Free The Russian's Secret Baby (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 3) by Ivy Iverson Page A

friend,” Carmine stated. She glared at the doctor. “And I don’t consent to treatment. I want to talk about more affordable options later, but right now, I want to see my son.”

Chapter Eighteen
     
    “I don’t think she trusts me,” Dimitri told Valov and Nikolay. “What should I do?”
    They were in the hospital cafeteria for lunch. Dimitri called them after Carmine had kicked him out of her room. He wanted someone to talk to, but Kaleb was having fun with Ian, and he didn’t want to interrupt the quality time father and son were having. 
    “You just have to be there,” Valov said. “She needs to know that she can trust you.” He turned to look at the young girl beside him, who had the contents of her sandwich all over her shirt. “Use your napkin, Victoria, you don’t want to ruin your clothes.”
    She scowled at him. “I’m getting there,” she said. “But thank you for lunch, Valov.”
    He smiled at her. “Of course.” 
    Victoria was one of the atrisk youths that had been part of Valov’s nonprofit program since its beginning. She was now on the Valov’s Kids coed football team, in the band and recently started tutoring some of the younger kids after school.
    She and her brother came from a low income, dysfunctional family and Valov paid for the majority of the food she ate even though she was already starting to make money from babysitting. “You know, Dimitri,” she said. “I think you shouldn’t push her too far, because I get super mad when someone pressures me into something.”
    “That’s true,” said Nikolay. “You don’t want to pressure her.”
    “But she’s going to kill herself,” Dimitri said with a sigh. “She needs treatment. I don’t know what to do.”
    “You have to give it time,” Nikolay offered. “Even after Courtney and I started seeing each other, she still didn’t completely trust me for a long time. This isn’t something that comes easily to people who have a history of being hurt by others. And I believe you said that she had problems with her father?”
    “Yes,” Dimitri said. “He had problems with loan sharks.”
    Nikolay nodded. “It’s going to take time.”
    “Also, she should never find out about this conversation,” Valov said. “Women hate it when people tell their secrets, even to his brothers.”
    “So true,” Victoria said. “That’s why girls don’t gossip about each other.”
    “You’re not in middle school yet,” Valov said. “Just wait.”
    Victoria made a face at the thought and took a sip of her water. “You also need to be yourself,” she said. “She already knows you and she won’t know what to think if you suddenly swap personalities.”
    Nikolay nodded. “True. Listen to Victoria. She knows what she’s talking about.” He bumped fists with the tenyearold who grinned at him. 
    “I know you’re frustrated,” Valov told him. “But you can’t rush her. You’re right about her needing the treatment but if you pressure her, then she’ll push back until it is no longer rational. Just like when someone pressures you.”
    Dimitri nodded. He hated being pressured. “But if I back off too much she might think I’m indifferent. How can I convince her before she’s gone for good?”
    “Be there for James and for her. But don’t tell her what to do. It will be okay. Really,” Nikolay added.

Chapter Nineteen
     
    “I don’t know what to do,” Carmine said with frustration. “He’s seemed changed. I mean, he gave up his business for us, but I’ve seen him work and I know he doesn’t forget favors.”
    “No,” said Rae. “He hasn’t in the past but I have seen him and he does want to change. It’ll take some work to help him get past something that ingrained in him, though.” 
    “Do you think it’s worth it?” Courtney asked. “Dimitri doesn’t fake anything. That’s why he’s an asshole but I don’t know if the change he’s attempting has fully sunk in yet. He might get moody later on