach. I probably just needed to splash some water on my face.
I took one step, but Kova grabbed my wrist and pulled me between his legs. He placed both hands on my hips, then leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my stomach. I drew in a quiet gasp, trying to hold back the tears. Kova looked up at me with sorrow in his sad green eyes, almost like he was in mourning.
With his hand splayed on my stomach, he reached forward to press his lips to mine.
"Kiss me, damn it," he fucking begged.
Oh, God, my heart. His gravelly voice made my jaw tremble and the tears to surge again.
"I don't want this to change anything between us," I said against his lips. He started breathing heavily. "I'm scared."
"Kiss me, Ria, please," he begged, his voice completely shattered this time. "I need you to kiss me so I know you do not hate me. So I know you still love me as much as I love you."
And so I did. I kissed him while he kept his hand on my stomach as if he needed to remember this moment, us, and what was growing inside me that we had created. I kissed him back for not treating me the way I’d feared he would. I kissed him back for understanding that while this was our choice, I made the decision and he accepted it. I kissed him back for us and the hope he'd see from this moment on that I was still his and he was still mine and we would forever be Kova and Ria.
As Kova dragged me closer to him, a knock sounded at the door. Our kiss broke apart and our expressions mimicked each other's.
"Are you expecting someone?" he asked.
I shook my head and stepped back.
Puzzled, we both got up to answer the door. The only other person who knew where I lived that ever came over was Hayden, but after the discussion I'd just had with Kova, I prayed it wasn't him.
The rapid knocking persisted and I looked over my shoulder and saw Kova close behind, the pregnancy tests still in his hand. It crushed me to see that because I felt like it meant he was holding onto the only evidence he'd ever have of our baby.
Turning the lock, I didn't look through the peephole before I pulled it open. Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, I should've never answered the door.
Maybe I’d prayed a little too hard, because right now, I would do anything for it to be Hayden.
Seventy
"Dad?”
He didn't hear me.
He didn't see me.
The silence was deafening, the accusation clear. All he saw was Kova in my condo without a shirt on, fresh from the shower, the water from his hair dripping over the scarred letter I’d marked on his chest.
I was going to be sick. Dad tilted his head to the side, his harsh gaze taking in Kova. I was in nothing but a small shirt and underwear.
It felt like everything was happening in slow motion as my father stepped inside the condo and shut the door.
Dad glanced at Kova's bare chest, then his jaw locked. Nostrils flaring, he said, "Well, this is certainly a surprise. Care to tell me what you're doing in my daughter's condo, Konstantin?"
A chill of terror rolled down my spine. I held my stomach. This was far worse than telling Kova about the pregnancy.
Kova stood completely stone-faced. We both knew there was no legitimate reason for him to be here, and I kind of hoped he wouldn't try to make an excuse. Kova gave nothing away. His breathing was steady as he remained calm under pressure. The situation was fucked up, and even I knew there was nothing I could say to get us out of this. We were both caught red-handed.
"Do you have an answer for me?" Dad asked. He removed his navy blazer and folded it over one of the high-back chairs.
Kova's eyes shot to mine and the tension grew to a thickening level. His Adam's apple bobbed.
"No. Don't look at my daughter," my dad said casually, as he if was asking him to lunch. He uncuffed his sleeves and rolled them up. "I asked you a question and I expect an answer from you."
Kova put his hands up. "Frank—"
"You know how this looks, right? A man, one I trusted with my teenage daughter—my sick daughter—to watch over her is in her condo. Both of you are wearing fucking scraps of clothing, not to mention, is that a fucking tattoo with the letter of her name?" His jaw flexed, and I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel in his eyes. "So, tell me, what the fuck are you doing in my condo with my fucking daughter?"
My stomach dropped. His cursing isn't what held me immobilized, it was his words spoken with such disgust that frightened me.
"Are you a sick fucking pervert preying on young girls?"
My jaw dropped. "Dad—"
Dad pointed a finger at me. "Shut your goddamned mouth, Adrianna. There is nothing you can say that will help you out of this. I've seen everything I need to. Go pack your clothes. Whatever the fuck this is, ends here."
Tears sprung to my eyes. "No," I gasped.
"Frank, please—"
"You can't be serious," I said, barely able to breathe. My heart was in my throat. "Just let me explain. It's not what it looks like, I swear."
Dad lowered his voice, his eyes narrowing to slits. "Does it look like I'm fucking kidding? I'm not playing games with you."
I took a step closer, but also kept a decent amount of distance. I could feel the heat and rage blistering around him, and it scared me.
"Dad, it's not what you think. It's really not." I tried to think of a lie he'd believe. "I wasn't feeling well. I got sick, and he was helping me."
