Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,88
and something in my chest aches. It’s probably the pathetic boy in me whom I thought I squashed a long time ago.
My own mother never looked at me the way Lia looks at Jeremy. I only had that affection from Aunt Annika, and even she was brutally ripped out of my life.
That’s what happens to people like me. We never get anything good. It’s payback for all the shit we’ve done in our lifetime.
We remain like that for a while as the nurse cleans Lia up before covering her in a thicker duvet. Jeremy soon falls asleep, and when the nurse attempts to take him away so she can rest, Lia shakes her head.
I sit on the bed beside Lia and she stiffens when I wrap my arm around the both of them.
“What are you doing?” she whispers.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m being a part of this family.”
She purses her lips, but instead of talking back to me, she focuses on Jeremy, who has just released her breast, his tiny lips moving in his sleep.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I retrieve it, absentmindedly rejecting Kolya’s call to focus on my wife and son.
I like that. My wife and son.
Kolya calls again, and I know he wouldn’t do it twice in a row unless something’s up. I answer, “What is it?”
There’s a sound of gunshots echoing from his end. “The Rozettis are here, Boss, and they want vengeance for that kill in Lazlo’s club.”
Fuck.
I jerk up and wrap a thick blanket around Lia. She yelps, her pupils growing into saucers as she holds Jeremy closer to her.
“Which exit is safe?” I ask Kolya.
“A. Yan and Boris are on their way to you.”
“How many?”
“A fucking army, Boss. They knew this would be their perfect opportunity.”
“How many are with you?”
“Six, but I can manage until backup arrives.”
“Keep me updated.”
I shove the phone in my pocket and retrieve an earpiece that my guards use for internal communication and strap it to my ear.
After tapping it to connect to Yan, I grab my gun and tighten the blanket around a wide-eyed Lia and Jeremy, then carry them in my arms.
The nurses’ faces pale, but they know to remain quiet. It’s Lia who gasps. “What’s going on?”
“We’re under attack. I need you to hold Jeremy close, got it?”
She doesn’t need me to tell her twice as she folds around him, shielding him with her body.
“Boss!” Yan barges inside, droplets of red covering his face as he pants. “Now.”
I listen in for the safe exits on the intercom as Yan leads the way and Boris covers our back.
Lia trembles in my arms, her lips quivering and her eyes shifty. This is the last thing a woman who just gave birth should go through, and I will make the Rozettis pay for this with blood.
“Don’t worry, Lenochka.” I try to make my voice as calm as possible as we descend the stairs. “I’ll protect you.”
She doesn’t even show a reaction to hearing me as she holds Jeremy with shaking hands.
Soon after, we reach the parking lot. A few armed men intercept us and Yan shoots one. Lia shrieks, and I fire my gun while still holding her and hit another motherfucker in the chest.
Yan hurries to the car, and we hide behind another one until he brings it around. Boris covers me as I slide to the back with Lia and Jeremy cradled on my lap. Boris slams the door shut and Yan is already taking off before the other guard is properly inside.
Our attention is on high alert as we watch our backs until we get home.
Lia is shaking uncontrollably all the way in, with a steel hold on Jeremy, who surprisingly spent the entire ordeal asleep.
Ogla is at the entrance, and she doesn’t need me to say anything before she understands the situation. She’s been quick-witted ever since she worked for my parents. “I’ll get hot water and warm clothes.”
I take the stairs two at a time until I reach our bedroom. I only release a breath when I carefully place Lia and Jeremy on the bed. At least they’re safe here. I’ll take care of things outside.
My wife scrambles under the blanket and sits up against the headboard. It’s then that I notice the trail of blood on the sheets.
Fuck.
I crouch beside her, taking her small hand in mine. “Are you okay? I’ll call Dr. Putin.”
She squirms free. “I’m fine. It’s just normal bleeding from childbirth.”