A/N: Ohh this chapter.

I think I asked for opinions from every man and his dog with this one. (BB, Roy, Lux - thanks a bunch guys! Even though I needed to do a 50% rewrite, but I ain't even mad cos this is a better route!)

This all stemmed from Peanut wanting Tala to have more 'depth.'... Pfft. He's just a cheeky loveable rogue what more do ya want?! xD But thinking about it, finding out a little more about our favourite fuck boy was needed.

The song featured (believe it or not) is called "Would I lie to you?" By Charles and Eddie. It came on my iPod one morning on my way to work and after shouting "Whatta tune!" I could then just imagine Tala, sporting his wolfy smirk, being cocky as anything dancing around to it. So there you are.

Enjoy! K~

Chapter 12 - Would I lie to you?

"D'you want some tea babe?" Tala asked shaking off his bomber jacket and hanging it on one of the coat hooks in the hallway.

"Sure," Bianca curtly replied, not even looking at him as she hung up her own coat, giving Tiffany a quick kiss on the cheek and thanks for house sitting whilst they were out and swiftly took herself off into the living room in a blatant huff.

She was clearly still seething that Tala had shown up late to their dinner reservation and conversation had been kept to a minimum between the two of them during the whole meal whilst she sulked, giving simple one word answers or a brief nod or shake of her head.

Tala had apologised countless times already. Firstly when he got there claiming he'd got the wrong address, several times during dinner and then twice on the cab trip home. But how anyone could get the wrong restaurant when it was the only Russian one in the city Bianca couldn't quite get her head around.

They'd also been there many times before, so, it just didn't make sense.

Ignoring the bite to her tone Tala took himself in the opposite direction to the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. His mind beginning to retell the events of what he was doing a few hours ago with a certain male as he stood alone waiting for the water to boil.

He should've kept an eye on the clock, but like Kai there was only one thing on his mind and that definitely wasn't whether he was going to go for the borscht or the stroganoff.

He was letting his guard down, they needed to be more careful... Or just stop, that was always an option too.

He just can't stay away from him though. Why can't he stay away from him?!

He wasn't… falling for him was he?

Pfft. No.. that's ridiculous, it was only physical between the two of them. Kai was way too moody for his liking. He couldn't imagine actually living with that gorgeous bastard, waking up to his ridiculously good looking face every day. No, they'd never work out.

They weren't exactly enemies but it was clear they got on each others nerves, hardly getting along on a regular day… They got along real good when he was inside him though.. Pretty sure Kai would consider him his best friend in the right moment.

Nearly being caught though was enough to make him want to put an end to that friendship – indefinitely.

It wouldn't be hard at all to call it quits. Just delete the guy's number and that would be it. He could go back to normal, plodding along, living the life he was being forced to lead and that would just be the end of it. Kai wasn't exactly the clingy needy type. It wasn't like he ever made the first move.

Besides earlier this afternoon Kai never got in touch with him first, and even if the guy knew where he lived he would never just appear. It seemed like the younger male could just take it or leave it which was why it was the perfect affair...

Tala really was the one in control of this precarious game of chase.

Though, it was barely a chase.

Whilst Kai always did try to brush him off and play hard to get they both got what they really wanted in the end.

He just needed to lay low for a little while, that was all. Then they could carry on with this sporadic thing a little longer. Might as well enjoy the fun for the time being 'cos when the baby comes along it'll be back to dirty diapers and sleepless nights, and then 'Kai Hiwatari' will be just another name to him.

With fresh tea Tala strolled back through into the living room to join Bianca again who had sprawled herself out on the sofa, eyes glued on her phone ignoring his presence completely.

He gently placed the hot peace offering down on to the wooden coffee table in front of her and gave her a warm smile.

"Here you go, beautiful."

Easing herself up, Bianca placed a fair hand onto her rounded stomach before reaching over and picking up the cup from the table. Tucking a strand of her short lilac coloured hair behind her ear she then took a small sip before looking up to him and narrowing her eyes.

"Did you put sugar in this?" Her tone continued to hold the same bite as she queried him though she knew the answer already.

