Chapter 4

four

Sergi – Twenty-Nine Years Old

I'm in the pool with Mila, Damian and Sofia's beautiful little girl. Her dark hair is in pigtails, and she's laughing as her bright blue eyes sparkle. She splashes water in my face, and I grin, before I pick her up and throw her up in the air, and catch her as her head goes under the water. I quickly lift her up again, making her giggle some more. I love this girl fiercely. Finding out that Sofia had Damian's kid after she left him on their wedding day was a shock, to say the least. Damian was an idiot back then, and it took a whole lot of groveling to get his woman back. Sofia is one of my closest friends and having her back has been awesome. We're all currently at Damian and Sofia's, celebrating Mila's third birthday, two months after her actual birthday. It was Damian's idea. He's making up for lost time. They're now pregnant with their second child, a little boy, due any day now. I smile wide, just thinking of the boy due to enter this world. I'm a lucky fucker to get to call these people my family. Don't get me wrong. I miss my mama, every day, but she left me in the care of the Volkovs, who have been amazing to me.

Mila splashes me again and I chuckle while I hold her up in my arms. "What's up, sweet girl?"

She frowns and points toward Al, who's on the phone.

"He doesn't look happy, dyadya Sergi. Is dyadya Al, okay?" I look at him and see he's frowning, his body tense. My brows furrow in confusion. He looks my way and I tilt my head to the side. He shakes his head, and I give Mila my full attention.

"He's okay sweetheart, what do you say we get out and get some food?" She nods frantically, making me chuckle. I help her out of the pool, putting her hooded towel over her, then wiping my body down, before putting my shirt on.

Just as I get Mila a hot dog, I hear Sofia wolf whistle and look over. She's bent down, clutching her stomach while Damian looks like he's ready to pass out. I smile wide. Looks like the baby couldn't wait any longer. Al runs over to her while I stay with the munchkin.

After that, it was full on as the grandmothers took charge while I stayed with Mila. She's now in my arms, clinging to my neck, with Dimitri and Stefano standing next to us. Dimitri looks at me with a proud look on his face while Stefano looks as pale as Damian did. I chuckle. We didn't get to enjoy Mila's birth, but we can with this one,

I look at Mila. "Come on, sweet girl, let's go finish our food and hopefully soon, you'll have a baby brother." She squeals out a ‘yes', making us men chuckle at her.

Just as I sit her down in her booster chair, my phone rings from on top of the table, and I pick it up.

Unknown.

I scowl, knowing its Juan, my biological father. He's been persistent the past few weeks. Phoebe said he just wants to talk, after she accidentally let slip that my mama passed away when I was fourteen, but fuck that. I understand how close she is with him after her father sent her to live with our grandmother Athena, but it doesn't mean I need to be. I press cancel and put my phone on silent, placing it back on the table. I look up to see Dimitri frowning at me with concern, but I shake my head. He tilts his in understanding; he's not a big fan of Juan's, since my mother told him who my father was. I sit next to Mila, and we wait.

An hour later, a very happy Maria and Victoria come out with big grins on their faces.

"We have a bouncing baby boy," Maria announces.

We all cheer and I look at Mila who has tears in her eyes. I whisper, "Want to meet your brother, sweet girl?" She nods slightly, and we head to Damian and Sofia's bedroom.

Once we knock and go in, we see two proud parents and I grin, putting Mila down so she can go to her family. I go over and kiss Sofia's head. "Proud of you, sestra ." Tears fill her eyes, and she smiles wide at me, and I hug Damian tight. After everyone says their congratulations, we all leave the new family together and head back to the garden. I frown when I notice Alexandr staring off into the distance near the gazebo. He just helped deliver his nephew; he should be gloating right now. I walk up to him and stand quietly, waiting for him to speak.

"Did you know?"

I frown at his sneer. "Know what?" I ask, confused.

He turns to look at me. "That Phoebe was planning to do a runner."

Now it's my turn to frown. "No, she's not. She's happy, the happiest I've seen her, she wouldn't leave you Al, she loves you so much. So if you don't stop screwing around with Selene and Mindy, I'm going to fucking gut you."

He chuckles darkly, ignoring my threat. "Yeah, loves me so much that she's gone without a trace."

I look him in the eyes, his are full of heartbreak. Fuck, he's telling the truth. She left. Anger vibrates through me, and I want nothing more than to punch his fucking face in, but because I love him like a brother, I turn and kick the gazebo. I breathe heavily as I place my hands on my hips. My blood family, my best friend, gone.

"Sergi?" Al speaks quietly, but I shake my head and turn to walk out the garden.

"Sergi!" Al shouts.

But I ignore him. She left, she didn't contact me, me , her cousin, who's been there for her for years. I know there's only one reason she'd up and leave, even if he wants to act like he has no idea. She found out about him and Selene. If I don't fucking leave, I'm going to kill him. I told him to stop fucking around on her, he said its only until they get married, she won't find out, but he fucking lied. He's run off my best friend, my family. I shake my head and get into my dark blue Chevrolet Corvette and spin out of the driveway. I see Al and his dad standing where my car was, watching me leave. I'll never forgive myself if I hurt him.

I drive around for a few hours before I find myself near the office, Volkov & Co, where we all work and deal with magazine and social media outlets. It's one of our legitimate businesses, unlike the strip club where we counterfeit money.

Damian's the CEO, Al works in financing and is our CFO, and I was promoted to COO after I became Damian's second. Becoming a Made Man was difficult, the tasks I had to complete were gruesome, full of torture and blood, but after losing Mama I needed an outlet, to feel somewhere where I belonged.

I pull up outside the Brew Box just down the road from the office, fed up with driving. I have a scowl permanently on my face, fucking pissed at Phoebe for leaving without even contacting me. I head inside. There's barely anyone in here, but it is about seven in the evening.

I head to the counter where I feel like I've been struck by lightning, making me stop in my tracks.

Behind the counter is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She can't be much older than twenty-three. Black hair that'd so dark it looks blue under the lights. It's in a knot on the top of her head, like she hasn't a care in the world. Her body is slim but with the right number of curves that make my mouth water. She has perky tits that are just more than a handful, her brown, long sleeved work top barely able to hide them. Her name tag says "Avery", and when she looks up, and our eyes connect…. Damn, her eyes are so beautiful and full of innocence. They're violet with a hint of blue. I know. I know in my gut, she's mine. She's bound for me.