Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
NICO
When my son looked up and yelled out, “Angry bear.” My heart cracked open. And a love I didn’t know existed exploded.
He ran across the room to me.
His father.
I crouched down and stared into his eyes.
Sure, I’d spent time with Madden over the years, and he’d known me as Angry Bear but that moment was different.
It was like I was seeing him for the first time.
He’s a living, breathing little boy who’s eyes mirror mine.
He also has my expressions and my mannerisms.
I take his bear from him to tame my emotions. This little boy should’ve lived under my roof for the past four years. He should’ve known me as daddy.
Due to the circumstances of my actions, I understand he couldn’t live under my roof because I was at war.
The one woman I love and hold dear to my heart betrayed me.
She denied me fatherhood. She robbed me of his first steps.
His first words. Birthdays. His nightmares, scraped knees.
Bedtime stories. She robbed me of so much more.
Luckily, I’d had access to him. I was able to enjoy some of those moments.
I don’t know how I’ll ever forgive her for what she’s done.
I’d envisioned over the years how she’d look when I met my son.
She had looked apologetic, like she does now.
The initial shock on her face, I wasn’t prepared for.
Serenity knows she’s wrong. She told her grandmother Madden was another man’s child all because she didn’t want him in the mafia underworld.
I see she’s scared, and I also see the pain.
And relief. She’s hid this secret for five years.
I’m so angry with my wife. How could she of all people do this to me?
I also understand why she did what she did. To keep him safe from her enemies. Our enemies. Even the actions of putting Madden up for adoption was all to protect him. I’m thankful she didn’t go through with the adoption.
Her trauma wouldn’t let her see that we were supposed to be a family from the moment she found out she was pregnant.
From the day he was born until now brings joy to my heart. My son is here. Despite how much I hate her right now, I love that she gave me what I always wanted.
A child.
My son.
I admit telling her I switched out her birth control brought a new level of satisfaction. The look of surprise on her face that I betrayed her was worth it. Now she knows the lengths I’d gone through so she’d have my child.
I let her step away to process what I said.
When I heard chatter in the kitchen, I went to see what was going on.
Her enemies found us. I’m sure they still don’t know about Madden.
They came for Serenity. While we were on our honeymoon, my men were destroying Aleksandr’s businesses.
So I’d imagine he’s pretty pissed. Now he’s come to us.
After almost dying, I don’t look forward to running into another gunfight. But to protect my family, I’ll do whatever it takes.
Serenity and I are upset with each other. We have to put our feelings aside to get back to our son.
My wife thought she’d just go over to her house to visit with our son and continue to hide him from me.
Not a fucking chance. She could’ve asked me to ride with her and drop the five-year secret bombshell on me.
I wouldn’t have insisted on moving him from her house at this time.
Keeping Madden safe is most important to me.
I’m thankful Serenity’s grandmother, Fia helped me see Madden. He’s mine as much as he is Serenity’s.
Once Madden could talk, I named his favorite teddy bear Angry Bear. And I was also Angry Bear. That way Serenity wouldn’t know Madden knew about me. The name angry bear fits. I was and am angry with my wife. I knew once he saw me he’d eventually address me as Angry Bear.
His nanny hadn’t seen me. I’d only come over when it was just Fia, her bodyguards, and Madden.
We walk upstairs and through the roof hatch as the helicopter comes into view. Serenity peeks over the edge to assess the carnage. With our ties to the police, we’ll be able to keep them from asking questions.
“Let’s go Serenity,” I order over the hum of the helicopter rotor blades.
Our bodyguards stand at the four corners on the flat rooftop with AR-15s in hand.
Their pensive gazes monitor the area for potential threats.
Serenity ducks as she steps onto the helicopter.
She slips the headphones over her ears and looks straight ahead.
I reach over and buckle her seatbelt. She never looks at me, but I can see the love in her eyes she’s pushing down.
Angel and Kicks sit across from me and Serenity.
My cousins, Catch and Ritchie, sit in the cockpit. Our situation is an all-hands-on-deck kind of thing.
I buckle and pull on the headphones. My eyes move around the helicopter.
