by B. B. Hamel
My heart was pounding in my chest. I didn’t really need to use the bathroom, but I’d needed to get away from Vince for a second. I felt dizzy around him, both terrified and drawn toward him.
It felt weird knowing that Alexei’s father was holding him, but I was also glad. Alex needed a father, even if that father was a violent thug like Vince.
A cocky, asshole thug.
But first in my mind was the thought that I’d never see my family again. Rafa had terrified me, reminded me that my father was a vengeful and spiteful man.
Maybe I’d made a mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, should have done something else.
I looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head. No. It wasn’t worth thinking that way. I had to prove to Vince that Alex was his child, and hopefully he would protect us. Hopefully he wouldn’t let his only son get taken away by my family.
Or maybe he would. There was no way he wanted to be a father or was even close to being ready.
But things happened in this life and we had to deal with them. Vince didn’t seem like the type of man to run away.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself.
I had to get it together. I was in the heart of my enemy’s house, begging them for protection. Everything I did was dangerous.
I had to keep myself together for the sake of my son.
Chapter 6
Vince
I looked down at the squirming baby and made a face.
“You look like an alien,” I said.
It blinked back up at me. It had striking blue eyes, just like its mother.
I sighed. The baby was a he, and his name was Alexei. And apparently it was my son.
Maybe he looked like me a little bit. We shared some features, but it was hard to tell. He was just so small and young.
As I stood there waiting for Kaley to finish in the bathroom, I looked down at Alex. I felt something in that moment. I had never held a baby before in my life, and I’d never wanted to.
Babies were a distraction. They sucked away all your time and your money and your freedom. They were a ball and chain, an anchor keeping you in place. I didn’t want to be held down. I wanted to rage through the city, taking what I fucking wanted. Instead, I was standing in a hallway holding some strange baby, wondering if it was really my son.
“You’re actually a little cute,” I said softly, hoping nobody heard me.
He looked back up at me.
And then he started to scream.
“Shit,” I said. “Kaley,” I called out loudly.
She pushed open the door. “It’s okay,” she said. “He cries sometimes.”
She took him from me and I frowned. That was a horrible noise he was making, absolutely blood-curdling.
“It’s okay,” she said, rocking Alex. “Mama’s got you. It’s okay.”
Slowly the baby calmed down.
“Come on,” I grunted at her.
She followed me silently back to the office.
Crying babies. I’d never thought in my entire life that I’d be holding a damn crying brat. One second it was fine, just a warm bundle of squirming baby, and the next it was howling like a demon.
Damn thing sure could scream.
Kaley sat back down at the table and Rafa looked at us.
“That was fast,” he said.
“They just swab your mouth,” I answered. “Nothing to it.”
“What now?” Kaley asked. “They said we won’t have the results for another three days.”
“Shit,” Rafa said. “Three days?”
“It’s fine,” I said. “We’ll figure it out.”
As I sat down at my desk, there was a knock at the door. I sighed and got back up, walking over to the door. I pulled it open and Lucas grinned in at me.
“Sup, daddy?” he said.
“Fuck you.”
He laughed. “Let me see her.”
I moved aside and Lucas stepped into the room. He smiled down at Kaley.
“So, you’re the trouble,” he said to her.
“I’m Kaley Kozlov.”
“Lucas Barone.”
She blinked. “The Lucas Barone?”
He smirked and I sighed. Lucas was famous in the city just because he was the son of Arturo. It could be obnoxious sometimes.
“The one and only,” he said. “And this is Vince’s son?” He moved over and looked at the baby. “He’s really cute.”
“Thanks,” Kaley said.
“Can I?”
Kaley looked surprised. “Sure.”
She handed Alex over to Lucas, and he held the kid like it was nothing.
“Hello there, little guy,” he said. “What’s his name?” he asked me.
“Alexei,” I said.
“Russian.” Lucas frowned.
“Yes, Russian,” Kaley said. “Remember where he comes from.”
I looked at her. “We won’t forget.”
She stared back at me, defiant and fucking beautiful. Without the kid in her arms, I was reminded of exactly why I’d took her home that night.
“I have kids myself, you know,” Lucas said.
“Really?” Kaley asked.
“Sure. Two boys.”
“What are their names?”
“Stokes and Cooper.”
“Wow. Cool names.”
He laughed. “My wife picked them out. I would have chosen something simpler.” He handed the kid back to Kaley and looked at me. “Come on. The boss wants to speak with you.”
“Is it about me?” Kaley asked.
“Yes,” Lucas said, “it is.”
“Let me meet with him.”
“No,” I said quickly. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
She frowned but didn’t say anything. Lucas looked at her for a second and then we left the room together, heading toward Arturo’s office.
“Interesting girl,” Lucas commented.
“Yeah,” I said. “Strong willed.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
We walked in silence until we reached Arturo’s office. Lucas knocked and then pushed the door open.