A sardonic huff escaped him. "Joy was right. This whole time she was right about you and your coach, and I denied it. She showed me a photo of you guys I rejected it, saying she’d Photoshopped it for her own motive. I figured I'd give you the benefit of the doubt and show up for you to explain, but then I find this…" He eyed Kova with repugnance, then looked back to me. "I defended you. I thought you were smarter than this. I thought you were better." He scoffed under his breath. "What a fucking fool I was."
My face fell. I blinked and Dad was standing in front of me. I jumped backward, but he grabbed me in a rough hold and yanked. Pain shot through my shoulder and I yelped.
"Ow, you're hurting me!" I cried out and tried to pull away.
>
Dad's eyes bulged from his head. "This is what you wear around your coach! Do as I say and get your things now, Adrianna, or I will fucking lose it." He paused. "Now."
Kova stepped in. "You do not need to hurt her because of me. Let her go."
Dad's head whipped toward Kova. His gaze was deadly. "Do not tell me what to do with my daughter, you sick fuck. I asked you to watch over her and protect her. And this is how you do it? Get the fuck out of my face, you disgusting piece of shit." He paused, his face getting redder by the second, his grip thickening. "I trusted you! I'm calling the cops—I want you thrown in jail!"
"No! Dad, no!" I yanked away again, but it was a mistake because he only jerked me harder. A breath gushed from me. Something twisted in my arm and it made me weak in the knees. The pain made me lose my breath and I almost fell to the floor.
Kova calmly held his hands up in surrender. My eyes widened at the tests in his white-knuckled fist. Air lodged in my throat. He'd forgotten he was holding them. If there was a God, I would sell my soul for Dad not to see what he was holding. It would only escalate things and make them worse.
"Frank, please do not do this to her. I will leave."
Dad turned toward Kova with fire spewing from his eyes. "Is this what I've been paying for? For you to fuck my daughter?" Then he turned toward me. "Joy was right. I had no idea you were such a slut."
He pulled his phone out with his other hand and swiped it open. I needed to keep his attention on me and away from Kova now.
Kova took a step closer.
"Take another step toward me, Konstantin, and I won't hesitate."
My stomach was a knotted mess. I didn't want Dad to try and hit Kova because as much as I loved my dad, Kova was much bigger and stronger and I worried one punch would knock him out.
"Dad! Stop! Nothing is happening here. Why won't you believe me?" I bawled, but he pulled my arm so hard and high that it forced me to stand on my toes. He twisted it behind my head and a cry burst from my throat. I'd been luckily enough to have never broken a bone, but judging by the agony that took my breath away, I'd say it was fractured or dislocated.
"I'm done with your lies, Adrianna," Dad said.
Kova looked at me. I didn't see the tests in his hand anymore, he must've pocketed them. He was white as a ghost but riled and bursting with the impulse to protect me. I'd never once seen him as I did now, torn from trying to do the right thing and trying to not make it worse. He was holding back from stepping in with reason— he was wrong, we both were wrong—but he also couldn't take seeing me in such pain either.
"My arm, please, let go," I said breathlessly, tears streaming down my face again. "It hurts."
Swallowing, Kova raised his voice. "Do not call the cops. I will walk away from everything. I will sell my gym, I will go back to Russia if I must. You will never see me again, but this is not her fault. Do not ruin her career because of me. Just let her go and I will leave."
Dad’s fingers dug into my skin, and my own fingers were numb from his tight hold on me.
Dad ignored Kova as he erratically pressed buttons on his phone. I watched, trying to see who he was calling. My heart was going to jump out of my chest. I was shocked that he'd call the police because it would affect the Rossi name as well as Kova's reputation.
I took one quick glance at Kova, then I turned toward the front of my dad and shoved at his chest with my free hand, pushing as hard as I could. My strength was weak, but I couldn't let this happen. I had to stop him.
Only, I didn't push hard enough.
Dad's eyes flared, a blackness overtaking them. I didn't recognize him. My stomach clenched with fear. He reacted, twisting my arm so hard that I felt another pop. Kova's eyes widened and he rushed to grab me. A scream erupted from my throat and my dad finally let go. The pain took my breath away and I clutched my arm to my chest, closing my eyes in agony as I fell into Kova.
"Adrianna," Kova said. The tone in his voice alarmed me.
I opened my eyes and saw that my dad was about to press the phone icon. Standing up, I lunged with my good hand and reached out, slapping his phone away. It tumbled to the floor and the screen cracked.
Relief coursed through me, but not for long.
The back of his hand flew toward my face.
My head whipped to the side and I flew, my body slamming to the floor with a crash so hard my head smacked it. Kova bent down immediately and tried to help me, but Dad threw him off me.
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" he roared.
Holding my cheek, I opened my eyes just as Kova got up, but that was all Dad needed. In a fit of rage, he flew at Kova with his fist raised in the air. Kova ducked and swiftly moved to the side, but surprisingly he didn't retaliate. I glanced down, seeing that his hands were balled into fists and his knuckles were straining against his skin.
