“Kisha, how was the flight?”
“Madden stared out the window as long as he could, then turned to his tablet.”
I laugh. “He loves his tablet.”
“Madden, you get twenty minutes on the tablet.” I tap the timer at the top of the device.
Smiling, I add, “I bought your favorite snacks.”
His face lights up. “Cookies, mommy.”
Kisha and I burst into laughter.
“You’re going to turn into a cookie.” I rustle his curls.
With a big smile on his handsome face, his gaze drops to his tablet again.
I tap the off button on the remote, and the train comes to a halt.
“Angry bear,” he yells. Bear in tow, he runs across the room.
The wind is knocked out of my body as I turn and stand.
“Angry Bear?” Nico smiles at Madden.
He’s wearing all black. Blazer, t-shirt, cargo pants, and boots. I notice his muzzled Glocks are snug in the brown holster.
“You were sleeping,” I say still in shock.
He’s crouched down, staring into Madden’s eyes. He takes the bear and tickles Madden.
Nico has his full attention.
Oh, fuck, oh, fuck.
“Yeah, well, I thought it wasn’t fair that I was sleeping while you were planning to have the furniture delivered to the house. So I’m here to help you decide what you want delivered.”
His eyes dart from me to Madden.
“What’s going on, Serenity?”
“I’ll be upstairs if you need me,” Kisha says from behind.
“Thank you.” I nod and wait for her to disappear upstairs.
I sink onto the sofa. My body’s vibrating; I’m so nervous. “I left five years ago… because I found out I was pregnant.”
Nico doesn’t look at me. He’s focused on Madden.
I continue. “I couldn’t let my enemies get to him. I had to keep him safe.”
“Who’s his father, Serenity?” His eyes are cold now as they glare into mine.
I’m silent for a beat.
“You are Madden’s father.”
“I didn’t want to bring him here. This life. Our life isn’t safe,” I say in a sad, pleading tone, begging for him to understand why I did what I did.
