Fated by a Single Night
Ainsley
One unforgettable night. Two strangers. One secret that changes everything.
After the death of her beloved grandmother and a heartbreaking betrayal, Isabella Álvarez Volkov returns to Russia to start over. A drunken night with a mysterious stranger becomes a memory she tries to forget—until she discovers she's pregnant with twins.
Unaware that the father is Mikhail Petrov, one of Russia's most feared mafia bosses, Isabella chooses to raise her children alone. But fate has other plans. When they cross paths again, old memories resurface, dangerous enemies close in, and hidden truths threaten to tear them apart.
In a world ruled by power, betrayal, and bloodshed, can two broken hearts find love... before it's too late?
Chapter 12
MIKHAIL'S POV :
The silence inside my office was suffocating. A map of Moscow lay spread across the table. Red pins marked every warehouse, casino, and safe house owned by the Kuznetsov Bratva.
Igor stood beside me. "They've gone underground."
I narrowed my eyes. "They're planning something."
"We've searched all of their known locations."
"No sign of Viktor Kuznetsov."
I clenched my jaw. "He won't stay hidden forever." Before anyone could say another word, my phone vibrated.
Isabella Calling...
I answered immediately.
"Isa?"
Her voice was shaky. "Mikhail..."
"The baby's not moving." For a second my heart stopped.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
The doctor had always told me...
"They'll kick every day."
But today hours had passed. Nothing. Not a single movement. I tried talking to them. Drinking cold water. Walking around the room. Still...
Nothing.
Fear slowly consumed me. By the time Mikhail arrived at the mansion I was already crying. He didn't ask any questions.
He simply held my hand. "We're going."
---
HOSPITAL
The drive felt endless. I couldn't stop praying. "Please...Please let them be okay."
The nurse immediately wheeled me into the examination room. The doctor turned serious.
"Let's check the babies."
The ultrasound machine hummed to life. I held my breath. Mikhail's grip around my hand tightened. The room remained silent. Too silent. Then...
Lub-dub.
A heartbeat.
Another second passed.
Lub-dub.
A second heartbeat. The doctor smiled. "They're both perfectly fine." The tears I'd been holding back finally fell. "They just changed positions."
"They're sleeping." I laughed and cried at the same time. Mikhail rested his forehead against mine. "You scared me."
I whispered. "They scared me too."
The doctor chuckled. "I think your twins already know how to keep their parents on edge."
Parents. The word made both of us smile.
---
MIKHAIL'S POV :
As we left the hospital I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my chest. Something wasn't right. Too many coincidences. Too many close calls. I opened the passenger door for Isabella.
"Thank you." She smiled softly.
Before she could get inside—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed through the parking lot. The force threw us both to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere. People screamed. Smoke filled the air.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
My ears rang. Everything became blurry.
"Mikhail!" I reached for him.
He was already crawling toward me despite the cuts on his arms.
"Isa!" He pulled me into his embrace. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head frantically. "The babies..."
He carefully placed a trembling hand on my stomach. At first... Nothing.
Then... A gentle kick. Followed by another. Relief flooded his face. "They're okay."
---
Gunfire suddenly erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Men dressed in black rushed toward us. "Protect the boss!"
Mikhail's bodyguards returned fire. The hospital parking lot turned into chaos.
Mikhail wrapped one arm around me while shielding my body with his own. "Stay behind me."
"No!"
"I can walk!"
"You'll do exactly as I say." His tone left no room for argument.
---
THIRD PERSON
One of the attackers aimed his rifle directly at Isabella. He pulled the trigger. Before the bullet could reach her...
Mikhail stepped in front of her.
Bang!
His body jerked backward. Blood spread across his shoulder.
"Mikhail!" Isabella screamed.
Ignoring the pain he raised his gun with his other hand. One precise shot. The attacker collapsed. The remaining enemies quickly retreated.
Leaving behind only smoke, broken glass, and silence.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
"No..."
"No, no, no..." I held Mikhail before he could fall. His shirt was soaked with blood.
"Stay with me!"
He managed a weak smile. "I'm alright."
"Liar!" I cried. "You're bleeding!"
He gently cupped my face. "I promised..."
"...that no one would hurt you."
"And I intend to keep it." His knees finally gave out. Doctors and nurses rushed toward us.
"Get a stretcher!"
"Hurry!"
They placed Mikhail onto a stretcher. As they wheeled him away he reached out for my hand. I grabbed it tightly.
"I'm here." I whispered through my tears. "I'm not leaving."
---
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
The surgery was successful. The bullet had narrowly missed vital organs. The doctor smiled reassuringly.
"He's very lucky."
I let out the breath I had been holding. "Can I see him?"
"You may."
---
MIKHAIL'S POV :
When I opened my eyes...
The first thing I saw...
Was Isabella asleep beside my bed. Her head rested on folded arms.
One hand...
Still holding mine. She never left. A small smile tugged at my lips. Carefully...
I squeezed her fingers. She stirred awake. "Mikhail?"
"You should be resting." She laughed through her tears. "Says the man who got shot."
Silence settled between us. Then...
Without thinking she wrapped her arms around me as gently as she could.
"You idiot..." She whispered.
"You scared me."
I slowly hugged her back. "I'm sorry."