"Touch her again and I'll rip your head from your neck!"
"I'll tell the cops you hit me," I said hoarsely, trying to stop the fight. I blinked, trying to clear my blurry vision. I don't think I could ever do that to him, but I needed a diversion. My stomach was aching, and it was a struggle to stand. "Your hand print will still be across my face. Not to mention, I can't move my arm. You attacked me. I'll deny anything you say about us because there's nothing to admit."
"Who knew what a manipulating young lady you'd turn out to be. Did you forget you're a minor and have zero authority here? You're coming home with me, and Konstantin is leaving in handcuffs."
I shook my head. I tried to get up and whimpered from the throb in my arm. Tears streamed down my cheeks and my eye felt swollen already.
A meaty fist landed on Kova's jaw and his head flew to the side, blood spurting from the corner of his mouth. He picked himself up quickly and took a step toward my father, but he quickly stopped when he realized what he was going to do.
His skin was flushed, damp with perspiration. I could feel the fury in his blood simmering beneath the thin layer. I'd never seen Kova so restrained before. The veins twirling down his arms were protruding, and every time he made a fist they swelled larger. His jaw was locked as he stared at my dad.
"You won't hit me because you know I'm right. You're a fucking pervert," Dad accused, walking toward him. My heart slowed down as I watched. "But that won't stop me," he said, and hit him again.
Kova took another round to the face and my heart broke for him. He put his arms up, blocking a few swings, then he gave my dad one strong shove. Dad stumbled back, and Kova placed the back of his hand to his mouth and wiped the blood away, leaving a smear across his jaw.
I couldn't take Kova being hit again. I knew he was restraining himself for me—and maybe because they were friends—and he knew deep down he was wrong, but I couldn't handle it anymore. It was slowly killing me.
Pushing off the floor, I ran forward and shoved myself between them. Kova saw what I was aiming for and flung me to the side as my dad landed another blow to Kova. I hit the floor so hard my vision shifted to double.
"Stop," I screamed and got back up.
Kova saw, his frantic eyes wide as I pulled myself up. "Stop, Adrianna!" he ordered, but I couldn’t.
Dad was in a blind rage and I had to break them up before something worse happened.
"Dad, please stop," I said and grabbed onto his bicep.
He reared back without looking and shoved me with such force that I tripped over my feet. My breath rushed from me as I slammed into the wooden coffee table and my head hit the corner of the couch. Everything went black for a split second as stars danced in my vision, and I crumbled to the floor.
I was suddenly too weak. My body was giving out.
I tried to push up, but I was struggling to find even an ounce of energy. I heard Kova yell something, then, a crunching sound.
I had to get back up.
I was so disoriented, I couldn't tell whose blood was on my dad's fist, and I was sure my arm was fractured. I sucked in a strangled breath and tried to pick myself up, cradl
ing my midsection. A sharp pain lacerated my stomach. I drew in a gasp, feeling like I was going to vomit. Something warm glazed down my thighs, but I was too off balance and fell to the floor again.
"Please! Stop hurting each other," I cried out, and managed to stand on wobbly legs. I was afraid to walk.
I looked up. Dad’s back was to me as he threw punches at Kova, who was still blocking them. I took a few steps to reach him, hoping he'd stop when he saw me.
I don't know who pushed me, but my attempt to break them up was foiled. In a blink, I was flying across the room again, this time over the couch and onto the wooden coffee table.
My head whipped back and slammed into the wood with a crack. I slid across the table, taking the décor with me. Glass shattered under my body as I crumbled to the floor in a dead heap. My head began pounding, and I felt warm, sticky liquid all around me.
This time I couldn’t move.
This time, I wouldn't be getting back up.
Coldness seeped into me and a metallic taste filled my mouth. I wondered if I’d bitten my lip when I fell.
I tried drawing in a breath only to flinch and cry out in agony from the sharp, shooting pain. A cough erupted out of me that caused my ribs to ache. I whimpered and tears fell from my eyes. I struggled to draw in a lungful of air again without it feeling like I was suffocating.
I could hear them scuffling and I tried to push myself up one last time, only to fall to the floor again.
"She is pregnant." I heard Kova say.
"Pregnant! What do you mean pregnant!"
"Adrianna." I heard my name in the distance.
"Open your eyes!"
"She is bleeding!"
"Ana! Open your eyes."
"Call an ambulance. Hurry!"
"What did you do!"
I couldn’t move my lips to respond. I couldn’t lift myself to stop them from killing each other.
My vision was spotty. I tried to blink a few times, attempting to stay awake and fight the body-draining fatigue that was taking over me. I just wanted to go to sleep.
