Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
SERENITY
Dinner with Miff and Lasheia was nice. Bodyguard girlfriends have it hard.
Their men are gone for weeks sometimes. Yet, she stared at him like she was the happiest woman in the world.
He’s seven years older than her. A cute age-gap love story.
Lasheia said he fought their love in the beginning, but finally came around a year later.
I’d never seen Miff smile like this before.
The hard, stoic bodyguard who rarely showed emotion now looked like a man who’d found everything he’d ever wanted. The way his eyes remained on Lasheia told me he was hopelessly in love with her.
I couldn’t have been happier for them.
Still, duty came before everything in our world.
Miff sent Lasheia home a day early, explaining that he needed to meet with the entire security team to finalize our protection detail. With war on the horizon, every route, contingency plan, and escape strategy had to be reviewed.
The loving boyfriend disappeared.
The head bodyguard took over.
I’d miss running up and down the beach with Nico. And making love at sunrise and at night under the stars. Our honeymoon was an absolute delight.
On the flight home, I snuggle into my husband like he’s my own personal life jacket. War is coming. Honestly, I’m relieved. I want it over. So I can move on with my life. If I don’t survive, at least I’d shared the most memorable time of my life with the man I love.
We’ve been home for two days. My eyes flutter open.
No sunlight shines through the thick blackout curtains.
They were a must have to help us get back on our time zone sleep schedule.
I peek at Nico. Sound asleep on his side facing me, his dark hair stands on end.
I cuddle against him, resting my head under his chin as my fingers move over his very hairy chest. He’s finally being less self-conscious about it.
I lie in my newlywed bubble just a little while longer. Madden arrives today.
Keeping him at my house in New Jersey is best until the war is over. We’ll have the protection of the Magarellis to keep him safe.
I slip out of bed and saunter into the bathroom to shower. I ponder on how Nico will react when he learns he has a son. After the war I’ll introduce him to Madden.
Standing in the walk-in closet, I strap on the waist holster.
I push two K bars into their respective spots, one muzzle, and a Glock.
I slip on a pair of black leggings that conform to my body like a glove.
I pull on a cavalier vest and drag the zipper to the top.
I tug a short sleeve black t-shirt over my head.
Next up is the black leather holster; I shove two muzzled Glocks inside.
Seated on the gorgeous cream oversized ottoman, I slip on a pair of black sneakers.
To finish off my look, I shrug on a short denim jacket.
Now that I’m home, I have to be ready for war.
I shuffle over to our bed, sit on the edge, and kiss Nico’s lips.
Sitting up straight, I let my hand linger on his chest again.
“What time is it?” He asks.
“Ten thirty.”
He blinks a couple of times before his eyes roam my body. “Are you leaving?”
“Yes, I’m going to my house to sort out what furniture I’m having moved here. We need to make this space ours,” I tell him.
He grabs my pillow and pulls it to his chest. “Happy to see you’re ready for anything. Make sure your bodyguards take several detours, too.”
“I will. I’ll be back later this afternoon.” I kiss him again and saunter towards the door.
He dozes off again.
Last night Nico had spoken to the bodyguards for a few hours. When he came upstairs, he demanded I ride him. And I did. He was knocked out minutes later.
I wring my hands en route to the second garage where we change SUVs again. My heart is in my throat the entire trip to my house.
The thought of holding Madden in my arms makes me giddy. I can no longer keep him to myself. Our son.
After the fourth detour, we drive into my gated community. Bets pulls into the garage around back.
My heartbeat rings in my ears as I climb out of the SUV. I curl my hand around the doorknob and take a deep breath.
Be strong, Serenity. Don’t show weakness.
I round the corner. He’s pushing his train over the train tracks. I grin.
“Hello Kisha, it’s good to see you.”
She smiles. “Good to see you, too.”
Madden glances over his shoulder, all smiles. “Mommy,” he yells.
I drop to my knees and pull him into my arms, my nose pressing into his brown curls. “I missed you so much.” I inhale his familiar, comforting scent. Vanilla and coconut.
I pull back reluctantly.
“Mommy’s packing,” he chuckles.
“I am.” I smile.
I hate that my son has to know about guns at such a young age, but he does. I never left the house without at least one Glock. He knows not to touch them because they are dangerous. And mommy would only use them to hurt bad people.
“Do you like the train?”
“Yes,” I have this one at home.”
I chuckle. “Well, a similar train.”