The office was as richly furnished as any other place in the house. Arturo himself was sitting behind his big wooden desk, and he gestured at the chairs for us to sit. We walked in, but Lucas stayed standing while I sat down.
“Vincent,” Arturo said. “I heard something happened today.”
Arturo had been the boss of the Barone crime family for most of his life. He was a legend in the city since he’d taken the family from a minor crime group to one of the biggest mobs in the whole country. Arturo was well respected and powerful, although he was getting up there in years.
“Yes,” I said. “Her name is Kaley Kozlov, daughter of Anatoli Kozlov, the Russian boss.”
“And she says her son is yours.”
I nodded. “That’s her story.”
“Is he?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “He could be.”
Arturo sighed. “You stuck your dick in some Russian whore, and now you have a son.”
I cringed at the way he said that. Kaley wasn’t a whore, so far as I knew. But you didn’t correct Arturo Barone, not if you were smart.
“Yes, sir.”
“Why is she here?”
“She believes her family is going to take her son away from her because he is an embarrassment to them. She’s here looking for my protection.”
Arturo nodded. “I see. And are you going to offer that protection?”
I blinked, surprised. “I assumed you’d be making that decision, sir,” I said.
“Lucas here believes that it would be wrong to turn away a mother in need,” Arturo said. “And I believe she could be useful. We’re always looking for an edge against the Russians.”
I nodded. “Practical. I agree.”
“But ultimately, this is your decision. If you take her in, there could be serious consequences from the Russians. Consequences you may be
forced to pay.”
I frowned, looking down at my hands.
Was Alex my kid?
It was possible. It was very possible. When I’d held him, I knew I had felt something deep inside me. I didn’t know what that meant, if anything, but it had happened.
Then there was the girl.
Kaley was all fire and beauty. She was tough, but she was a Russian princess, everything I’d been taught to dislike. I wanted to fuck her, but I didn’t want to raise a child with her.
But she could be useful, very useful. I didn’t know what that meant for me and her, but it could be a good thing for the mob.
I didn’t want her brat, but I couldn’t turn my back on her, not until I knew for sure.
“I’ll take on that responsibility,” I said.
Arturo nodded. “Good.”
“At least until we know for sure if it’s my kid.”
“Of course,” Arturo said. “If it isn’t your son, we will ship her back to her family as soon as possible with all our apologies.”
“And if it’s my son?”
“Well,” Arturo said, smiling, “we’ll decide that when it happens. For now, we’ll keep her here.”
I stood up. “Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t fuck this up, Vince. Keep the girl happy until we know more.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Lucas turned and left, and I followed him. He shut the door behind us.
We walked back out into the hallway where he stopped and faced me. He had this serious look on his face, and I stopped in my tracks, staring at him.
“What?” I asked.
His face broke out into a big smile. “Congrats, daddy,” he said. “You have a fucking son.”
I groaned. “Fuck off.”
He laughed and headed back toward the office.
But he was right.
Taking her in like this was basically admitting to myself that the kid might really be mine. I didn’t want him, never signed up for being a father, but the fact remained that it might be my kid.
And so I had a responsibility to his beautiful mother.
Fuck. This whole thing was a mess.
And Lucas being a dick about it wasn’t helping.
We headed back toward my office and Kaley, a knot in my damn stomach.
Chapter 7
Kaley
Vince returned to the office not long after, his face haunted by something. He barely looked at me as he returned to his desk, and a few minutes later, another man showed up at our door.
“Kaley?” he asked.
I stood up. “What’s going on?”
Vince looked at me. “Relax,” he said. “He’s showing you to your room.”
“My room?”
“Yeah,” Vince said. “You’ll be staying here for a little while.”
I took a step toward him, my mouth hanging open. “You’re taking me in?”
“Until the paternity test comes back,” he warned.
“You’re the father,” I said. “You’ll see.”
He only nodded, his hard eyes staring at me. I wanted to kiss his handsome lips but held myself in check.
“Thanks,” I said.
He nodded again. I turned away and the man smiled at me. “Right this way.”
He was dressed in a suit and had an earpiece in, just like a secret service agent. He was maybe in his forties and was beginning to bald at the top. I grabbed my bag and hurried to follow him.
He took me down some twisting, long hallways, and I was lost as soon as we started walking. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a door, swiped a card, and opened it.
I stepped inside and took a deep breath.
The room was amazing. It was a suite, with a living room on the outside and a bedroom toward the back. It was by far the nicest room I had ever stayed in, at least on par with a five-star hotel, but probably better.
“Will this be okay?” the man asked.
“Great,” I said. “This is great.”
“Good.” He checked his watch. “Someone will be by shortly to get you settled.” He turned and disappeared.
I gaped around the room and dropped my bag on the couch. “We’re safe, little boy,” I whispered to Alex. “See, we have our own room now. Daddy is going to take care of us.”