Tala cocked a brow.

"Uh yeah, just one. Like you usually have… Right?" he hesitantly questioned back after a brief pause, the current sour look on his wife's face making him unsure of himself now.

She'd always taken one sugar hadn't she? Well, when they first met she used to have two but had cut down about three years ago.

Or was that for coffee? Ugh, like he could freakin' remember. The woman changed her likes and dislikes more than she changed her underwear, he'd never known anyone to be so fickle.

Thinking about it she'd been off coffee for a while now actually... The smell of it making her want to hurl ever since she got pregnant.

"Take it back," Bianca commanded, abruptly holding the tea out to him. "Your other wife might take sugar but I don't."

Tala's mouth then opened to snap back as his face contorted in confusion.

"Since whe-"

"-Just go make me another one Tala!" she barked, cutting him off and pressed the tea cup against his stomach for him to take.

Taking it from her he sent her a silent glare before storming back into the kitchen. He was moments away from slinging the tea down the sink before he paused, an idea coming to him.

With a quick look over his shoulder to ensure that she hadn't followed him he placed the cup down on the counter and flicked the kettle on again before picking up the ceramic pot where they kept the tea bags, and then placed it back down after a few seconds.

Walking over to the refrigerator he pulled open the door and picked up the milk carton. With a bored expression now sitting on his face he took a glance to the doorway before intentionally shuffling the carton back on the shelf to make some noise before closing the door again with a slight slam hoping she'd hear it from the living room.

Once the kettle clicked off, Tala took the same tea spoon he'd used earlier that he'd left on the side and stirred it around the cup, the metal clicking on the inside of the ceramic as he pointlessly swirled the tea around.

Chucking the spoon in the sink he picked up the 'new' cup of tea and walked back into the living room.

Holding it out for her Bianca snatched it off him as much as she could without spilling it, threw him a cold look in his direction and took another sip.

"Ah much better," she snidely commented with a quick forced smile. "Wasn't hard was it?"

Tala matched her sarcastic smile with one of his own though his was tainted with smugness.

"No dear, not at all."

"Googling a restaurant address must be though." She added, continuing to make jabs at him who immediately exasperated a groan.

"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry, Bianca? Fuck me, let it go already," he snapped out before sending a hard stare at her legs that were stretched out over his seat next to her on the couch. "You gonna let me sit down or what?"

Rolling her eyes Bianca pulled her legs up towards herself to allow him to sit down before immediately dropping them onto his lap once he'd sat down beside her.

"Rub my feet," she ordered as she wiggled her toes at him.

Tala looked down at the small feet that had just been abruptly shoved on to his lap then to the woman lounging and facing him to his right, sending over a silent, 'You're kidding right?'

"It's the least you could do for keeping me waiting," she dramatically added upon seeing his unimpressed facial expression and gave her feet another wiggle. "They've been killing me all day too actually so come on," she pressed.

What she'd actually done today to cause her feet to ache was a mystery to Tala as the house looked exactly the same as he'd left it early this morning to go to work.

After a few moments of incessant wiggling he caved, a small sigh coming from him as he swivelled around to face her, gently taking one of her small feet into his hands and rubbing the ball of her foot. He figured it might lift her mood at least. Have her stop busting his ass over nothing.

Bianca exhaled a contented noise into her cup at his touch and closed her teal coloured eyes.

"Mm, I'll let you paint my toes later too if you'd like."

Tala bit his tongue, knowing that he wouldn't really have a choice in the matter and her words were actually more of a statement. - 'You're painting my toes later.'

Once again he silently accepted what he deemed to be his punishment and mentally prayed to the lord himself to give him some patience for this woman. The love of his life he constantly reminded himself.

"So since you're talking to me now, you gonna tell me what the hospital said?" he asked looking across to her through his two strands of red hair.

Bianca opened her eyes, looking to him over her cup.

"I never said I was back talking to you but I suppose..." she unenthusiastically replied before taking another sip of her tea. If he was really that concerned he'd have made it to the appointment but it was just a routine check-up, and work was work.

