Midnight (The Devil’s House MC: West Virginia #8)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I SAT BEHIND my desk, tapping my fingers against the wood, my mind racing to process the whirlwind of events from the past few hours. Relief at finding Hadleigh unharmed had quickly turned into shock upon learning she was pregnant. Now, I had no choice but to break the contract with Samuel. I doubted he’d be upset; he and Hadleigh had never truly connected. Still, I had hoped they might grow fond of each other. Samuel’s heart, however, was elsewhere, with someone else.

I knew exactly how he felt, having experienced the same situation.

A sharp knock on the door jolted me, signaling my visitor’s arrival. The door swung open, and I steeled myself for a confrontation I never thought I’d face again. “Where is my son?” Mona demanded, storming into my office with a fiery determination that time had not dimmed. Despite the years, she was still as breathtaking as ever.

I stood, concealing the torrent of emotions that surged inside me at the sight of her. “He’s being taken care of,” I said, clenching my fists to keep from reaching for her.

“I don’t believe you. Let me see him,” she insisted, her eyes blazing with fury. “You have no right to hold him, Vito.”

“On the contrary, I have every right,” I countered, leaning on my desk, trying to maintain my composure. “Your son thinks he can take my granddaughter away from me.”

“She’s pregnant with his child, and he loves her,” Mona snapped. “Why stand in their way?”

“Because I can’t bear to see her marry someone who’s the spitting image of the man who stole you from me, a constant reminder of what I lost!” I roared, slamming my fist on the desk. “I knew he was Cameron’s son the moment I saw him.”

“What you lost?” she shot back, her voice shaking with emotion. “I wasn’t yours to lose, Vito.”

“You loved me!” I reminded her, my voice rising in frustration.

“And where did that get me?” she yelled, tears welling in her eyes. “Huh, Vito? You wanted me as a dirty secret. You had a wife and child, remember?” Her voice softened with pain. “You didn’t love me like I loved you.”

“That’s not true, Mona,” I hissed. “I would have taken care of you, but you ran off and married Cameron.”

“Why wouldn’t I marry Cameron? He loved me, was there for me every day while you were off doing business and spending time with your family!” she cried. “We were together because you assigned him to watch me like I was a prisoner.”

“I loved you!” I said, pounding my chest. “And the proof is I didn’t kill Cameron for what he did! I did that for you because, by the time I found you, he had already gotten you pregnant. Despite my anger, I still watched out for you from afar.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Do you really think your father had the funds to take care of you and your children after Cameron died?”

“He wouldn’t have taken money from you.”

“But he did. He knew how hard it would be without it,” I told her. “I paid for Kezia’s funeral,” I said softly, knowing how deeply losing her daughter had hurt.

She turned away, trying to hide the impact of my words, then faced me again, her eyes filled with a storm of emotions. “None of that matters now. Too much time has passed, and my only concern is Kaven. I want to see him, Vito.”

“Well, Mona, what happens next is up to you,” I said, almost reaching for her but pulling back. It was too soon.

“Up to me? How?” she asked, confusion mingling with suspicion.

“If I allow Kaven to marry Hadleigh, there will be conditions,” I said, watching her face shift from confusion to curiosity. “The first condition is I want you to have dinner with me at least once a month. Let us reconnect.”

“What about...” she began, but I cut her off.

“I’ve been alone for many years now. My wife and son are gone. I’m free to do as I please, and I want to spend time with you,” I said, my gaze lingering on her face.

“Is this some sort of game to punish me for leaving you? I’m not a young woman anymore, and I’m sure with your power and money, you already have someone,” she said, sadness creeping into her voice. “You lure me back in only to dump me cruelly?”

“No, Mona, I don’t, and I won’t. We’ve both aged, me more than you, but I still see the same beautiful woman who stole my heart,” I said, my voice earnest. “Are you afraid of what you still feel? Is that why you never remarried?”

Her eyes revealed the truth. She still had feelings for me and after a moment, she replied, “What are your other conditions?”

