by B. B. Hamel
“You caught them at a good time,” Nat said. They’ll be hypnotized for a bit. Come on, sit with me.”
We walked over to a table across the room. I sat down. “Can I get you anything?” Nat asked me.
“No, thank you.”
She sat down and smiled at me. “So. I hear you have a son.”
“Alexei. Three months.”
“Ah, that’s a good time. He started sleeping through the night yet?”
“Most nights. We still have bad ones, though.”
She nodded. “You will, but it’ll keep getting better. These two idiots keep me up sometimes, too.”
I laughed lightly. “They seem good though.”
“Come by sometime when that show isn’t on.” She shrugged. “Anyway, tell me about yourself.”
I felt a little nervous. What did this woman want with me? She was close to one of the most powerful men in the whole mob, and I wasn’t sure what I could say and couldn’t.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m pretty boring. I was going to school until I got pregnant. My family is pretty conservative, I guess, and they weren’t happy about it.”
She gave me a knowing smile. “I bet.”
“I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran here, hoped that Alexei’s father could help us.”
Nat nodded. “Vince is a good guy. Maybe he doesn’t seem like it on the surface, but deep down.”
“He can be an asshole.”
I couldn’t believe I had said that, but Nat just laughed.
“They all can, these men. They’re tough people, Kaley, but you know that. You grew up around mob people.”
“I did,” I said. “But you didn’t.”
“Go ahead, ask me.”
I bit my lip. “How’d you end up here?”
She laughed softly. “It’s a crazy story. I’ll tell it to you sometime, I promise. But believe me, I never in a million years thought I’d end up being the wife of a mobster.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s totally okay.” She leaned back in her chair and looked over at the boys. They were blissfully staring at the television. “Truthfully, I just wanted to check up on you.”
“Why?” I asked her. “I don’t mean to be suspicious, but you’re very close to this family, you know.”
“Of course. Honestly, there aren’t a lot of mothers around here. Oh, how is Sonya working out?”
“She’s great,” I said. “Honestly. She speaks Russian too, which is nice.”
“Good. I thought you’d like her. She takes care of my boys a lot. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
I raised an eyebrow and put that into the back of my mind. Sonya helped raise the grandsons of Arturo Barone. But that made sense, considering she had helped raise his son.
“Can I ask something else?” I said.
“Of course.”
“Do you think I made the right decision? Coming here, I mean. I’m safe, aren’t I?”
Nat nodded slowly. “They don’t hurt kids. They say a lot of things, but they don’t hurt children.”
“Okay.”
“As for whether you made the right decision, I don’t know. If Vince really is the father, I think he’ll step up and help you.”
“He is,” I said firmly.
“I believe you. I know it’s frustrating to be second-guessed, but you can understand. These men don’t take chances.”
“I know,” I said, sighing. “It’s still very frustrating.”
“Of course it is. But tell me, what do you want from Vince?”
I looked over at the window, staring outside. It was a beautiful day and the grounds were so green, just an ocean of blue and green stretching into the distance.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I don’t know what I want from him. I’m not looking for a father, or maybe I am. I just want what’s best for Alex.”
“Of course,” Nat said softly. “It’s okay if you don’t know.”
“It would be good for Alexei to have a father, but I don’t know if Vince can handle that. I just need help right now until things settle down.”
“I understand.” She smiled at me and glanced at the television. “Listen, you should get going soon.”
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to babble on.”
“No, no. It’s just that the show is almost over. The monsters will be released.”
I laughed. I loved the way she talked about her kids, with such loving honesty. She called them monsters, but I could tell that she was a great mother, loving and kind and patient.
“I don’t mind,” I said.
“No. No need to subject you to that.” She stood up. “We’ll get together again soon. I want to meet your son.”
I stood. “Okay. I’d like that.”
She walked me to the door. Once there, she opened it. “Listen, Kaley,” she said softly. “Maybe you don’t believe it, but you have an ally in me. I think us women should stick together.”
I blinked at her, surprised. “I’m a stranger.”
“Yes, you are. But you’re a mother in need, and I’ll always help a mother in need.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded. “I don’t have much power, but I’ll do whatever I can for you.” She paused and then smiled. “And so will Lou, though she may not seem it. She’s more of a feminist than I am.”
I laughed. “That’s a surprise.”
“Come by again soon. Anytime, really.”
“Okay. Thanks, Nat.”
I turned and left the room. She shut the door behind me carefully.
I walked back to my room in a curious daze. I had just spent time with one of the most powerful women in the whole mob, and she seemed just like an ordinary woman. And more than that, she had pledged to help me however she could.
I didn’t know if I could trust her, but every instinct in me said that I should. I was so afraid to make the wrong move and get kicked out, but Nat had seemed totally sincere.
I headed back to my room and to Alexei, my head a dizzying combination of uncertainty and hope.