"Checked the heart beat and measured my stomach.. All is fine.. Seemed a total waste of time though since it took me longer to get there than the actual appointment was. I wasn't even in the room for fifteen minutes I could've just stayed in bed," she listed off in a bored tone.

Tala slowly nodded. Whilst he was of course glad to know everything was fine with his unborn child, he didn't understand how a fifteen minute appointment meant the house had remained untouched all day. He didn't exactly expect her to be slaving away like Cinderella but whilst he was out breaking his back and bringing in the cash surely the two dishes from dinner last night could've been washed and put away?

"So what else have you done today?" he then asked, still trying to figure out why her feet ached so much.

Bianca glanced up and pondered for a moment, thinking over where her day had so quickly gone to.

"Well after that I went to my mother's, I had a mooch around town and met Svetlana for lunch. Came home and watched three episodes of 'The Real Housewives of Moscow' and then went for a little trip out with Tiffany to go get her phone that she'd left at her work. Oh, and then I stood for twenty minutes waiting for my husband to show up to dinner," she reeled off taking another quick dig at him before sipping her tea and staring at him waiting for his reaction.

Tala just continued to massage her feet, his pressure increasing slightly as his icy blues burned a hole through them now. He had to force his lips into a half smile as her words caused an instant pulse of anger to course through him.

It was becoming increasingly hard for him not to lose his cool with her knowing how much manual labour he had done today, (not even including Kai), and she was exhausted after going for lunch and watching T.V?!

"The sooner this baby gets here, Tal, the better.. I'm just so exhausted!" she continued to whine out, rubbing more salt into the wound.

Being pregnant really must be the most soul destroying thing ever because the way she was acting it was like he'd bestowed upon her the biggest burden one could possibly give. He wouldn't mind, but he didn't even think they were in a good place at all for them to try for another, but she'd practically begged him and didn't feel that he could exactly say no to her.

He inwardly sighed. Wasn't like he knew what it was like to be pregnant he figured. Maybe it is ridiculously exhausting to the point picking up a dust cloth was too much, however several department store bags were totally manageable...

With his new little bundle of joy now at the forefront of his mind a certain someone's biting words flashed through.

Thought of any names?

"We'd decided on the name right? My choice this time?" Tala teased with a hint of malice, trying again to lift the mood between them a little. He knew full well what her response was going to be but he loved winding her up all the same.

Bianca scoffed before throwing him a sneer.

"Tala, we are not naming our baby Maximus Decimus Meridius... and you know we're having another girl so don't act stupid..."

The small smile faded from his face at the realisation she was clearly in no mood for a bit of light humour tonight either.

Of course though, how could he forget? He must have suppressed the painful thought of having yet another demanding female in this house - must have completely evaded him.

"Who in their right mind would want to name their kid after some Roman guy anyway..." she added with a tut, "It was a stupid movi- OW!"

"Whoops, sorry!" Tala sung out, softening the grip on her feet again after he accidentally on purpose dug his thumb in to the arch of her foot. "And Maximus was actually Spanish F.Y.I."

"Like I care," Bianca snarled, sharply recoiling her left foot from his grip now and shoving her right at him.

Tala was of course joking about the name suggestion. They'd be choosing a traditional Russian name like they had with their first. He just wanted to lift the weird tension that had loomed over the two of them now for months and go back to how they were before.

Ever since Bianca got pregnant she seemed to lose her playful side completely. They'd be fine one minute and then the next she'd be ripping his head off over the slightest thing. He was growing beyond tired of it but every time he'd defend himself and snap back at her she'd usually start crying and the whole thing just got brushed under the carpet even though she'd be the one who started it all in the first place.

"And besides," she continued. "I'm the one that's carried her for nine months, it's my body that's being ruined so like hell are you getting the privilege of naming her." She snootily looked away from him now and took another sip of her tea.

She just couldn't tolerate him half the time nowadays. He just infuriated her. Always trying to be the joker and never taking anything seriously.

Did he not realise having a child was a huge deal and should be treated as such?

