27. Katerina

“Katerina,” Nate says enthusiastically when he sees me.

I crouch down as soon as I’m in front of him and he doesn’t hesitate to hug me back.

“Hey, sweetie. How was school today?” I question.

“It was great. We got to blow up an apple,” he informs me.

My eyebrow arches and I look up at his aunt.

“Science project,” Mikayla explains with a grin. “He also got in trouble for blowing up the apple. Why don’t you tell your mom about that?”

“Oh yeah,” my son mutters. “Daniel and I got yelled at by our teacher because we shouldn’t have been playing around with chemicals in the first place.”

“How did you even know what to do to get it to blow up?”

“Daniel’s really smart. He’s going to be an astronaut one day,” he says grinning.

“And what do you want to be, sweetie?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll think about it when I’m older.”

It suddenly hits me that owing to the fact that he’s my son, Nate’s next in line to become Don. It’s a troubling thought, because I fought hard to ensure he wasn’t brought up in the outfit and I’m not able to re-introduce him to it. His father might not have a problem with my being in the mafia but I have a problem with it. It’s dangerous and I want more than anything to protect them.

“You can be anything you want, Nate,” I tell him. “But you shouldn’t be breaking the rules at school.”

“It was worth it though.”

I smile, running a hand through his dark hair. “Sweetie, it doesn’t matter if something’s worth it or not if it’s a bad thing.”

He nods, expression thoughtful. “Next time we’ll ask for permission before doing a science project.”

“How about you not do any at all until you’re older? I don’t want you getting hurt.”

He wrinkles his nose. “I’m not a baby, I’ll be fine.”

Something pangs in my chest. He really isn’t a baby anymore. He’s a young boy, a willful stubborn one like his dad and I guess me as well.

“Okay, sweetie. Why don’t you go tell your dad about your day?”

He immediately heads for his father who is still standing at the foot of the stairs. Xander grins before picking him up and I watch them for a couple of seconds feeling my heart grow.

“You’re pretty good at being a mom,” Mikayla says and I turn to her in surprise.

I completely forgot she was still here.

“Hi, Mikayla. Thanks for picking him up,” I tell her.

“It’s fine. I love hanging out with him. But I don’t want to talk about Nate right now. I see my brother’s finally taken my advice,” the dark haired woman says with a mischievous smile.

I blink. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re together, right? Please tell me you’re together,” she implores.

“Oh. Yes, we’re together,” I say carefully.

The words feel a little fragile. Maybe because I’m afraid to break this newfound bubble of happiness and contentment.

Mikalya lets out a breath of relief. “Oh thank God. I was worried for a while there that you wouldn’t find your way back to one another. Honestly, the two of you should be thanking me.”

I smirk, “Oh really?”

“Yes. If I hadn’t meddled then that big doofus would have never realized his undying love for you. You’re welcome.”

I laugh. She reminds me of her brother with the sass and the unwavering confidence.

“For what it’s worth, thank you, Mikayla. For being accepting and supportive,” I state. As far as I know she’s the only person in Xander’s face on my side.

“I’m just trying to make sure my elder brother is happy. And my mom also asked me to tell you that she supports you as well. She always used to tell me how much she regrets not standing up for you at that dinner many years ago. Maybe if she had none of this would have happened.”

“She sounds like a wonderful woman,” I say.

“She’s the best. My rock. Anyway, enough of all the sappiness,” she states and I have to roll my eyes at how similar that is to what Xander said earlier.

Siblings, I think, shaking my head.

“You and I need to plan a girl’s day,” Mikayla says. “We can go to the spa and then shopping. It’ll be great.”

I smile. “I would love to.”

“Think about all the embarrassing stories I have of Xander. I’ll tell you everything.”

I feel his presence at my back before he places a hand on my hip. “You’ll do no such thing,” Xander states.

Mikayla sticks her tongue out at him, “Try and stop me, Xan.”

I laugh at the way Xander’s expression darkens. “Let’s just get started on dinner,” he says resigned. “You’re helping, Kay.”

His sister shakes her head. “No, I’m going upstairs to play with the kid. Call me when it’s ready.”

She blows us a kiss before heading up the stairs. I laugh softly under my breath.

“I swear she’s an absolute menace,” he mutters.

“She’s amazing,” I counter. “Come on, I’ll help you with dinner. I should actually get cooking lessons one of these days. You can’t be the only one cooking all the time.”

He smiles. “Actually, I don’t mind. I know you find it hot, seeing me in the kitchen, apron tied to my waist. That kind of thing gets me going,” he teases.

“It does not,” I retort, feeling my cheeks heat.

After dinner, Xander manages to convince me to sleep over. We inform Nate that I’ll be staying but as soon as we tuck him into bed and confirm he’s asleep, I head up to Xander’s room. We’re lying in his bed, arms wrapped around me when he informs me about the meeting his father requested.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” he’s telling me. “Honestly not sure what he could possibly have to say.”

“We’re going,” I tell him. “I’m not going to let you be estranged from half your family because of me. We’ll go and we’ll listen to whatever it is he has to say.”

