Free The Score by Bethany-Kris Page B

Vine. You have to find it, sweetheart. I know you don’t pray, but you should now.”

Chapter Six
     
    “Did you want me to be there for supper tonight?” Anton asked.
    Viviana sighed into the phone as her son ran past the front counter of her bookstore. “Sure,” she replied after a long moment.
    “Vine, if you don’t want me there …”
    “No,” she rushed to say. “It’s not that, Anton. I’m just tired today is all and not in the mood to argue, all right?”
    “All right, baby. Whatever you need.”
    The rush of sadness that flooded her veins from the comforting sentiment didn’t help the ache burrowing deep in her chest. It had been two weeks since the arrest that literally turned their world and life upside down. The prosecuting attorney on the case had studiously argued Anton’s flight risk at his arraignment, but Ivan was just as strong in the courtroom.
    Without a passport, no real means to leave the country as their bank accounts had been frozen, and Anton’s lack of leaving the state unless he needed to, flight risk was a bit of an exaggeration. As far as they knew.
    Luckily, the judge agreed. For an eight-hundred-thousand dollar bond.
    Anton was also forced to wear an ankle bracelet, just to keep track of him, apparently.
    Any and all interview attempts with Viviana ended horribly. She all out refused to speak about her husband or any of his possible dealings with the officials. She wasn’t required to anyway, being his wife. That didn’t mean they were making it easy on her, though. Beyond that, there were reporters showing up outside their home, at her bookstore, and hell, even when she went to the grocery store. High profile was an understatement. Anton’s upcoming trial was being called the one to watch.
    The stress was seriously eating away at Viviana one day at a time.
    She was still refusing to allow Anton to come back home, too, and it killed her more and more. Anton insisted repeatedly that even though he couldn’t remember all the events of that night, there was no way he had slept with the woman. Natalie. Just thinking about it made Viviana sick to her stomach.
    She loved her husband, but forgiveness was not as easy as it would seem.
    “Come to dinner,” Viviana finally said. “We should talk, and we could put Demyan to bed. He’ll like that.”
    “Okay. Five good?”
    “Perfect, Anton.”
    “I’ll see you at five, then, baby.”
    “Five,” she agreed.
    After hanging up the phone, Viviana rested up on the stool and willed away the heaviness settling in her stomach. Like a dead weight, it had been there for days it seemed. She was so tired, too, but that wasn’t anything new. The slight cramping she seemed to be experiencing was worrisome, also, but because she’d also had a similar issue early in Demyan’s pregnancy, Viviana assumed this was the same thing. It would pass.
    At least the morning sickness had yet to begin.
    “Ma,” Demyan said, making another round around the counter. “Is Papa coming?”
    Just his speed alone made Viviana dizzy.
    “Demyan, take a break for a moment, okay?”
    Damn it, all of the sudden, Viviana didn’t feel so well. The ache in her back increased. She’d been ignoring it for most of the morning, given the fact that she toted around a two-and-a-half-year-old on her hip for the greater part of her days. Especially when he was feeling clingy.
    “Ma?” Demyan asked.
    Demyan had come to stand in front of Viviana, looking up at her with his little brow furrowed. When had he gotten so close?
    Thirsty, Viviana tried to stand from the stool only to find her vision swimming with colors and her head pounding. Something was wrong. So, so wrong. Dread filled up Viviana’s heart. When she stood, shakily and swaying, the ache turned into a cramp so severe it caused her to double over with a groan. Again, Demyan called her name, but he didn’t sound so close the second time, and his voice was unsure.
    While her mouth felt dry and parched,