Aleksandra
“How the hell did you get to the Morettis’?” Mikhail asks as he ushers us outside into the cold, blustery air.
I carry Liam to Mikhail’s vehicle and open the back door. “I rode in the backseat,” I say.
The guards retreat as word spreads that we’ve recovered my son alive.
Climbing into the back with Liam, I ensure his seatbelt is secure. There’s no booster seat which worries me.
“The hell you did,” Mikhail huffs and slips into the front passenger seat. One of his men, Nikita, drives us back to the compound.
“Did you find it odd that there was no sign of Roberto Moretti?” Nikita asks.
“He was probably holed up, hiding in one of the upstairs rooms, like a coward,” Mikhail says with a chuckle. “The man fears his own shadow. Deserves to be hanged if you ask me, for what he did to my nephew.”
“Liam, your nephew’s name is Liam,” I shout at Mikhail. Neither of my children ever get any attention from their uncle, not on birthdays or Christmas, but the minute he can use them as an excuse to wage war, he’s family.
Mikhail glances over his shoulder at me. “Why are you getting your panties in a bunch? You found the kid. Who was that Italian with the sharp nose and scruff?”
Is he trying to get under my skin? Because it’s working well. “Do you mean Antonio?” Maybe I shouldn’t admit to knowing a Moretti.
“They share the same nose, facial structure,” Mikhail says, pinning me with his stare.
Fuck me.
“I didn’t notice,” I say.
“Yuri mentioned that Liam may have been taken because his father wanted to be with his son. I thought it was a far-fetched idea, but after seeing Antonio today, I can’t help but wonder if there’s something there, little sister.”
Yuri, his second in command, is a dick. There’s no way he knows that I slept with Antonio. If he did, he’d have gone to Mikhail the moment he had suspicions.
Silence fills the vehicle. I’m not having this conversation with Mikhail and certainly not with Liam seated beside me in the backseat.
* * *
When we arrive back at the compound, I lead Liam into the playroom with his sister.
Mikhail follows behind us. I can feel his presence without so much as turning around to look at him. “I’d like a word with you, Aleksandra,” he says. There’s disgust in his tone; the way he says my name drips with annoyance, like I’ve inconvenienced him today.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, giving Liam and Sophia a hug and kiss before following Mikhail out of the playroom and down to the study.
He slides the pocket door open, flips the light on, and gestures for me to step in first before shutting the door behind us.
“You told me the father of your children was overseas,” Mikhail says.
I bite down on my tongue and give an exasperated sigh. “I said he was at war.” It wasn’t a lie.
“Antonio is the children’s father,” Mikhail says. It’s not a question but an observation.
I don’t answer.
“I’ll take your silence as confirmation.” He emits a heavy sigh. “Does Antonio know he’s the father?” Mikhail steps farther into the study, approaching his decanter and grabbing an empty glass on the silver tray beside it.
He pours himself a glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid before tasting.
“I haven’t told him,” I say. “There’s no father’s name on the birth certificate.” He can’t know. I didn’t tell anyone.
He takes another swig of whiskey and exhales a heavy sigh. “You’ve put me into a difficult position, little sister.”
I don’t dare ask him how. I remain silent. It’s safer not to irritate him. He has a short fuse, and I don’t want to be on the other end of his anger.
“All along, have I not told you I want to protect you?” Mikhail asks.
“Yes, I don’t understand.” What is he getting at?
“You told me when the father of the twins returned from war, you intended to marry him. I suppose that was a lie to bide your time, keep you from marrying a man of my choosing.”
“I don’t have any intention of marrying Antonio,” I say. “Nor will I marry one of your bratva brothers.”
“The decision of whom you will marry isn’t your choice, Aleksandra. Father entrusted me to choose your suitor, a man who will protect you.”
“And you honestly believe a Russian is capable of protecting me?” I laugh at the absurdity of his suggestion. “You’d sooner marry me off to one of your men than let me live freely under your roof.”
“That’s enough!” he bellows.
He’s won my silence.
My mouth shuts, and I take a step back toward the door. “Am I excused?” I know better than to leave until I’ve been given permission. I’m lucky Mikhail hasn’t berated me for sneaking out with his men this evening.
He offers the flick of his wrist for me to leave.
I don’t ask twice. I hurry out of the study and to the playroom to check on the twins.
Antonio is right. Living among the bratva isn’t good for Liam or Sophia. But what other choice do I have? Mikhail forbids me from working and leaving the twins, aside from the couple of hours they spend at preschool per week.
Where would I go?
Antonio is Italian Mafia, my sworn enemy. I can’t exactly show up at his front door asking for help, nor would I want to admit to him that he’s the father of my children.
That would be like setting off a nuclear device.
I don’t have enough money saved to provide for the twins and myself, let alone afford a roof over our heads in New York City. Property is expensive. Apartment buildings are outrageous.
I exhale a heavy sigh and fold my arms across my chest, staring at Sophia and Liam as they play house together. It’s any wonder Liam isn’t scarred from today’s events.
A child shouldn’t be kidnapped and then practically unfazed by his surroundings when he returns after enduring whatever happened.
I approach Liam, bending down to the twin’s level. “How are you doing?” I ask, my question pointed at Liam, but I’m also concerned about Sophia. She witnessed her brother’s abduction.
That couldn’t have been easy to see or process.
Liam glances up at me, his bright blue eyes wide, his lashes fluttering as he stares. “I don’t like the dark.”
I pull him into my embrace for a hug. “I know, babe.” I assume he’s referring to the darkened office and how he had to hide under the desk at Antonio’s feet. Why was Antonio protecting Liam?
My head aches, and my neck is sore, making my stomach tumble. At least being inside the compound, the twins are safe. I don’t need to worry about their well-being.
But what about mine?
“Aleksandra,” Luka says, announcing his presence at the door of the playroom.
I glance over my shoulder, my arms folded across my chest. “Yes?”
“You should know Mikhail has gone behind your back.” Luka keeps his voice low, careful not to be overheard. He’s one of the most loyal guards, and while his allegiance is to Mikhail, we’ve grown close over the years while he’s been entrusted as my bodyguard.
I had assumed at some point that Mikhail would demand Luka to marry me, but that day hadn’t come. A small part of me is relieved. He’s a decent guy for a member of the bratva, but he’s not exactly my type.
Anyone my brother picks out isn’t my type.
“And what are you doing?” I point out. He’s going behind Mikhail’s back, coming to me, telling me whatever secret he intends for me to hear from him.
“Hoping you won’t get me killed,” Luka says and quirks a wry grin. “I heard him on the phone with the Italians.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask. “What purpose would he have to call Roberto Moretti?”
“From what I overheard, Roberto is dead, and Antonio is their new leader.”
The air is sucked from my lungs. “No.” It can’t be true. Antonio is rough, dark, and probably would stab a man in the back if he weren’t looking. Is that how he became don?
“No one saw Roberto during the attack,” Luka says. “Did you happen to see him when you were sneaking around?”
“Only Antonio and Liam.” I’d intentionally avoided as many soldiers and men as possible. “Why?” I ask.
“I wouldn’t have said anything, shouldn’t—but if Antonio is the father of your twins, I thought you should know.”
Why is he being so damn cryptic?
“Know what?” I’m trying to remain calm and keep my voice down. I don’t want to alert the twins to our conversation, especially since it regards their father.
“That your brother, Mikhail, intends to take out the Italians. All of them. He’s exacting revenge because they kidnapped your son.”