Angel, Kicks, and Serenity check their Glock magazines. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“After the war is over, we need to talk about restructuring our security team. We don’t need your bodyguards any longer,” I grit out.
I say it to get under Serenity’s skin.
Their stone-cold eyes meet mine. They want to voice their opinions. Tell me how they kept my son safe. Kicks and Angel choose to stay out of me and Serenity’s fight.
“There’s no need for restructuring. My team will return with me to my house,” Serenity says.
I chuckle. “You’re staying in our home.”
“I was stressed for five years because I kept Madden from you. I still feel terrible about that. But you got me pregnant knowing I didn’t want children,” she bites out.
“You stole my choice, Nico. I can’t wrap my mind around you switching out my birth control pills for sugar pills. ” She shakes her head.
Catch chuckles as he takes us higher.
Ritchie mutters, “I told him that shit was a bad idea. Just like it was for you, Catch.”
“So what,” Catch grits out. “Bombshell came around eventually.”
I ignore my cousins.
“Unfucking believable. Your family was in on this.” She shakes her head.
There’s a beat of silence.
“I understand we’re in an arranged marriage. We’ll raise Madden together.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “And the baby I’m probably carrying.”
Her cold, gray eyes land on me. “You and I are no more.”
“You won’t move out of our family home. You’ll sleep in the same bed as me. And you’ll get pregnant with our other two children.”
She sits back, staring straight ahead. “Only by artificial insemination,” she adds.
“You’re out of your fucking mind,” I roar.
“Shit, we’ve got company,” Catch says over the headphones.
I unbuckle and grab an AR-15 from the steel weapons box on the left. “Catch how many?” I ask.
“Two,” he yells.
Time for fucking battle.
Serenity’s bodyguards jump into action, ready to help. Serenity starts to unbuckle.
“No, stay seated,” I order.
She scowls at me.
“Kick’s you handle the other side.”
I throw the door open and hang onto the handle hanging from the ceiling. I feel Serenity’s worried eyes on me.
Yes, she hates me for what I did, but she still loves me too. I know, confusing.
“Catch get us over the ocean,” I tell him.
“On it,” he says.
The warm air whips through my hair as I aim my weapon at one of the two helicopters. We’re over a road. I’d like to prevent innocent casualties.
Curling my finger around the trigger, I squeeze. I see Kicks in my periphery do the same. The pilot flies straight up in the air. The second helicopter has missiles.
Before I can tell Catch anything, he flies to the left.
“Guys, get back inside. I need to shake this bastard,” Catch growls.
Having a military sniper and pilot on hand is valuable. Conveniently, he stores a military helicopter in one of his warehouses.
Kicks and I slam the helicopter doors shut before hurrying back to our seats. We buckle in just as the rotors roar louder overhead.
Catch banks hard to the left.
Then, to the right.
Without warning, the helicopter drops several feet.
“Shit!” Serenity squeals.
I take her hand.
She latches onto mine so tightly my fingers ache.
She’s shaking.
Not the slight tremble of nerves.
Full-body fear.
I tighten my grip, silently promising I won’t let go.
The helicopter bucks again as Catch fights the controls, the metal frame groaning around us. Every dip sends my stomach into my throat.
No one speaks.
The only sounds are the deafening blades overhead, the strained engine, and our uneven breathing.
None of us knows if we’ll survive this flight.
I notice Catch approaching the ocean.
“Nico, Kicks, now,” Catch shouts.
Kicks and I scurry into position. The second we have a good angle, we fire. Kicks manages to hit the first one, and I land an array of bullets on the second helicopter.
Their men fire back and barely miss our helicopter. I feel something gripping my ankle. I look down and my eyes widen.
“Serenity,” I say. Shock in my voice.
“Kill them,” she says as she slides the strap over my foot.
I’m thankful she secured my foot and keeps hanging on because my cousin is flying like this is a toy helicopter. I get why he does it. To keep us from getting hit.
“Serenity, get back in your seat and buckle. I can’t have you falling out the door.”
She grabs onto the net hanging along the wall, sits in her seat, and secures her seatbelt.