Chapter 23

twenty-three

Sergi – Five Weeks Later

I sigh, and crack my neck, then rub my eyes. I fucking hate being on a computer all day. I turn my head and stare at the photos on my desk. One is of Avery and me, were lying in bed, and her head is against my naked chest. She's wearing my shirt, and my arm is stretched out to take the picture, while the other one is in her long, black hair. Her hair looks blue in the photo, though. My hair is a mess from when her fingers were in it, unlike how it is usually. We're both smiling. I run my hands through my own hair now; I haven't slicked it back in a while, and it's getting longer. My face is clean shaven in the photo, unlike now. I sigh, then I look at the ultrasound images of our babies.

Fuck, I miss my girl. I went to the last appointment, ensuring I brought her a smoothie in the same cup she had. It was girlie, pink with purple flowers, and had her name on it. I'd noticed the one she had last time but forgot and left behind on her seat when she was called back. I grabbed it on the way out, and when I gave it to her, she burst into tears. I didn't realize the cup was something her adoptive father gave her. I didn't mean for it to happen, but it did give me some brownie points.

I drop into the Brew Box every time I know she's working, and she now smiles when she sees me again, so progress. I also pick her up from school, much to her dismay. After a week, I noticed she started to walk, something about saving on gas, and I was not having that. She grumbles every time she sees me, but its fucking perfect because she doesn't fight me on it. She knows I won't let anything happen to them. She's now twenty-one weeks pregnant, and she looks radiant.

I look at the other picture, one of Avery standing behind the counter at work. She doesn't know I took it last week. She's looking down, smiling, her hand on her now bigger bump, which shows nicely under her brown work shirt. I smile to myself, today I'm snagging a ticket from her for her graduation; I know Phoebe wants to go, so I'll try to convince her about that one, too. Either she gives me one or I'll get one myself. I think my cousin's mind is set the same, too, and with her now pregnant as well, Al will do anything to keep those hormones in check, including going behind Averys back. I shake my head; despite carrying twins, Avery hasn't shown any hormonal "issues."

I'm brought out of my thoughts when my office door opens. Phoebe and Juan walk in, and I sigh. I promised him a meeting, it may be a few months late, but a deal was made, and I have to keep my end of the bargain, even though I'd rather have someone slice my skin open. Phoebe's here as a mediator because she knows I'll most likely fly off the handle.

Juan takes a seat on one of the black chairs I have in front of my desk, while Phoebe comes round and kisses my cheek. I give her a small smile as she walks around my desk and takes the other seat next to Juan.

She speaks first, "How's Avery?" I see Juan tense, and I give Phoebe a shrug.

"She's letting me pick her up from school, doesn't get mad when I show up to her work, and so far, hasn't moved out of her apartment, so…."

Phoebe nods and I see Juan smile. I furrow my brow at him, and he sighs, running his hand through his blond hair.

"I went to see her five weeks ago," he admits, shocking the shit out of me.

Phoebe turns to him as my body shakes with rage.

He raises his hands in a gesture of innocence, then offers a sad smile. "I fucked up and I had to make it right. She didn't throw me out, she actually mumbled something about Sergi's people showing up at her work, her nose scrunched up—it was funny."

I furrow my brows; she must have been talking about that bitch Mindy. Al and I have tried to find the cunt, but she's gone off grid. I don't have a good feeling about her, something in my gut is screaming she's going to cause trouble.

Phoebe speaks up, bringing me out of my thoughts, "What did she say?"

Juan smiles, and shakes his head. "I'm there apologizing for my behavior, hoping to convince her to let the family meet the children when they're born, and…she only had your interest at heart, Sergi."

I lean back as a lump forms in my throat. "What do you mean?" I rasp and he smiles.

"Her words were along the lines of me missing twenty-nine years of your life, and how she knows the hurt and pain of losing a parent because she lost three. I'm guessing her birth mother wasn't a good one; she mentioned how the last two were her whole world, and how you know that loss, that you have the Volkovs. Her exact words were, ‘he loves them dearly, but there was always a hole in his heart where his father should have been. He's going to keep pushing you away, you can try and tell him you spoke to me to help clear the air and it may give a little bit of an in, but you need to show him his attitude won't push you away. You fight back harder to be in his life'. Then she went on to say I had to reassure you that Valerie won't try to replace your mama or Maria, who took you in. I tell you, son, she was absolutely amazing. I tried to convince her to give us all another shot, and she was there helping me with you. And before I left, and this is how I knew I made the right decision to see her, she told me I was having a grandson and granddaughter."