Tala suppressed an eye roll and just kept quiet.

'Sure baby whatever you say...'

After a few moments of silence between them with just the sound of the T.V in the background, his phone vibrated in his jean pocket. He momentarily stopped the massage though kept one hand on the top of her foot as the other pulled his phone out to check the screen; a slight smirk appearing on his lips as he read the message to himself.

Green eyes watched him like a hawk to his right and upon seeing his lightened expression glared at him before sharply speaking out.

"Who's that? Who's messaging you at this time of night? Hm? Who is she?"

Tala cocked a brow as he slipped the phone back into his pocket and went back to rubbing her feet.

"It's just Dimitri babe.. just sent something funny," he plainly responded.

"Oh yeah? Pass it here, let me see," she demanded, holding out her hand to him and beckoning for the phone with her fingers.

He gave her a bored look before retrieving his phone again and turned it around to clearly show her the screen.

"Happy?"

Squinting her eyes to take it in she saw that it was in fact Tala's old high school friend that had messaged him. Some stupid meme that she didn't understand.

She rolled her eyes and took another slurp of her tea, a sheepish look now sitting on her fair face.

Setting the phone down on the table beside them Tala exhaled and gently pushed her feet to the side of him, off his lap, and leaned forward on his knees to place a kiss on her stomach.

"Can I get you anything?" he softly asked looking up at her, his two strands of red hair framing either side of his face.

Bianca slowly shook her head at him, silently gushing a little inside as he kissed her stomach. That was sweet.

Setting himself back into his seat he exhaled, clearly fed up. "You've gotta stop this Bianca, it's not healthy."

Staring into the cup she was holding with both hands now, she breathed in the tea before exhaling through her nose. A noise of agreement sitting in her throat.

"I don't know what's wrong with me Tal... Think it's my hormones or something..."

Tala looked over to her, lifted his arm up and motioned for her to cuddle up to him with a quick tilt of his head which she obliged to. Shuffling over to him being careful not to spill her tea and leaned into him, resting her head on his chest as he wrapped his arm around and held her close.

"Well mind telling them to fuck off and let you get off my back? I get that this is a huge thing for you babe but for months now you've been acting, well, crazy. It's pushing us apart."

"I just don't understand though how a thorn bush can mark you up like that," Bianca quickly retorted, going back to the previous argument of theirs from a week ago as her lilac brows knitted together in confusion.

Tala groaned and rested his free hand on his nose. Not this again.

"Welll, I don't know what else to tell you babe. I told you what those marks on me were." He then gestured to his phone in front of them on the wooden table. "D'you want me to call the guy who watched me fall 20ft and have him confirm it all for you?"

Bianca slowly shook her head, "No it's fine, I believe you."

Good, 'cos he was pretty sure Kai wouldn't have appreciated a random phone call from him at this time, especially after the situation they were in earlier, and even more so as he hadn't prearranged a false conversation with him and wasn't sure if the fellow Russian would be as quick on his feet as he was to come up with a believable story.

"Then stop it with the accusations, B. The way you are lately I'd have to be pretty damn skilled to cheat on you..." He then began to count on his fingers, "Checking my phone every two minutes, smelling me and my clothes when I get in from work, calling my friends asking them where I really am... It's getting too much babe." He spoke in a firm yet fed up tone as he rested his chin on her head and stroked her arm to comfort her.

He truly felt like an absolute asshole for gas lighting her like this. Especially since now she wasn't exactly wrong with her claims. But all these wild allegations of hers had been going on for around two years now. Before he'd even met Kai. He couldn't breathe with her; Hadn't for a while.

Sure he was always out, but he was genuinely working. Earning money so that he could provide for his growing family. Tala had meant every word he'd said to Bianca on their wedding day but having being constantly accused and getting verbal abuse for things he hadn't done, never dreamed of doing, he'd figured he'd might as well make all the punishment he received on the daily worth it.

The worst part? He didn't feel all that guilty for it. He loved Bianca but he wasn't in love with her. Hadn't been for some time now.

