“Things are tense here, too.”
“I have to go. Don’t call again. Just stay where you are. I’ll call you when I can.”
“Soph, I just wanted—”
But she had already hung up.
I stared down at my phone, surprise running through me. Soph had never been that short with me before, never hung up on me. Obviously this war was taking its toll on both sides, and I was stuck right in the middle.
I had no place in the Italian mob. I didn’t know anyone, except for Vince, and he seemed to barely tolerate my existence. He hadn’t really said anything about wanting to be a father to Alexei, though he did say that he’d keep him safe.
Since I had left my family and run to the Italian mob, I had never really felt too isolated. I knew I had made the right choice, even if I did miss living back with my own people.
But now, suddenly, I felt incredibly alone. I had nobody but Alexei, and he couldn’t help me. I was responsible for him, responsible for keeping him safe. My family wasn’t going to help, and only Vince was willing to keep me safe.
I didn’t know how I had ended up here: alone in a room I didn’t know, surrounded by people I didn’t trust. I walked over to Alexei and picked up him, holding him against my chest softly.
It was just me and Alexei. I had to do what I could for us, for him, figure out what was best for the both of us. I couldn’t rely on my family or on Vince.
I had to keep my son safe. War or not, that was my top priority.
20
Vince
I woke up around one. After Kaley left, I’d gotten a few more hours of much-needed sleep.
I felt a little bad about the way I had talked to her, but fuck it. She had brought about this war, all because of her actions, and so she needed to know the truth about it. Men were going to die because she’d come to us for help, and although I clearly had some part in making the damn kid, I didn’t ask her to run away from home and show up on my doorstep.
Still, I shouldn’t be a fucking prick. She was the mother of my kid and still incredibly gorgeous on top of that, and even when I was pissed and exhausted from a long night of violence, I still wanted her. But with that baby in her lap, it was hard to do anything more than just stare at her.
I rolled off the couch and took a quick shower, my mind still roaming around Kaley’s body from the day before. I loved the way her pussy felt wrapped around my hard cock and the way our bodies moved together.
I was hard as fuck when I got out of the shower, dripping wet. I toweled off and tried to get my mind right, but it was so damn hard.
I finally managed to get myself dressed. I left my room and went down the hall, downstairs, and into my office.
“Morning, boss,” Rafa said.
“Morning,” I grunted at him. “Any news?”
“Nothing from the Russians,” he said.
I sat down at my desk, kicking my feet up on the top. Most people didn’t think of mobsters as having a desk, but most of our work was fucking calling people and making deals. It was just easier to have a spot to get that shit done.
Rafa spun around to look at me. “We should hit them back soon, boss.”
“No shit,” I said.
“What do you want to do?”
I shook my head. “I have some ideas.”
“They have that deli on Tasker,” he said. “We could torch it.”
I laughed. “The fuck is it with you and fire, Rafa?”
He grinned. “I don’t know, boss. I just have a thing for it, I guess.”
“That’s always your answer for shit: Let’s just burn it.”
“Can’t help myself.”
“Well, it’s not a bad idea,” I said. “I’ll think about it.”
As I moved from the desk to grab some coffee, there was a knock as the door opened.
Lucas nodded at me as he came into the room. “Vince, Rafa. Glad you guys are okay.”
“Fuckers got it worse,” I said, pouring myself some coffee.
“I heard you did some serious work,” he said. “My father wanted me to come down and congratulate you.”
“Yeah, well, they’ll think twice about fucking with me.”
“Vince, come here,” Lucas said, stepping out.
I nodded at Rafa and followed Lucas into the hall. He shut the door.
“Why were you guys there again?” he asked me.
“Did a little deal with the Latinos, cash for drugs. Thought it was straight until the Russians attacked.”
“You think the Latinos sold you out?”
“Maybe,” I said. “Thought occurred to me.”
“You got the money?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But I still have a problem.”
“Tell me.”