Bastard’s Baby(66)

“The girl is an important symbol,” Arturo said. “We wanted to keep her. You know that.”

“Why would she go back to her family?” I asked.

“We were hoping you could tell us that. We only realized she was gone a half hour ago when her security card was found in a trash bin,” Lucas said.

“I don’t know why she’d go back to them,” I said. “I really don’t.”

“Think,” Arturo said. “She never mentioned leaving? Never had complaints?”

“She felt unsafe here, but that was reasonable,” I said. “I moved her into my room to try and help that.”

Lucas nodded. “What else?”

“She got a call this morning,” I said, remembering. “She seemed weird after that.”

“Maybe that call had something to do with it.”

“Shit,” I said. “Fuck. I should have pressed her.”

Lucas put his hand on my shoulder. “It’s fine. Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”

“I have to get her back.”

“No,” Arturo said firmly.

“I can do it myself. I don’t need to put anyone else in danger.”

“No,” Arturo said again. “We are not escalating this. We’ll see what the Russians say first before we try anything like that.”

Fuck. I clenched my jaw but didn’t say anything. I wanted to get out there right away and start cracking skulls to get her back.

Her and Alexei, my son. It wasn’t just Kaley that I wanted, I realized. It was Alexei. I was just beginning to feel like maybe I could really be a father, maybe I really could do it for real. And then he was taken away from me?

Fuck that.

“Come on,” Lucas said. “We’ll get a drink, calm you down.”

“Fine,” I grunted.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Vincent,” Arturo said.

“Yes, sir.”

But as Lucas and I moved out of the room, I was already planning my next move.

I wasn’t going to lie back and take this. Kaley probably had her reasons, but her reasons were wrong. She should have talked to me, should have come to me first. But she clearly wasn’t ready to do that, even if we were getting closer and closer every day.

No, I needed to make my own play. I couldn’t wait for help or for her to say something.

I was going to get my fucking woman and my fucking son back.





33





Kaley





Several hours earlier





“If you come back, they won’t hurt you or the baby,” Soph said.

“Really?” I whispered. “How can I trust that?”

“Listen to me,” Soph said. “I promise. I swear. They want this war to end, and you can end it. Your dad himself told me to make this call.”

I bit my lip. “How can this be true?”

“It’s not worth the bloodshed,” Soph said. “Besides, they’re beginning to soften up about the kid.”

“I want to,” I whispered. Vince was just in the other room. I didn’t have time to talk too long. “But I’m worried.”

“Kaley, it’s me. You can trust me. Come home and it’ll be fine. You can keep Alexei and the war will be over, no more bloodshed.”

“What about Vince?”

“You can’t see him.”

“No. I can’t do that.”

“I’m sorry. That’s what your dad said.” Soph paused. “Please come home, Kaley. I don’t want any more people to die.”

“I don’t either.”

“Come home.”

“I have to go.”

I quickly hung up the phone.

My mind was immediately in a tailspin. I felt dizzy as Vince came into the bedroom and made some joke about showering. I could barely pay attention as I rocked Alexei in my arms and Vince left for the day.

They said I could come home, but if I did that, I could never see Vince again. And we were just starting to become close. My feelings for him were just starting to become clear. Ever since last night, I knew what I wanted from him, knew that I wanted him to become the father to my son. He was so good with Alexei, and Alexei clearly liked Vince. My son needed a father.

But if I were allowed back into the family, then Alexei would have plenty of fathers to look out for him. And most importantly, the war would end.

As soon as Vince was gone, I paced around the room. I couldn’t leave Vince, but I couldn’t let the war keep going if I could stop it.

“Fuck,” I said out loud, and little Alexei looked up at me.

Alexei. All of this was for him. As much as I wanted Vince, I knew that Alexei would be safe back with my family and that he’d have a good life. This war could put him in danger if I let it keep going on.