“Those are for your son, if you agree to your condition,” I said.

“Fine, Vito, I agree, but you have to come to me since this was your idea,” she demanded, lifting her chin defiantly, putting her pretty nose in the air like a queen.

“Not a problem,” I replied, barely able to contain my relief. “Have a seat while I have a word with Kaven before bringing him to see you.”

With a frustrated huff, she sat on the edge of the sofa. “My two boys, Ry and Fenix, are waiting for me. Tell them I’ll be right out before they worry.”

I nodded, a smile playing on my lips as I left my office to speak with Kaven. The boy was lucky I loved his mother, or he’d be facing a very different fate.

I JUMPED FROM the chair as soon as the door opened, and Vittorio strode in. My patience had run out. “I’m done with this game you’re playing, Vittorio,” I snarled.

“I don’t play games,” he replied calmly. “Those are for children.”

“Let’s settle this now,” I demanded, facing him squarely.

“Before I agree to this marriage between you and Hadleigh, I have a few conditions,” he said, his tone dripping with authority.

“I don’t have to agree to anything you demand,” I shot back, glaring at him.

His eyes hardened, and a smirk curled his lips. “Yes, you do, because despite what you think, I can make you disappear.”

I knew he could, but I wasn’t about to back down. “Just spit out your demands so we can get this over with and I can see Haddie.”

“First condition, you and Hadleigh will marry here at my home, giving her the wedding she deserves,” he began, pausing for my response.

“I want Hadleigh to have a nice wedding, so fine. I agree.”

“Second, I will have access to Hadleigh and my great-grandchild. Third, I will gift you a proper house for them. Fourth, you will get a real job and quit that motorcycle club you’re running with. I want you to work for me.”

“I can provide everything they need,” I snarled. “And I can work and still be a part of my club. I’m not changing who I am for you or anybody. This is all about control for you, but you don’t own me and never will.”

The door flew open, and Haddie rushed in, Vittorio’s men at her heels. “Sorry, boss, she ran in before we could stop her.”

“Just close the damn door,” Vittorio snapped, his eyes locking on Haddie. “This is between me and Kaven.”

“I already heard your conditions,” she said with a smirk. “That wall is thin as paper, for future reference,” she added, pointing to a side wall.

“Hadleigh, you’re overstepping here,” he warned.

“We accept the wedding, access to me and my baby, and a house of our choosing in West Virginia,” she pressed. “But that’s it. Our life is our own, and we will live it that way.”

“Hadleigh, don’t push your luck with me,” he growled. “I don’t have to accept anything; I can make what I want happen.”

“Like make Kaven disappear?” she challenged, having overheard his earlier threat. “I’ll disappear right along with him. There’s always a way, and I’ll find it. You know I will.”

“Alright, let’s do this,” he relented. “I will accept those conditions, since I will be in the area frequently to see someone. I agree, as long as I see you and the child well cared for, and I don’t just mean money.” He pointed at me. “He’s part of a biker club, Hadleigh. Do you know what goes on at those clubhouses? Do you? Because I can promise you those men aren’t faithful.”

“Now just a fucking minute!” I snarled, stepping toward him, fists clenched. “You don’t know shit.”

“I trust him,” Haddie said, stepping between us, her hand on my chest. “I know he loves me and won’t ever jeopardize that for anything. Plus, the men under you, and including you when grandmother was alive, cheat on their wives all the time. It would have happened in the loveless marriage you were forcing me into. I know all about how marriages work in our circle, grandfather.”

Vittorio’s eyes softened a bit, and he took a moment before speaking. “You’re right, Hadleigh, and I shouldn’t have pushed a loveless marriage on you. It’s hell when you find your true love.” He sighed. “I accept your terms. Come with me. Someone is waiting to see you.”

We walked down several long hallways and descended the largest staircase I had ever seen before, stopping in front of a door that was immediately opened by a guard, letting us inside. “Kaven!”

Before I could even process it, Mama hugged me tightly and then stepped back, looking me over. “Mama? What are you doing here?”