My affair with Ganya did not start immidiatly, it was a long time in the making. It began with simple glances during their meetings in our store. I would busy myself with the millions of tiny tasks that kept our joke of a business running and listened to the scraps of conversation I could hear. Dimitri so desperately tried to be a big strong business man but his ideas would fall on deaf ears. The poor man, he never had the brain for business, at least that kind.

I wasn't to keen on having the men hold meetings in our store, my domain. But I had fallen pregnant with Vasya and we were so low on money. Ganya knew we couldn't pay, usually this would lead to an unsavory fate but our ruler felt benevolent the day we stood in the kitchen before him.

"Please" Dimitri pleaded in such a small voice "My beautiful Galya, she's pregnant with our second. I can't have her on the streets."

To make his point, Dimitri took my hand and gently tugged me forward. Ganya took a step forward to examine my pale face only to have his eyes drop to my full bosom.

"Is this true?" Ganya asked

"Would you like to consult the vomit in my flower garden?" I retorted

Dimitri squeezed me hand tightly, scolding my for me obstinance. Ganya chuckled.

"My shoes have fallen to Nadya's sickness as well"

"A baby for you!? How wonderful!" Dimitri exclaimed a little to loudly.

Ganya didn't even glance over. His eyes bore into mine.

"When do you become a mother?"

"I already am a mother." I reply coldly, raising an eyebrow. Daring him.

He smiled. My mind flicked over to my first born napping upstairs. I wanted to be with him and not standing in a hoard of grey faced men, pretending not to stare at my chest.

"That you very much are. I mean for a second time."

"May."

"May" he repeated softly before finally glancing over to Dimitri "Usually, I would have to cut off your finger and ransack this hovel. You are very late on your payments, Dimitri."

My husband drew in a breath. I scrapped my teeth over my bottom lip to hide its trembling.

"But.." Ganya continued as his voiced softned once more "I will make any acception."

I stiffin suddenly as a large hand is placed on my barely budding abdomen. I begin to pull away but my husband pulls me forward once more. I felt so exposed as my husband allows this man to caress his thumb against the fabric of my blouse.

"Mamushka" Ganya addressed me as he held me in place "You will make us some tea and then you will go upstairs to rest. No more stress for the baby today."

With my order issued, The King gestured his crew to the front of house with a flick of the wrist. The men bustled out. Dimitri was the last to leave, he snatched up a bottle of Vodka to toast. He reached the door before turning back, returning to me to place a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Everything will be ok" he assured before leaving with a smile.

I was left standing alone in a kitchen shaking. A sob emitted from my lips as I placed hand where my baby nestled, my Vasya. I know he saved our lives that day. But we had to sell our souls. Did Dimitri have any idea what he did when he allowed Ganya to place his hand against me? My Vasya was only a little ball and a flickering heartbeat. He was barely even there when his father had failed in protecting him.

Silently, I wept, my tears trickled down as I made tea for the first of hundreds of meetings held in our store. With these meetings our family would slip further and further into the grips of Ganya's gang. With these meetings, my fall began, it began with Ganya's hand pressed against my barely there Vasya.

My Vasya. My poor boy. We failed you.