Chapter 16
Vince
The only thing on my mind was war.
I should have probably been more attentive to Kaley, but I couldn’t be. I had to prepare my crew for war, get everyone geared up, and finish this Chinese deal.
The threat of violence was hanging over everything.
And truthfully, I didn’t fear it. Really, I welcomed it. I wanted to crack some fucking Russian skulls, break some kneecaps, kill some of those fucking scumbags that would go to war over something so fucking petty.
I didn’t see her for the rest of the night or at all the next morning. My mind was firmly stuck on the crew as we moved around the city, preparing safe houses, giving instructions to the foot soldiers, basically rallying the fucking troops.
Spirits were high, but they always were before the first bullets flew. I needed to make sure we didn’t crumble as soon as the real shit hit the fan.
Rafa was driving as we cruised through my territory on our way to speak to some local businesses about what was coming, just in case something happened on their turf.
My phone started to buzz in my pocket, and I pulled it out. The number was from the Barone mansion, but I didn’t recognize it.
“Hello?” I answered. “Vince here.”
“Vince, this is Doctor Ridgewood.”
I cocked my head. That was the doctor who worked full time at the mansion.
“Hi, doc. What can I do for you?”
“Well, Vince, we got your test results back.”
“Test results?”
“The paternity test.”
“Shit,” I said. I had completely forgotten that in the insanity of the war prep.
“I know it’s early,” Doctor Ridgewood said, a small laugh in her voice. She was an older woman and kind; everyone liked her.
“Well, uh, let me hear it.”
“So, Vince, with about a ninety-nine percent certainty, Alexei is your son.”
I felt like a brick dropped in my stomach.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Vince. The boy is your son.”
“Okay,” I said, dazed. “Okay. Have you told anyone yet?”
“No,” she said. “Not yet.”
“You can tell Barone and them. Let me tell Kaley.”
“Okay. Whatever you want.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Any time.”
I hung the phone up and looked at Rafa.
“I’m a daddy,” I said.
He grinned at me. “Congrats, boss.”
“Fuck. Turn the car around; we have to head back.”
“Whatever you say.”
I was a father.
Alexei really was my son.
I knew it was true. As soon as I saw her with that baby in her arms, I knew he was my son. I had never really believed she was lying, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been interested in taking her in.
Still, it was hard news to swallow. I had gone from a man who could have and take whatever I wanted to a father. There was a child out there in the world, living right down the hall from me actually, who would call me daddy and depend on me.
I had to take care of another living human being.
I had no clue what I wanted from Kaley or what she thought of me. I didn’t know if I could be a father, if I even had it inside me.
I was a hard man. I didn’t live by normal rules. Lucas had figured out how to be a mobster and a father, but it had softened him.
I didn’t want to be soft. I had worked too damn hard to get where I was. Lucas didn’t have to worry since he was a Barone. But me, I couldn’t afford to calm down. I had to keep moving, keep cracking skulls, keep fighting for every inch the world gave to me.
And a son would slow me down. He would soften me.
But he was my responsibility. I was torn in half trying to figure what the fuck I should do.
We sped back toward the mansion, back toward my responsibility, and I had no clue what I was going to say or do.
But I had to see her. Kaley, the mother of my child.
And Alexei, my fucking son.
I knocked on her door, and I felt fucking nervous.
Vincent Mori, fucking nervous to see a baby.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen him before. This wasn’t a new thing. But now I knew that I was the kid’s father, so everything just felt different.
I’d gone into drug deals, bought and sold weapons, even killed men and never once felt nervous. I played the game and fucking won it every time, and never once did I second guess myself or worry.
But there I was, standing in front of some girl’s door, feeling nervous.
The door pushed open.
And there she was. The mother of my son.
“Vince,” she said. “What do you want?”
“We have to talk,” I grunted.
She looked at me for a second and then let me inside. “What’s wrong?”
“Sit,” I said.
We walked over to her little table and sat down.
“Where’s the kid?” I asked.
“With Sonya,” she said. “She’s giving me a little break.”
I nodded and actually felt a little relieved.
As bad as it was to admit, I wasn’t ready to see the kid, not now that I knew what he was. This had all happened so damn fast that I could barely keep my head in the game, barely keep up with what was going on around me.
“I got a call earlier,” I said.
“What’s wrong?” she asked again, clearly annoyed.
I looked at her, frowning. She was so fucking gorgeous, so fucking perfect. Her pretty face was nervous, and I kept glancing down at her body. She was wearing this sexy little dress, cut low to show a hint of her tits, just enough to drive me wild.
“It’s about the kid.”
“Vince,” she said, “fucking say it.”
“He’s my son. I’m the father.”
She blinked. “I thought the results weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“They came early,” I said. “I’m the father.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. I knew that.”
“I didn’t,” I said.
“You had to have known on some level. Why else did you let me in?”
She had a point there. “I understood that there was a strong possibility.”
