“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.”

My jaw clenches. “Lia…what the fuck did I say about pulling away from me?”

“I just saw you murder another man in cold blood, so excuse me if I don’t want you to touch me with the same hands.”

“If I didn’t kill him, he would’ve fucking killed you and Jeremy. Is that what you want?” My voice rises with every word. It’s the first time I’ve bellowed at her like this, and it doesn’t go unnoticed as unshed tears rush to her lids.

“Do you expect me to see this as normal? I didn’t even get to greet my child properly.”

“You know who I am and what I do, so don’t pretend all of this is news, Lia.”

“I’ll never get used to it if that’s what you’re insinuating.” A sob catches in her throat. “A child can’t live like this.”

“So what are you suggesting?”

A small spark lights the deep blue of her eyes. “We…we can live in another house and you can come visit if you like. We can be normal.”

Humorless laughter bursts from me, one that makes her stiffen. “They already know who you are. The moment you walk out that door, you’ll be murdered or kidnapped and raped to get to me. You’re my wife and that means you belong by my side. So don’t you ever—and I mean fucking ever—think you can get away from me.”

A knock sounds on the door, and it takes everything in me to say in a semi-normal tone, “Come in.”

Ogla walks inside with various supplies and I leave without sparing another glance at Lia. If I do, I’ll be teaching her where she actually belongs, but I can’t do that when other matters are more pressing.

I trust Ogla to take care of her, but I’ll make sure to return as soon as possible.

My blood boils with different things altogether. One, Lia’s foolish belief that she could live away from me, which means she’s been thinking about leaving me all along. Two, the sorry fucks who thought it would be a good idea to attack my wife and child.

Gun in hand, I click the earpiece. “Kolya.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Where are you?”

“Doing some pesky cleaning.”

“You got rid of them?”

“All but two.”

“Bring them to the guest house.” I’m going to enjoy torturing the answers out of those fuckers before I kill their boss. If need be, I’ll convince Sergei to start an all-out war on them. Lazlo would back me up.

“One of them talked,” Kolya says.

“Already?” I don’t hide the disappointment at Kolya ruining my fun.