Chapter 15
Caterina
Harlow was bringing Serenity to the house tonight for a sleepover, and I had no idea what to do.
I walked into the kitchen where Moira was with my other housekeepers.
When I walked in, they scattered. Moira scared them which annoyed me, but Moira was in charge of the help and kept it a certain way.
“Do you know how to make things kid friendly?”
She arched her brow. “Who has a kid?”
“Harlow is bringing Serenity for the night, and I don’t know if the house is good enough for a child.”
“When will they be here?”
“Maybe three hours. She is shopping now.”
She nodded. “I will get the kitchen, living room, and dining area acceptable for a child. Do I need to get her bedroom ready?”
I shook my head. “Harlow wants us to do that with her together when they get back.”
Moira inspected me. She’s been a part of the family since I was a baby and knew me better than anyone, even my father most days. “What’s wrong?”
I paused for a second. “What if I mess this up?”
“Being a parent is trials and tribulations. You two will love this little girl and give her a life she deserves. A family is what you create, not DNA or hierarchy, like families in this life think. You and Harlow will both be wonderful parents. If you want this girl, have her.”
I knew parenting was more than DNA and genes, but love?
My father, as much as I loved the man, stopped being a father when he started grieving Mama.
I couldn’t be angry because I understood his pain, but we needed each other most in that moment.
We had a little time before we started the adoption process, but I wanted her to have everything she desired in life and two parents who loved her.
Three hours later, the house was ready for Serenity; even Antonio made snacks for her.
The household was buzzing with anticipation for a child running around.
People eventually stopped pestering me about having children and sometimes my men would bring their kids to the house, but it was rare.
I wasn’t a Grinch, but children were scared of me.
Maybe I got softer with Harlow and children wouldn’t be as terrified around me.
Or maybe I had a terrifying face that scared children regardless.
This would be my first time meeting her, and I was scared, but I knew Harlow wanted this more than anything.
Harlow sent me a message ten minutes ago, saying they were about to leave the mall and head home.
I was ready to spend a night without the weight of the mafia on my shoulders.
I would worry about family duties and everything else Monday when Serenity was back at the foster home. Soon, she wouldn’t be leaving.
My phone rang, and it was Malachi. “What is it?”
“We were attacked by Russians.” Russians? Why would they want my wife? Vincenzo wouldn’t dare ask another family to kidnap my wife. “They wanted the girl.”
“Serenity? Why?”
“I don’t know, they called her Harmony. We got away, but I’m pretty sure there are pissed-off Russians that’ll be knocking on the door.”
I didn’t need to deal with this shit now. “I’ll call Roman to see if he knows anything about it.” I disconnected with Malachi, knowing he would get them both home safely before calling Roman. “Why are Russians attacking my wife and our…the little girl she is with?”
“It might be because of Akim Bolkov.”
Akim Bolkov was a sick bastard, just as bad if not worse than Igor and Vincenzo.
Akim was ruthless, a hunter. A few years ago, he put an anonymous hit on himself to capture Natalya.
He loved a challenge, and by the time Natalya was twenty-four, she was one of the best assassins in the bratva.
Everyone wanted her, and there was a target on her back because of it; but she was the best for a reason.
Akim wanted to test her, and he captured her after she broke into his house.
He planned it and tormented her for three weeks before Roman found and saved her.
Natalya said she wasn’t affected, but that was the assassin training talking.
What she went through would be enough to traumatize anyone.
To say I agreed with her training would be a lie.
She wanted to be an assassin, so she became desensitized to the one thing men would use against her in this line of work.
“Why would Akim want the child?”
“Akim is up to something and I think he had a child with him, but I’m not sure. There is something going on, but I can’t do anything currently. I have Natalya investigating as much as she can.”
“Is she okay to do this?”
It was a dumb question. Of course, Natalya could handle everything, even the man who tortured her.
It was how her mind worked. The things which made normal people, even myself, break, she was immune to.
She trained herself—her body—to be a weapon no one could use against her.
Whatever happened during the three weeks Akim had her, she never spoke of it to anyone.
“They called Serenity a name. Harmony. Do you know anything about that?” I asked him.
“No, but I will find out. Are you still coming to New York?”
“Yes. Harlow needs her break, but I will have one of my men watching the foster home Serenity is at. If I find anything, I will inform you when I see you.”