Kingpin (Breeding #4)

“You two can go.” He nods to the men silently flanking me. They barely said two words since they picked me up from the hotel. It was as if they weren’t allowed to talk to me or something. Then Salvatore fixes his gaze on me. “You can come in.”

I’m not really sure I want to. I push my glasses up my nose before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, something I do when I’m nervous. I look back at the black SUV that brought me here. I really want to turn around and get back in it.

“Now,” he says, clearly not a very patient man.

I have no choice. I look back at the couple who have taken a step to the side to let me in. I cross over the threshold, and the door shuts and locks behind me. At the sound of the lock turning, I feel like my world is never going to be the same.





Chapter 2





Emma





“He can be bossy,” Thea tells me with a little huff. I want to mutter a “you don’t say,” but I keep those words tightly sealed behind my lips. “Come on. My grumpy man will make us some food while we talk.”

Salvatore wraps an arm around her. She mutters that he shouldn’t be grumpy after what they did moments ago.

“I wasn’t done with you, angel.” He leans down and nuzzles at her ear.

“You’re never done,” she laughs. I follow them, feeling out of place. My eyes travel around the entryway as I pretend not to listen to their exchange. This place is crazy beautiful. I follow them under an archway that leads down a hallway right into a freaking giant kitchen.

“I’ll never be done,” he says.

Salvatore takes her over to an island in the middle of the kitchen that has high-top chairs all around it. He helps her up into one, then kisses her. He goes over to the refrigerator and starts pulling things out.

“Come sit.” Thea motions to the chair next to her. I walk over, taking my bag off my shoulder and pulling out the folder inside before I take my seat. I glance around the kitchen. It looks like it’s out of a movie or something.

“I know it’s big, but you get used to it.” She waves her hand like it’s no big deal.

I don’t think I’ll get used to any of this. I’m actually a little scared to touch anything in fear I might break it, so I change the subject.

“Your file didn’t have much in it,” I tell her as I flip it open.

“Yeah, Salvatore didn’t like the idea of things about me floating around out there.” She slides another folder over to me that was sitting on the counter next to her. I flip it open and read through it.

“Everything looks great. It wouldn’t hurt to gain a few more pounds, but everything’s on track according to these charts from your doctor. With you just now heading into your third trimester, do you think it’s a little early to have a live-in nurse when you’re not having any complications?” I ask. I normally don’t come until a few weeks before.

When she doesn’t say anything, I look up from the folder and see her eyes watering.

“Angel.” Salvatore rushes over toward her, but she waves him off.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. I promise.” He places a kiss where a tear ran down her cheek.

“Everything will be fine,” he tells her, kissing her on top of her head before reluctantly going back to cooking.

“Stupid hormones,” she says.

I reach out and touch her knee. “Thea, something is bothering you. If you don’t tell me, I can’t help.” I know I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have pushed the it’s too early for me to be here card in hopes I’d get placed in another house before it was time for them to need me. But seeing anyone hurt breaks my heart.

“It’s just I’m scared. I don’t know anything about babies, and I want to be a perfect mom to my little boy. I read and reread so many books, but still I’m worried.” Her shoulders slump a little at the admission.

“When your baby is placed in your arms, you’ll know what to do,” I tell her, because it’s the truth. It’s human nature.

“See, angel, I told you. I’ll be there every step of the way with you.”

Even knowing he’s a mobster and only having just met him, I know he’s not lying. This man would clearly do anything for her.

“I thought maybe we could do other stuff, though. I know you know all about what I should be eating. We could meal plan, maybe do baby workouts. Help me figure out if I have what I need for the baby’s room.” Her face lights up.

“I can do these things,” Salvatore says, cutting in.

“I want her here when the baby comes for sure, though, and it would be better if we all got used to each other.”

I study her, and for some reason I feel like she doesn’t have any female friends in her life. Not that I do, either, but still. I have a feeling that’s why she’s worried. She has no one to go to if she needs to ask questions.

“Does her being here make you feel at ease? I know stress is not good for the baby,” Salvatore asks his wife.

She nods. “Then she stays,” he says simply, going back to cooking. I sit there, not sure what to say.

“Maybe we should do a more formal interview. Ask me about myself and make sure you think we will be a good fit.”

“Your grandfather raised you in a small town outside the city after your parents took off when you were five. They were never to be seen or heard from again, and they won’t be. Your grandfather passed soon after you entered college, leaving you with no family. Nor have you shown any romantic links to anyone. Ever. You graduated early from high school by taking summer school and getting all your credits done. You received a full scholarship into the accelerated nursing program that let you, once again, graduate in three years, which you did at the top of your class. You fit,” Salvatore says with his back to me. He’s at the stove, his back to me, and I just sit there, shocked. I guess he doesn’t need to get to know me. He already knows everything about me.

“Salvatore Castello!” Thea yells, making him turn from the stove to look at her. “Did you just inform this woman her parents are dead like it was nothing?” Her face is turning red. The man actually looks a little scared at his wife’s anger.

“Don’t upset yourself. The baby, angel.”

She glares at him. “Don’t use the baby to try to get out of this.” She narrows her eyes more.

“It’s fine. It’s fine,” I say, cutting in. I was glad when my parents left me at my grandfather’s. They were a mess. My grandfather’s house wasn’t great, but I lived in peace without weird people coming and going. “I figured as much. It doesn’t really feel like news. I’m more offended by him knowing so much about me,” I admit.

The anger fades from Thea’s face. “I know it’s…” She waves her hands in the air like she can’t think of the words. “Weird or whatever. I’m not going to lie to you, Emma. I’d be upset if Salvatore didn’t know all this stuff about you. We live in this house for a reason. It’s safe. We have to make sure anyone who enters these walls isn’t a threat. I mean, you’re going to be helping me care for the most precious thing in the whole world to us. Tell me, even if you didn’t live our life, if you had the means to do so, you wouldn’t do the same?”