Deep down he figured they both knew it but neither wanted to admit it. She'd somehow managed to convince him that having another baby would help fix their marriage... What a stupid idea that was.

Bianca just sat in silence, nuzzling her head into his chest as a feeling of embarrassment washed over her.

It really did sound like she was psychotic when he'd listed all she does out loud. But the way Tala had been acting the past few weeks, it was just different. Nothing major, in fact so minor that when Tiffany had asked her about it earlier on this evening she couldn't really explain it to her. But he just seemed... happier?

[x]

"Well of course he's happy silly! He has a baby on the way!" Tiffany reassured her before reaching over the gear stick and patting her stomach. "And we're all so super excited to finally meet you little lady so hurry up!"

Bianca forced a smile, staring out of the car window before awkwardly folding her arms and resting them on her rounded belly. "I don't know Tiff, he just seems way too, nice lately... I can't put my finger on it."

Tiffany laughed out her words as she retracted her hand and placed it back on the steering wheel, "Wait, so your first thought is 'cheating' because your husband of three years is being nice to you?"

"Too nice," Bianca corrected, raising a finger at her.

Tiffany rolled her brown eyes before shaking her head. "Come on B, you're being ridiculous. You're heavily pregnant," she stated, gesturing back to her stomach again in case she had forgotten. "Give the guy a break, he's just trying to be there for you... Sure you guys have had your ups and downs in the past but he adores you! That's clear as day! I really doubt he's cheating on you."

Bianca responded with an unconvinced noise from her throat. "And just 'cos I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm broken, Tiff. He doesn't have to do everything for me..."

Tiffany tutted at her before waving her hand at her, "The kid can't win with you. If he did nothing for you you'd complain at that too."

Bianca tried to suppress a smile. She wasn't wrong, she'd rip him a new one.

Taking a glance at her Tiffany noticed the slight smirk on her face and pointed at her.

"See, you know it's true so just relax! Hell, if I had a guy do anything and everything for me when I was pregnant I'd be keeping my legs crossed and enjoy it for as long as I could! Who knows, once baby comes along it might all stop!"

Bianca rolled her eyes at the empty threat. It wouldn't stop. Deep down she knew Tala was a good man and knew he'd do anything for her regardless if she was pregnant or not, like he had done ever since they first started dating.

He was a charmer, a total gent. She just didn't understand why he continued to treat her like a queen when she was acting like a complete witch.

"I just don't understand why he's so good to me.. I don't know I just.. don't feel like I really deserve it."

"Oh stop it, now you're just being silly," Tiffany scolded, "You're beautiful, smart, funny, a total joy to be around – When you're not being crazy..." she quickly added in a low voice. "But he's just lucky to have you! Also, Bryan would break his legs if he ever did anything to upset you so chill out girl!"

Bianca chuckled. She remembered her brother had made Tala that promise on the morning of their wedding day. Bryan had laughed the words off immediately, deeming them to be a light hearted joke but the firm grip of that hand shake with the redhead reinforced them to be a serious warning.

"Suppose you're right," she sighed out with a smile.

Tiffany pulled up and parked the car in front of a very familiar black Mercedes.

"Is he really still here?" she suddenly questioned out loud more to herself.

Bianca cocked a brow. "Hm?"

Pulling the key out the ignition Tiffany gestured to the car in front of them before unfastening her seatbelt. "That's my boss's car."

Both women got out of the car and Bianca's eyes took in the impressive vehicle beside them before letting out a whistle.

"Damn, is he still taken?"

Tiffany fake gasped before laughing and hitting Bianca's arm, "You're a married woman are you not?!"

Bianca just shrugged with a smirk as the two walked up the stone steps towards the seemingly empty building.

"Depends who's asking... Don't think he's here though with all the lights off?"

Tiffany took out her keys from her coat pocket and unlocked the front glass door.

"Hmm maybe he took a cab home or something... Shame, you could've finally seen him in the flesh.. I saw that little twinkle in your eyes when you checked out his Facebook page," she teased nudging Bianca's side with her elbow.