I smile. I haven't told anyone the genders yet, but I'm proud as fuck that Avery told Juan. It tells me she wants him in the children's lives.

Phoebe lets out a sob, and I roll my lips together, biting it to stop my laughter. Hormones.

Juan shakes his head then looks at me. "My wife was and still is my everything. She couldn't have children, we argued a lot at that time, and I started drinking. I met your mother, and we slept together a couple of times. When I realized how badly I fucked up, I told my wife about the affair, and she forgave me. It took time, but we moved on." He smiles a little, and I sit back again and continue to listen to him. "Your mother, she didn't know I was married. I just disappeared. A few months later, she found me to tell me she was pregnant. I knew the baby was mine, but…." He shakes his head. "I panicked. I knew my wife couldn't have children; I knew this would kill her…so I denied paternity. I told your mother I was married, and I was a Don, and she understood. She walked away; she didn't want you a part of this life. Her father was Bratva, and I knew she didn't want this life for you. So, she didn't try to convince me to be a father to you. And I felt relieved, relieved because it meant my wife wouldn't find out. I kept an eye on you for years, but I stopped when you started meeting up with Phoebe. I knew you'd be okay, and I couldn't deal with the grief and guilt of not being there for you. When Phoebe FaceTimed me and my wife saw you in the background, she flipped. She knew you were mine, and when she realized I denied paternity because of her…." He takes a deep breath.

I finish for him, "She felt like you kept her child from her."

He nods. "Yes, but I also had to remind her that you had a mother, a mother who loved you more than life itself. I didn't want her to fight for custody, its why I never told her; I wouldn't do that to your mother. I just didn't know she'd passed when you were a teenager, I wasn't aware you were a Made Man until Phoebe let it slip when she was living with my mother. Its why I told her I was your father, so you had family around you. I knew I couldn't just show up in your life after so many years, so I sat back and watched you, all while my wife was breathing down my neck to bring you home. I had to sleep on the sofa for months because I made a stupid comment about you already being at home with the Volkovs. And, much as I hate it, they're your family. They brought you up, and they were there for you when I wasn't."

He stands and I just watch him. "I've said my piece, and I know you'll need time, so I'll leave you with Phoebe. I just hope you want to know me, to ask the questions you may have." He gives me a sad smile, and leaves while I sit here stumped.

I look at Phoebe, and she says, "I know you don't want to hear it, but he is a good man, well as good as a Don can be, anyway. I think you should try to get to know him."

I sigh and get up. I open my office door to see him waiting for the elevator.

I say, "Juan." He turns in surprise. "Maybe we can have dinner next weekend?" He smiles wide and nods, but I say, "Just you and me." No Valerie. Not yet.

He nods again. "Okay, I'll make sure Valerie understands."

I nod, and he gets in the elevator. When the doors close, I turn to see Phoebe smiling at me, and I chuckle.

"So, about Avery."

Ah, shit. I know she wants to see her, but Avery isn't ready; she barely tolerates me, and I'm the love of her life. I know she still loves me because I see the hurt and pain every time she looks at me.

I'm saved from answering her when Damian comes out of his office.

He smirks. "Fancy questioning some Romanian scum down in the basement to see who's now in charge?"

I grin wickedly. I check my watch; I still have three hours until I have to get Avery.

"Let me shut everything down. I have to pick Avs up later, so I'll leave right after I take out some frustration."

Damian chuckles while Phoebe shakes her head.

"On that note, I'll leave you men to it. Since becoming pregnant, blood makes me nauseous." We chuckle again, and she kisses our cheeks, then leaves, completely forgetting what she wanted to talk to me about—thank you Damian.

Damian and I head to the basement, where a medium built man with a black man bun is tied to a chair in his underwear. I smirk while Damian chuckles. I lean against the wall with Damian next to me, doing the same, and we watch Al doing his thing.

