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IhatethatIhad to leave Katrina’s side. The whole time, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle, and I look to the nurse’s station, where a nurse rounds the large desk. I told them I wanted someone with her at all times. “How is she?”
“She’s been sleeping soundly, both of your girls,” she announces to me in a soft voice. Relief floods me. I’m worried about how she might wake up after they ended up having to sedate her.
Passing the elevators, I open the door quietly, not wanting to wake either of them up. I have a vase of roses in one hand, hoping to surprise her, but my heart stops when I see she and our daughter are gone. I take a deep, calming breath before stepping back out, then pull the nurse into the room.
“Where are they?” My voice rises, unable to rein in my temper.
The nurse’s eyes grow wide, and I know they’re gone. She runs out of the room, making my heart sputter out of control. The lights in the hall blink as the intercom sounds an alert. “Code Pink.”
I swear I will blow up this building if I cannot find what’s mine. With one call, my men instantly storm the hospital to search for her. Within seconds the police will know she is mine and if they find her they will know to return her to me. This side of town they’re all under my payroll. I gain access to every camera, and within five minutes, I watch the video of her hurrying out the front doors right before my men got my call.
She’s an easy target out there without me.
Time is a blur, hours passing as I search everywhere within walking distance of the hospital. And then on a hunch, I drive to the Rossi mansion. I want to bang down the front door and put a bullet in her brother’s head, and the only reason I go against my instinct is because of her. I don’t want her to cry during the first twenty-four hours we’re married. Or the day our first child was born—even though it’s a little late for that hope.
Instead, I sneak into their house. I watch as people run around, her mother giving out orders, and from what I can gather, Katrina’s sister, Gia, must be in labor right now. The chaos of the home delivery makes it easy to slip in without being noticed.
I find my wife sleeping, her lips pouted as she’s curled on her side, looking so young without her vixen persona in place. She’s stunning with no makeup. I’m reminded that she’s almost ten years younger than me. I hadn’t recognized it when we first got together.
I glance over at my daughter. Her eyes are open, and my heart cracks. Automatically, my hand goes to my chest, hoping I can keep it intact. I’m not used to feeling much of anything, only when I’m with my big girl, which isn’t often since I stay so busy with the Bratva. I think this feeling, this cracking in my chest, is relief, love, and heartbreak all twisted together.
A tiny bottle of formula is on the dresser, a nipple in a plastic wrapper next to it. I pick it up, read the instructions on the side, and follow them easily. I break the seal on the premade formula, and twist the already-sanitized nipple onto it, then pick up my baby.
We really need to name her.
She latches on to the little nipple, her eyes closing as she eats.
My eyes go from her, to Katrina, then back to this innocent life I helped her make. I had never considered being in this position again. I can’t help but wonder if this is what Nina would have wanted for me and Charlotte.
When I finish feeding the baby, instinct takes over, and I somehow remember to burp her—memories of Nina telling me Charlotte would have painful gas if we didn’t—and I change her before laying her on her back.“Never on her stomach, Dem. They can’t breathe well enough yet when they’re this young.”
She falls back to sleep instantly, and I stand there, alternating watching her and then Katrina in their slumber. Do I even know how to be a husband again? I’ve become so hardened in this life. I’m not even sure if my Charlotte feels any attachment to me. Since Nina’s death, I’ve been fighting to make Charlotte’s world safe, but have I neglected to stay in it with her?
I fall into bed with Katrina, pulling her onto my chest. Taking a deep breath, I savor her scent, and she moans at my touch. Most people would be dead if they pulled a stunt like she did today. The thought sits heavily in my mind. My hands may be ones of a killer, but I couldneverhurt her.
I lie awake, not knowing what to do with my beautiful wife. As the sun rises, she wakes up, startled at not being alone. “Our baby is safe and right beside you.”
She gasps at my voice, her head lifting to look at me. “You need to leave, now,” she hisses, surprisingly looking frightenedforme. It’s adorable.
“I never had any intention of marrying anyone,” I say in place of replying to her demand, and I place both my hands behind my head as I shift to get comfortable in her bed. “I’m in a position where I demand my men to marry, to form stronger alliances. By never marrying again, I wouldn’t have endangered anyone innocent.”
She goes to open her mouth, and I place my finger over those lips I love so much.
“My parents were shot in front of me,” I continue. “I was forced to watch. That feeling of helplessness clung to me. When Nina was killed that feeling intensified, hardening any good that was left in me. Thenyouentered my life. Beautiful, strong, funny. You ripped through my life like a wild hurricane. I searched for you—every damn day—and Idon’tchase. Then I found out we created the most precious thing in the entire world. That’s not something I can forget or ignore. You are under my protection. You are mine. And you must come home.”
She tears herself off my chest and immediately picks up our sleeping daughter. “You don’t say nice things like this. How do I even know you’re speaking the truth? If you’re trying to steal our baby, you will have to rip her from my lifeless hands before you get to take her.”
I flinch, even though I mask most of it. “I’m not here to steal her from you. I’m here for you both to come home. For us to be a family. I just saidyouare under my protection,mine, and must come home.”
“You already chose a new mother for your daughter.” She rocks our daughter while she’s cradled in her arms.
“As I said before, Eva is like my sister, and she’s Charlotte’s nanny. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll hire a new one.” I was already thinking that Charlotte had outgrown needing a nanny on full-time duty and that Eva was more helpful for other things. “I don’t think you understand your new role, Katrina. You are my wife. Your duty is at my side as my queen. You have become the most powerful person among all men and women in my ranks.”
“I can already hear the gossip now. Katrina, the sinful queen,” she mocks herself. It doesn’t sit well with me.
“If they want to live, no one will mock you.” I walk up to her tense body and place a kiss on her forehead before bending down to kiss our daughter. “I think we should name our child. My mother’s—”
“She already has a name.”
