“I understand.” She smiled at me and glanced at the television. “Listen, you should get going soon.”
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to babble on.”
“No, no. It’s just that the show is almost over. The monsters will be released.”
I laughed. I loved the way she talked about her kids, with such loving honesty. She called them monsters, but I could tell that she was a great mother, loving and kind and patient.
“I don’t mind,” I said.
“No. No need to subject you to that.” She stood up. “We’ll get together again soon. I want to meet your son.”
I stood. “Okay. I’d like that.”
She walked me to the door. Once there, she opened it. “Listen, Kaley,” she said softly. “Maybe you don’t believe it, but you have an ally in me. I think us women should stick together.”
I blinked at her, surprised. “I’m a stranger.”
“Yes, you are. But you’re a mother in need, and I’ll always help a mother in need.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded. “I don’t have much power, but I’ll do whatever I can for you.” She paused and then smiled. “And so will Lou, though she may not seem it. She’s more of a feminist than I am.”
I laughed. “That’s a surprise.”
“Come by again soon. Anytime, really.”
“Okay. Thanks, Nat.”
I turned and left the room. She shut the door behind me carefully.
I walked back to my room in a curious daze. I had just spent time with one of the most powerful women in the whole mob, and she seemed just like an ordinary woman. And more than that, she had pledged to help me however she could.
I didn’t know if I could trust her, but every instinct in me said that I should. I was so afraid to make the wrong move and get kicked out, but Nat had seemed totally sincere.
I headed back to my room and to Alexei, my head a dizzying combination of uncertainty and hope.
16
Vince
The only thing on my mind was war.
I should have probably been more attentive to Kaley, but I couldn’t be. I had to prepare my crew for war, get everyone geared up, and finish this Chinese deal.
The threat of violence was hanging over everything.
And truthfully, I didn’t fear it. Really, I welcomed it. I wanted to crack some fucking Russian skulls, break some kneecaps, kill some of those fucking scumbags that would go to war over something so fucking petty.
I didn’t see her for the rest of the night or at all the next morning. My mind was firmly stuck on the crew as we moved around the city, preparing safe houses, giving instructions to the foot soldiers, basically rallying the fucking troops.
Spirits were high, but they always were before the first bullets flew. I needed to make sure we didn’t crumble as soon as the real shit hit the fan.
Rafa was driving as we cruised through my territory on our way to speak to some local businesses about what was coming, just in case something happened on their turf.
My phone started to buzz in my pocket, and I pulled it out. The number was from the Barone mansion, but I didn’t recognize it.
“Hello?” I answered. “Vince here.”
“Vince, this is Doctor Ridgewood.”
I cocked my head. That was the doctor who worked full time at the mansion.
“Hi, doc. What can I do for you?”
“Well, Vince, we got your test results back.”
“Test results?”
“The paternity test.”
“Shit,” I said. I had completely forgotten that in the insanity of the war prep.
“I know it’s early,” Doctor Ridgewood said, a small laugh in her voice. She was an older woman and kind; everyone liked her.
“Well, uh, let me hear it.”
“So, Vince, with about a ninety-nine percent certainty, Alexei is your son.”
I felt like a brick dropped in my stomach.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Vince. The boy is your son.”
“Okay,” I said, dazed. “Okay. Have you told anyone yet?”
“No,” she said. “Not yet.”
“You can tell Barone and them. Let me tell Kaley.”
“Okay. Whatever you want.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Any time.”
I hung the phone up and looked at Rafa.
“I’m a daddy,” I said.
He grinned at me. “Congrats, boss.”
“Fuck. Turn the car around; we have to head back.”
“Whatever you say.”
I was a father.
Alexei really was my son.
I knew it was true. As soon as I saw her with that baby in her arms, I knew he was my son. I had never really believed she was lying, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been interested in taking her in.
Still, it was hard news to swallow. I had gone from a man who could have and take whatever I wanted to a father. There was a child out there in the world, living right down the hall from me actually, who would call me daddy and depend on me.
I had to take care of another living human being.
I had no clue what I wanted from Kaley or what she thought of me. I didn’t know if I could be a father, if I even had it inside me.