Bianca bashfully smirked, rubbing her ribs as the two made their way up to the reception. "Shut up, no there wasn't!"

"Pfft.. There so was," Tiffany scoffed as she continued to sing out her words, "I've known you long enough B to know when you like what ya see!"

Bianca rolled her eyes, her smirk still prominent. "Well whatever, just 'cos I'm married doesn't mean I'm blind. He's hot as fuck, can't deny that.. As if you get to look at him every day... Ugh so jealous," she swooned.

Tiffany giggled. Whilst she couldn't disagree that her boss was indeed a fine specimen of a man she was completely immune to him and didn't fawn over him like the majority of women that came in contact with him did.

It was probably for that reason why Kai had kept her on as his assistant. All of his previous ones becoming too flustered every time he locked eyes with them or uttered a single word.

"Hey if he was here we could get his input on all of this, see if he can give us a male perspective on Tala's behaviour," she added pressing her lips together to suppress the laugh about to erupt from her throat again. The thought of Kai responding with a quick furrow of his brows at the question and an awkward shrug filled her mind.

Bianca groaned and rolled her eyes, "I am not getting relationship advice from Kai Hiwatari."

Tiffany laughed out again, "Yeah him and Tala are nothing alike anyway. Kai wouldn't have a clue... Anyhoo, start calling my phone, love. It'll probably just be on my desk."

[x]

Bianca was completely engrossed in her candy crush game whilst Tala was slouched on the sofa next to her flicking through the television channels. The evening had become as dull as it usually did and the two were just sat doing their own separate things in complete silence.

Having exhausted most of the stations, Tala tried his luck with the music section and stopped on a 90's music network, instantly flashing his teeth as the old familiar tune played out through the surround sound.

"What a tune!" he called out in delight and bopped his head to the beat.

Bianca glanced up from her phone to the T.V, she couldn't remember the last time she heard this song but it was indeed a good one.

"C'mon get up," Tala said to her with a smirk bounding off the couch and holding his hand out to her.

Bianca frowned at him, sending a scowl at his open palm but a smile tugged at her lips. What fresh hell was this?

"Uh, I'm okay thanks, hun. The hell are you doing?"

"Look into my eyes, can't you see they're open wide, would I lie to you baby, would I lie to youu? Oh yeah!" Tala sang out the words as he went off to dance around the living room using the remote as a microphone.

Bianca quickly put a hand to her face to muffle the laugh that was trying to escape her.

No, they weren't friends yet, he can't see that she's finding him even slightly entertaining right now. He was such an idiot.. But she loved him nonetheless.

"Song's kinda fitting don't you think?" Tala teased throwing a wink her way. "It's practically my theme tune for you," he theatrically said before continuing to sing along in to his remote.

"Don't you know it's true, girl, there's no one else but you, would I lie to you baby? Yeahhh."

Bianca tried to suppress the ever growing smirk on her lips; not appreciating the blatant digs at her but she could see the funny side now if he could.

Shimmying over to her on the couch, again sporting his wolfish grin, he reached down and took her hand.

Locking her fingers with his she let go of her phone allowing it to drop on to a cushion and let him pull her up off the couch and lead her into the centre of the living room.

Turning up the volume on the television Tala then chucked the remote on to the sofa, continuing to sing the lyrics as he spun her around, "I'm telling you baby you will never find another girl, in this heart of mine!"

Bianca couldn't hold back her grin anymore and flashed him her teeth as she laughed out and lightly hit his chest but allowed him to sway her from side to side to the rhythm of the song.

"You're an idiot, Tal."

With a hand on her waist he cupped the other underneath her jawline and gently pulled her in as close to him as her bump would allow.

"Yeah but you love it really, don't you?" he purred into her ear, sending a tingle along her fair skin before placing a few soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

Bianca giggled as Tala straightened himself up again so he could look at her, the two of them sharing a warm smile as they still swayed from side to side.

Breaking them apart Tala then twirled her around again before her teal eyes met a toddler that was now standing at the living room door with a thumb in her mouth and her other hand in a small fist rubbing her icy blue eyes.