“Okay, so.” She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Now you know. What happens next?”
I stood up and walked toward the window. “Not sure,” I said. “It’ll definitely help your case at least.”
“Vince,” she said. I heard her stand and come toward me. “I don’t care about that. I just want Alexei to be safe.”
I looked at her and grinned. “I wish I had a say in his name. Alexei? A Russian name? I have a son with a damn Russian name.”
She smiled. “What would you have chosen?”
“I don’t know. Something strong, something Italian, like maybe Geno or Rico.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I am really glad you had no say in Alex’s name.”
“What’s wrong with Geno? It’s a good, strong name.”
“You’re delusional. It’s an awful name.”
I grinned at her as she came a bit closer to me. I let my eyes roam down along her body, lingering on her breasts. She also had incredible legs, long and lean.
“Look, Vince,” she said, “it’s okay if you don’t know what you want yet.”
I took a step toward her. “I know what I want.”
“What’s that?”
“The same thing I’ve wanted since I first saw you.”
She didn’t move as I came closer to her, closing the gap between us. I could see the flush in her cheeks, practically could hear her heart hammering in her chest. I was betting that when I reached below that dress, I was going to find her soaking wet.
And I was going to reach below her dress. I could feel my cock raging against my pants, hard as hell just looking at her body in that dress.
I stopped inches away from her. “It’s always been you, Kaley. From the second I saw you, I’ve wanted that fucking delicious pussy.”
“You’re only just saying that.”
“You already forgot the other day?” I asked. “I remember. I remember how you tasted, how you came.” I reached up and wrapped my arm around her lower back and pulled her against me.
She didn’t try to stop me. She pressed against my body and looked up at me, her lips parted.
“I remember,” she said.
“Good. Think about how I can make your body feel.”
“I know,” she whispered. “It’s dangerous, but I know.”
“Damn right, girl,” I said. “It’s fucking dangerous. But that just makes it so much sweeter.”
And then I kissed her, pressing my lips hard against hers.
She returned that kiss, wrapping her arms around me. Desire flooded through me as she pressed herself hard against me, kissing me hard and hungrily. I grabbed her sweet ass, pressing her harder, and she moaned slightly against my lips.
I moved down and kissed her neck. “You’ve been thinking about this, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
“You’ve been dreaming about how I’d fuck your perfect pussy.”
“Please,” she groaned.
My hands slowly roamed down toward the hem of her dress and slid up along her thighs. She let out a soft moan as I slowly found her pussy.
And as I predicted, it was soaking fucking wet.
“Exactly what I thought,” I said. “You’re soaked for me. How badly do you want this?”
“Vince,” she moaned as I found her pussy and began to softly stroke her. “We need to be careful.”
“There’s nothing careful about me, princess,” I said. “It’s all or nothing. I want this cunt and I
want it now.”
I slipped my hand beneath her panties and found her soaked clit, pressing gently in slow circles.
“Oh shit,” she gasped. “That feels amazing.”
I rubbed her in soft, slow circles, her soaking pussy begging for it.
“I want so much more,” I whispered in her ear. “I want to make you feel so much more.”
“Vince,” she gasped as I slipped a finger deep inside her.
“Tell me you want it. Tell me you want me to fuck you until you can’t stand.”
“I want you,” she said.
“Say you want me to fuck your pussy.”
I kept rubbing her clit, alternating between fucking her with my fingers and rolling her swollen spot. She was clutching on to my shoulders, her body tense. I could feel her losing herself in every motion of my fingers, every new word I whispered in her ear.
“Fuck my pussy, Vince,” she said, half a moan. “Fuck me. I need it.”
“That’s right,” I said to her. “I know you fucking do.”
I grabbed her hips and pushed her back toward the table. She stumbled, but I caught her, lifting her easily. I sat her down on the table top and she laughed as I kissed her neck.
“God I love this fucking body,” I said, kissing down her throat and along her breasts. “Fucking incredible.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I speak only the truth.” I pushed her back slightly, and she rested herself on her hands. I reached up her dress and found her panties and pulled them down. They slipped easily off her skin, and she lifted her hips up. I tossed them aside.
I pressed a finger deep inside her and she gasped. I grabbed her hair with my other hand and kissed her mouth, my tongue rolling along hers. I fucked her pussy with one hand and held her hair tight with the other, kissing her, working her body.
I pulled back slightly and grabbed one leg, propping it up on the table. She stared at me, mouth hanging open, her pussy dripping wet. I pulled the hem of her dress up slightly and grabbed her hips, pushing my mouth against her pussy.
I licked her clit softly and she moaned, one leg up on the table, resting back on her hands. “Oh my god,” she said.
I sucked and licked her clit like that, and she lay back all the way, holding on to the top of the table. I kept her one leg up as I sucked her and ate her pussy, my tongue rolling down to press inside her.