I press the button on the controller and watch the train move around the large track.
He grabs his bear and tablet off the sofa and returns to his previous spot on the floor.
“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.
“You kept my son from me for five years,” he spits, venom lacing every word.
His words feel like nails on a chalkboard. I don’t miss the bitterness in his tone and anger in his brown eyes.
“I kept him safe from our world,” I say firmly.
“Maybe I would’ve let you two stay in Italy to keep you safe. Did that idea even cross your mind?”
I shake my head. “No, you wouldn’t have.”
“Guess we’ll never know,” he bites out.
His sarcastic words hit my heart where they should.
“I told you I wanted to start a family with you.” An evil smirk plays on his lips. “You underestimated how far I’d go.”
My brows pinch together. “What does that mean?”
“Can I have cookies?” Madden asks.
Nico pulls him up into his arms. “Two cookies.” He strolls into the kitchen like he entertains four-year-olds every day.
He sits Madden in one chair and his bear in the chair beside him.
Nico washes his hands before removing the cookies from the package. He places them on a saucer and sits them in front of him.
Madden takes a bite of his cookie, smiling at his twin. Nico stares at him too, like he’s the greatest creation.
“We can talk in private,” I say.
He nods.
“I’ll grab his headphones.” I walk toward the living room.
“Angry bear, can I have some milk?” Madden asks.
I glance over my shoulder. “Don’t call him Angry Bear.”
“He’s big angry bear. And this is little angry bear,” Madden explains.
I shake my head. “He’s never done that before.”
“It’s fine.” Nico smiles as he pours Madden a glass of milk.
After setting up Madden’s tablet in front of him, I adjust the headphones on his ears.
Nico peeks at his son before joining me in the living room.
“I had a right to see my son being born. To be there when he took his first steps, like you were,” his voice booms throughout the house.
I sit on the sofa, running my hands down my ponytail. “I didn’t want children. Nico, I told you I didn’t. I almost put him up for adoption.”
The pain in his eyes shatters me.
“You almost gave our son up for adoption.” The words leave his mouth in a broken whisper, as though he can’t comprehend how I could ever consider giving away the child we created. The disbelief etched across his face cuts deeper than his anger ever could.
“Yes.” My voice barely rises above a whisper. “I would do anything to keep him safe. Bringing him here puts him in danger.”
Nico studies me for a long moment. “What changed your mind?”
My gaze drifts toward the kitchen where Madden’s laughter still echoes. “I heard his heartbeat.”
A tear slips down my cheek. “I felt every kick. Every little movement was like he was talking to me, telling me he was there. He loved me before he ever took his first breath.”
I press a trembling hand to my chest. “And somewhere along the way, even while I was trying not to... I fell hopelessly in love with him too.”
I blink away more tears. “So I canceled the adoption. I decided to raise him in Italy.”
“Away from his father,” Nico says quietly.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment before forcing myself to answer.
“Yes.”
He slowly lowers himself onto his knees in front of me. “Why?”
His voice isn’t angry anymore.
It’s broken.
I hold his gaze. “Because he’s your heir. You would’ve wanted him to inherit your throne.”
Tears stream freely now. “I know what this life does to innocent people, Nico. I’ve lived it.”
His hands cradle my face with surprising gentleness. “We have an army at our disposal, Serenity.”
A hollow laugh escapes me. “So did my father.”
My voice cracks. “They tore through his men like they were fucking bowling pins.”
The memory steals the air from my lungs. “They still got to my family.”
Without another word, Nico sits beside me and pulls me into his arms.
I don’t fight him.
His embrace is warm.
Steady.
Safe.
He rests his cheek against my hair.
“We’re different,” he murmurs.
His arms tighten around me. “We’re stronger.”
He tilts my chin until I’m forced to look into his eyes. “Serenity, I need you to believe in us. We’re a different couple. We’ll protect our family together.”
I fiddle with the hem of his t-shirt. “My trauma fights to take control every day. You didn’t live through what I did. That’s why I made sure I always took my birth control pills. Then they just failed. When the doctor told me I was pregnant, I was in denial. I told her there was no way.”
Madden strolls into the living room, angry bear gripped tight in one hand.
I scurry out of Nico’s lap. He pulls me close to him again. Madden climbs into Nico’s lap.
Why is Madden taking to Nico so well?
Madden curls his arms around his neck. “I miss you, Angry Bear.”
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.