She gasped and retracted her hand from his hold and quickly grabbed the remote on the sofa to turn the TV off with a firm press of the button.

"Oh well done Tal, you've woke her up," she hissed out at him.

He rolled his eyes. Well that was nice while it lasted.

Walking over to his daughter in the doorway he squatted down to her level and gave her a warm smile, stroking her little head as he spoke out to her.

"I'm sorry princess, did we wake you up?"

The toddler whose hair was up in two pig tails the exact same shade as her father's sleepily nodded to him before raising up her little arms to him.

Cupping his hands underneath them Tala rose back to his feet and lifted her up with him, holding her to his chest with her small face rested on his shoulder, her icy blue eyes slowly coming to a close once again.

"I'll take her back up," he announced in a whisper to Bianca and gestured to the steps with a side nod.

Carrying the small child back upstairs he entered the darkened room and over to the wooden cot that sat in the far right corner. How she'd even got out was a mystery - little Houdini.

Leaning forward, gently placing her down onto her back she stirred slightly, her little facial features screwing up momentarily as she adjusted before relaxing the second he pulled the soft pink blanket back over her tiny frame. He straightened himself back up and loosely folded his arms, resting them on top of the cot as he lovingly gazed down at her.

There was definitely no denying the kid. She was the spitting image of him through and through. Adopting everything from his red hair to the way they both furrowed their brows. He adored her with every fibre of his being. She just came along way too soon.

He and Bianca had only been dating for seven months when she had spat out the announcement during one of their frequent heated arguments. The way his face dropped upon hearing the news and how his stomach churned was a memory he'd probably never forget.

She'd accused him of being too friendly to the waitress that had served them dinner that evening, and whilst he was actually fixing to break up with her during that bust up Bianca was the one to speak first.

Once Natalya was born, Bianca's brother, Bryan, who had just been released from prison having served six months for assault, was the first to knock on their door to welcome his new niece and after some encouragement, his now new brother in law.

Two months after Bryan's persuasion and having saved up for a ring, Tala had asked Bianca to be his wife and eight months after that the two were married. A big white wedding she'd spent her entire life planning where Tala was just told the time, the place.. and the price.

Their relationship wasn't all that bad. They'd had plenty of good times. A nice home, good sex life. But the two often clashed. Their personalities being all too similar.

As the weeks turned to months, and the months turned to years, Tala had gotten used to simply biting his tongue when it came to her as all he wanted was a quiet life. Bianca truly was impossible sometimes and he didn't want Natalya growing up in the same kind of volatile household that he did.

All he could remember from his childhood before his mother left was her and his father going at it, having blazing rows on the daily over money and other stupid shit and he'd be damned if his daughter were to have the same painful memories. He couldn't leave Bianca no matter how unhappy he was. He also knew full well she would be the malicious type that would stop him from seeing his daughter regardless of how much child support he paid just to spite him.

He knew what he was doing with Kai was wrong. And if anyone did to Natalya what he was doing to Bianca he'd get more than six months in a cell. But he was tired of feeling small, belittled by both his wife and her family. He needed to feel like a man. Be the one finally in charge and have some dominance.

He'd hit the jackpot with Kai. A powerful business man with more money than sense who crumbled underneath his touch. He made him feel almost godly and he loved how that felt - couldn't get enough in fact.

They'd stop this eventually. Of course they would. But for the time being he had to keep tasting that power.

"Make sure you take out the trash and wash those dishes before coming to bed," Bianca said in a low voice from the doorway having come upstairs to take herself off to their bedroom.

"Alright," Tala responded in a monotone, keeping his back to her with his eyes still locked on the tiny bundle that was the only thing giving him the strength he needed to keep dealing with all this.

At hearing their door adjacent close he sighed through his nose and took out his phone, bringing up Kai's text thread. He'd deleted many of the texts they'd sent, leaving only the initial innocent correspondence from when he'd first finished the yard work.

Today had been a close call. All that meant was that they'd have to be more careful.

T: [When are u next free?]