I felt weird calling Vince that. He was Alexei’s father, but it was still strange to be under his protection. Truth was, I still thought about him all the time, and I didn’t know how I felt about the man. Everything was so mixed up in my mind.
Alex and I explored the room, and I talked to him the whole time. He seemed so calm, surprisingly calm, especially considering he was an infant in a brand new place. But he probably didn’t even notice the difference.
I noticed, though. The bedroom was huge, and the attached bathroom was gorgeous. It had a full tub and a standing shower, plus all granite and marble surfaces. It was by far the nicest place I had ever stepped foot in.
I heard the door open in the other room. “Hello?” a woman’s voice called out.
I stepped out into the living room and saw an older woman standing there, smiling at me. She was probably in her mid-forties, with her dark hair in a tight bun. She was wearing modest dress pants and a button-down shirt and looked like she belonged in a JCrew catalogue or something like that.
“Hi,” I said. “I’m Kaley.”
“Hi, Kaley. My name is Sonya. I was sent here to help take care of you.” She stepped toward me. “Is this little Alexei?”
I nodded, smiling. “He’s a little tired right now.”
“I’m sure. It’s been a big day for him.” She came a bit closer. “May I?”
“Sure.” I handed Alexei over to her, and she took him just like a pro. For whatever reason, I trusted her right away. Maybe it was because of the Russian name, but more likely it was her bearing. She seemed so kind and helpful, and she seemed really good with Alex.
“Hello, little boy,” she said, smiling. “He’s so very cute.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“So, Kaley, I’m here to help get you settled in, but I’m also going to help you take care of little Alex here.”
I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
“Don’t worry,” she said, smiling. “I’m a nanny by trade. I usually help out with the daycare, but they assigned me to you for the time being.”
“I don’t need any help,” I said.
“I’m sure you don’t, sweetie, but this is a pretty amazing place, and you’re going to be busy.”
“I’m okay,” I said again. “I can just stay in here with Alexei.”
“Well.” She smiled and handed Alex back to me, clearly sensing my discomfort. “Let me show you some things.” She took out a little packet, just like you’d get at a hotel.
“This is your keycard. Don’t lose it. If the key unlocks a door, you’re allowed in that room. If it doesn’t, you’re not. Simple, right?” I nodded, frowning. Were they really going to let me wander around the building?
“Next is a food menu. You just call room service, order what you want, and the staff brings it up. Just like in a hotel, except you don’t have to pay a thing.”
“Really?” I asked. “You’re not kidding?”
“Not at all. We’ll bring a crib up for Alex, some diapers, really whatever you might need.”
“That’d be amazing,” I said.
“Are you breastfeeding?”
I nodded.
“Good,” she said. “So you won’t need formula. Here’s a map of the grounds. Pretty much nothing outside is off limits. There’s a lot of stuff to do, so feel free to explore.”
“Sonya,” I said, “what the heck is this place?”
She laughed, smiling. “I know, strange, right?”
“It’s just more like a resort than like a mafia compound.”
She laughed, nodding her head. “I know, I know. I like how direct you are.”
I blushed. “Sorry. Everyone knows that, righ
t?”
“Of course.” She shrugged, looking through the papers. “I don’t know why this place became the way it is. I guess since the men have such difficult jobs, the family wanted somewhere for everyone to feel safe and relaxed.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Plus, the Barones like to show off their wealth. What better way than to spoil every single guest that walks in the door?”
I nodded again. It made sense, but it was still all too much. Only a few hours ago I had been worried about whether my son was going to be taken away from me, and now suddenly I was staying in this five-star mafia resort, completely protected and taken care of.
The Russian mob had nothing like this. They were more spread out, less centralized. I knew my father’s people had almost as much wealth as the Italians did, but our people sent a lot of it back to Russia, where we held a lot of land and buildings.
Apparently, at least. I’d never seen any of it or been to Russia. Hell, I barely even spoke Russian, which pissed my dad off all the time.
But forget him and forget the Russians. As far as I was concerned, the second they wanted to take my son away was the second I stopped being a part of their family.
“Any questions?” Sonya asked me.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll leave you alone. The crib will be up shortly, along with other supplies. I’ll check in on you later.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said. “Really, I’m fine.”
Sonya sighed. “Listen, Kaley. I don’t know why you’re here or what you’re running from. All I know is I was assigned to help take care of your son. If you don’t want me to do anything, I won’t. But I’ve been helping single moms like you for a very long time, and trust me, I know how hard it can be in those first few months.”
I nodded at her, frowning. She really didn’t seem like she was a part of the Italian organization at all. Maybe she really was just a staff member sent to help take care of Alexei. Maybe people weren’t always awful and sometimes actually took care of their children instead of trying to send them away.
“Thank you,” I said.
“No problem.” She turned and walked toward the door. “One more thing. If you ever need me, pick up the phone and ask for me by name. They’ll know who I am. I’ll come running.”