She pulled away just enough to look into my eyes. "Don't ever do that again."
"If I hadn't..." He looked at her stomach.
"...I would."
She understood. He wasn't trying to be a hero. He was protecting his family.
---
That was the moment Isabella finally realized the cold, ruthless mafia boss everyone feared would willingly lay down his life for her. And for their children.
The silence inside my office was suffocating. A map of Moscow lay spread across the table. Red pins marked every warehouse, casino, and safe house owned by the Kuznetsov Bratva.
Igor stood beside me. "They've gone underground."
I narrowed my eyes. "They're planning something."
"We've searched all of their known locations."
"No sign of Viktor Kuznetsov."
I clenched my jaw. "He won't stay hidden forever." Before anyone could say another word, my phone vibrated.
Isabella Calling...
I answered immediately.
"Isa?"
Her voice was shaky. "Mikhail..."
"The baby's not moving." For a second my heart stopped.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
The doctor had always told me...
"They'll kick every day."
But today hours had passed. Nothing. Not a single movement. I tried talking to them. Drinking cold water. Walking around the room. Still...
Nothing.
Fear slowly consumed me. By the time Mikhail arrived at the mansion I was already crying. He didn't ask any questions.
He simply held my hand. "We're going."
---
HOSPITAL
The drive felt endless. I couldn't stop praying. "Please...Please let them be okay."
The nurse immediately wheeled me into the examination room. The doctor turned serious.
"Let's check the babies."
The ultrasound machine hummed to life. I held my breath. Mikhail's grip around my hand tightened. The room remained silent. Too silent. Then...
Lub-dub.
A heartbeat.
Another second passed.
Lub-dub.
A second heartbeat. The doctor smiled. "They're both perfectly fine." The tears I'd been holding back finally fell. "They just changed positions."
"They're sleeping." I laughed and cried at the same time. Mikhail rested his forehead against mine. "You scared me."
I whispered. "They scared me too."
The doctor chuckled. "I think your twins already know how to keep their parents on edge."
Parents. The word made both of us smile.
---
MIKHAIL'S POV :
As we left the hospital I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my chest. Something wasn't right. Too many coincidences. Too many close calls. I opened the passenger door for Isabella.
"Thank you." She smiled softly.
Before she could get inside—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed through the parking lot. The force threw us both to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere. People screamed. Smoke filled the air.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
My ears rang. Everything became blurry.
"Mikhail!" I reached for him.
He was already crawling toward me despite the cuts on his arms.
"Isa!" He pulled me into his embrace. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head frantically. "The babies..."
He carefully placed a trembling hand on my stomach. At first... Nothing.
Then... A gentle kick. Followed by another. Relief flooded his face. "They're okay."
---
Gunfire suddenly erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Men dressed in black rushed toward us. "Protect the boss!"
Mikhail's bodyguards returned fire. The hospital parking lot turned into chaos.
Mikhail wrapped one arm around me while shielding my body with his own. "Stay behind me."
"No!"
"I can walk!"
"You'll do exactly as I say." His tone left no room for argument.
---
THIRD PERSON
One of the attackers aimed his rifle directly at Isabella. He pulled the trigger. Before the bullet could reach her...
Mikhail stepped in front of her.
Bang!
His body jerked backward. Blood spread across his shoulder.
"Mikhail!" Isabella screamed.
Ignoring the pain he raised his gun with his other hand. One precise shot. The attacker collapsed. The remaining enemies quickly retreated.
Leaving behind only smoke, broken glass, and silence.
---
ISABELLA'S POV :
"No..."
"No, no, no..." I held Mikhail before he could fall. His shirt was soaked with blood.
"Stay with me!"
He managed a weak smile. "I'm alright."
"Liar!" I cried. "You're bleeding!"
He gently cupped my face. "I promised..."
"...that no one would hurt you."
"And I intend to keep it." His knees finally gave out. Doctors and nurses rushed toward us.
"Get a stretcher!"
"Hurry!"
They placed Mikhail onto a stretcher. As they wheeled him away he reached out for my hand. I grabbed it tightly.
"I'm here." I whispered through my tears. "I'm not leaving."
---
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
The surgery was successful. The bullet had narrowly missed vital organs. The doctor smiled reassuringly.
"He's very lucky."
I let out the breath I had been holding. "Can I see him?"
"You may."
---
MIKHAIL'S POV :
When I opened my eyes...
The first thing I saw...
Was Isabella asleep beside my bed. Her head rested on folded arms.
One hand...
Still holding mine. She never left. A small smile tugged at my lips. Carefully...
I squeezed her fingers. She stirred awake. "Mikhail?"
"You should be resting." She laughed through her tears. "Says the man who got shot."
Silence settled between us. Then...
Without thinking she wrapped her arms around me as gently as she could.
"You idiot..." She whispered.
"You scared me."
I slowly hugged her back. "I'm sorry."
She pulled away just enough to look into my eyes. "Don't ever do that again."
"If I hadn't..." He looked at her stomach.
"...I would."
She understood. He wasn't trying to be a hero. He was protecting his family.
---
That was the moment Isabella finally realized the cold, ruthless mafia boss everyone feared would willingly lay down his life for her. And for their children.
Chapter 12
— Chapter 12 of 16