Dimitri walks over to us and leans next to us, he clears his throat, and I begrudgingly take my eyes off Al, who is slowly slicing off the guy's pinkie finger. The tape over his mouth is muffling his screams.

"How's Avery?" he asks quietly. Damian tenses next to me, knowing this is one subject I don't like to talk about, especially with all the shit he's said and done against Avery.

I shrug. "She's okay." That's all I'm willing to give.

He sighs. "We are sorry, son. We were just worried about you, that's all, then she runs from you and all we see is your hurt, pain, and anger. We blamed her."

I nod; I know he loves me, Maria too, but Avery is my everything. He should have come to me with his concerns, not attempt to sort it himself.

I murmur, "I just need time."

He nods and pats my shoulder, then watches Al, who has moved from the guy's pinkie, and is now slicing his ear off.

I chuckle, then push myself from the wall and walk over to them. Al stands back, smirking, while the guy's eyes find mine and he pales. Good. He knows who I am and that he should be scared.

I pull the tape off of his mouth and smile. "What's your name?" I inquire in a cold voice.

He stutters, pain lacing his voice, "A-Adam."

I grunt, then state, "Well, Adam, my friend here got a little carried away. All we want to know is who has taken over as Don. You tell us the truth and we let you go, you lie and, well, what he's doing to you will be child's play compared to what I can do." He pisses himself. I hear the other three chuckle, but I don't change my expression. I wait.

"V-Vasiliki Gheada. He w-was Mihai's nephew o-on his m-mothers side."

I smile when he finally gets his words out, and I ask politely, "And where can we find him?"

He trembles, his eyes trying to stay focused, ready to pass out, but just before he does, he says, "Fordham, in t-the East Bay Apartments. S-second floor."

I stand up, pull my gun from its shoulder holster, and shoot him in the forehead. It's a kinder death for him; I was never going to let him go. His job was to scout underage kids, so can't have him back on the streets.

I turn, and all three men are smiling.

Damian says, "Good job, Serg. He refused to talk to Al. Dad's just got a confirmation text from upstairs. The guy was telling the truth. We'll monitor Gheada for a few weeks, keep intercepting his product, then we'll strike. Let him think we still have no idea."

I smile and nod. "Right. I'm going to shower, then I've got to go."

An hour later, I'm leaning against my car, waiting for my girl. Everyone looks at me, but I ignore them. I check my watch again; she's a little late coming out. I feel someone standing beside me, and I glance over to see that Melanie chick glaring at me. Huh, that's knew.

She sticks her finger in my face and sneers, "You hurt her again, and I'll be your biggest fucking nightmare." Then she turns and walks away, leaving me with my mouth hanging open. Since when does she stick up for someone other than herself?

I hear a small giggle and turn to see Avery standing there. She's biting her lip, trying to keep her laughter in but failing. Her hair is down today, her makeup is minimal like always, and she's showing off her bump in a tank top and jeans. She's wearing a jacket over her top, probably to hide her scars. She looks radiant.

I raise a brow at her. "You two besties now?"

She smiles and says, "Actually, kind of. She's been a good friend. Turns out we have a lot in common."

I smirk and push myself off of my car to grab her bag. "I'll believe that when I see it, dragotsennyy ."

I lean forward and kiss her forehead, then open the door for her. She smiles at me and gets in. Once I'm in and I've started the car, I look at her to find her already watching me. I tilt my head and wait, knowing she wants to ask me something.

She sighs a little and asks quietly, "Could we maybe stop at the pizzeria on the way to my apartment?"

I give her smile. "What are you craving this time, baby?"

She smirks at me, and I know I'm about to cringe. "Pepperoni, cheese, and pineapple—all on the same pizza." I gag and she laughs aloud.

Shaking my head, I put the car into gear, and pull out onto the road.

"Baby, that's just…no." She laughs louder, making me smile. Fuck, I missed that sound. Glad to have a bit more time with her, I sigh and say, "What my girl wants, my girls gets, even if it is fucking disgusting." She giggles and it has to be the most beautiful sound in the world. I'm feeling even better when I realize she didn't correct me on the "my girl" stuff.