Nico holds him tightly. “I miss you, too.”
I pull Madden from Nico and into my lap. “You know Nico?”
“His name is Angry Bear. This is little Angry Bear.” He points at his bear. “He’s wif me when big Angry Bear can’t.”
My mind is reeling. How do Madden and Nico know each other?
Nico leans into my ear and whispers, “I told you I always wanted you to have my children. So I took matters into my own hands. I got you pregnant. I didn’t expect you to steal my baby, though.”
Madden climbs back onto Nico’s lap as I peel his hand off my waist and hop to my feet. “I was on birth control, Nico.”
“I changed them out for sugar pills. The night I came over while you had company. That was the night we created Madden.”
He smiles at his son. “You don’t have to call me angry bear anymore. I’m your father. You can call me daddy.”
“Daddy,” Madden exclaims, hugging him again.
This fucking man is relentless.
“You’ve been a bad girl, Serenity. Again.”
It feels like the walls are closing in around me. I clench my teeth, stalk through the kitchen, and out the back door for some fresh air.
Several pips sound in the distance. My heart lurches in my chest. I jump back, crack the door, and slip my Glock from my waist holster. I peek out the door again. Bets holds his Glock close, peeking around the hood of the SUV.
“Bets, come on,” I whisper.
Bullets fly our way. Bets returns fire not before taking a bullet. Men run toward us as he slips inside. Bets helps me secure the door. We double-bolt it. Bets places the wooden slat across the center of the door securing it in the steel base.
All the traffic coming to my property in the past couple of days must’ve triggered whoever my enemies had watching my home.
I grab a hand towel and tie it above the gunshot wound on his arm.
The asshole shoots at the door. My chest rises and falls at the thrill of knowing the door is bulletproof.
Nico rounds the corner, gun drawn. “Get away from the door, Serenity. Get Madden and his nanny to the panic room.”
I won’t bother asking how he know’s about my panic room. I blow out a breath.
For now, we have to put our differences aside and protect Madden.
Nico talks to Bets. As I exit the kitchen, I grab Maddens headphones and tablet. I dart into the living room toward the sofa where Madden sits and stuff his items into his bag. Madden doesn’t get alarmed about the weapon. I toss the backpack over my shoulder and scoop him up into my arms.
“Danger, Madden. You know what that means.”
“Yeah, take cover.” He grips his bear’s arm tightly while squeezing my neck as we rush into the foyer.
I hate that he had to learn about danger as soon as he could talk.
“I need you to behave for Kisha.” I tell him before kissing his cheek.
“Okay, mommy.”
Kisha rushes down the steps, checking the magazine for her Glock.
Chapter Twenty-One
NICO