“You don’t have to force yourself, princess. I know you don’t like him.”

He’s right. I don’t like how big of an impact Richard Steele had in the reasons I made the decisions I made nine years ago. I don’t like how he prevented me from seeing Nate again five years ago. But everyone deserves a chance, even him.

“You never know. He might surprise me. Maybe he’s changed since the last time I saw him.”

Xander snorts. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“Even if he hasn’t we’re still going. Who knows, maybe after I meet your father, you can finally meet mine.”

He groans at that making me laugh.

“My dad’s not that bad. He’s actually much nicer now that he’s not Don anymore. The position has relaxed him,” I lie.

“Bullshit,” Xander mutters. “We sure do make a pair, you and me. Fathers that drive us crazy.”

“Mothers that couldn’t be there for us growing up,” I add softly.

Xander places a kiss on the top of my head at that. “Tell me about her. Your mom.”

So I do. Everything is easier when I do it with him. Even talking. The words that I would have found impossibly to voice are said gently. He listens to it all attentively. My mother’s grace, her strength. She left a country and the only home she had ever known to marry my father, relocating to the U.S from Moscow.

The rest of the night flies by with us talking. Xander asks me to say something sexy in Russian, I refrain from punching him in the jaw. He tells me about his childhood. His favorite memories, one of which involved beating Graham at a race. We trade stories like that in the dark.

And I can almost feel our yearning hearts becoming one. Xander was right when he spoke about the invisible string between us, the one that always leads us back to each other. I just hope it never cuts.

I drinka cup of coffee as I try to ignore my nerves arising from the meeting later today. Xander and Nate already left, him going to drop him off. I managed to wake up with just enough time to head into the guest bedroom downstairs in order to act like I slept there all night. When he saw me earlier, Nate had no idea anything was amiss.

But we’re going to have to tell him eventually. I know Xander’s not hiding it because he’s worried about his reaction. I’m sure Nate wouldn’t care if we told him we were together. But in the past couple of months, with moving from D.C and finding out I’m actually alive, meeting me, it’s been a lot of change. Kids thrive more in a permanent environment and neither Xander nor I want to destabilize him even further. At least for now.

After finishing my coffee, I decide to take a shower in order to get ready for the day. By the time Xander comes back, I’m dressed and waiting for Rico to come pick me up. He is not happy about that.

“Would have been nice if I left and came back to find you in my bed, princess,” he points out.

I smile, reaching up to cup my cheek. “I know and I’m sorry, Xan. But I have a ton of work to get to at the office. I’ll be back later this evening so we can head to the meeting together,” I assure him.

He blows out a breathe before inclining his head to brush his lips against mine.

“Think about all the things I could have done to you if you had stayed,” he murmurs, voice like sin. “Too bad.”

My insides heat and I start considering the repercussions of delaying Rico for a couple of minutes. Then Xander pulls away, leaving me hanging. I blink at the sudden empty space in front of me.

“Have a nice day at work, princess,” he tells me, laughing as he walks into the kitchen.

I briefly consider throwing an apple at the back of his head. But I decide to be the mature one, heading into the elevator and then into the car Rico arrives to pick me up in.

It’s a progressive day at work and I find myself wishing the day wasn’t so good because now it’ll inevitably get ruined by whatever it is Richard Steele has to say. Xander and I walk into the restaurant together that evening, arm in arm, dressed semi-formally. Me in a long floral maxi dress and him in a black suit without a tie. I try to imagine the picture we must make to the outside world. I hope people look at us and think we’re right for each other.

It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks though. I know we’re right for each other.

Richard Steele is already seated, waiting for us to arrive. The restaurant is pretty, with a nice ambience but it all goes over my head as I set my eyes on Xander’s father for the first time in five years. He hasn’t changed much. Still the same uninviting aura. The same lingering frown of disapproval. Facial expression etched in ice, intimidating green eyes.

I continue walking towards him. We both stop once we arrive at the table.

“Father,” Xander says, clearing his throat. “You summoned us.”

My grip on his arm grows tighter. A silent warning for him to act more serious. Richard’s expression doesn’t so much as waiver. He looks from his son, to me and then to our conjoined arms. Then he’s waving a hand towards the two chairs on the other side of the table.

“Have a seat.”

We do and almost immediately the first course of food is brought towards the table. I watch as it’s all set down. Xander and I exchange a look. I decide to speak up.

“Actually, Mr. Steele. We were hoping to talk first,” I state.

“Eat,” he says. There’s no disguising the word as a command. My jaw clenches. Beneath the table, Xander gets a hold of my thigh, rubbing small calming circles through my dress. “It’s good manners, Miss Mincetti. I invited you as a show of hospitality. Let us have a nice dinner.”

I nod slowly before sitting up straighter and digging into the meal. It’s great but I can barely concentrate because I’m too worried about what he could possibly have to say to us.

“How about dessert?” he suggests once we’re done with the meal.

I glare at him and he manages a small chuckle before looking at his son.

“Would I be right in assuming that the both of you are in a relationship now?”

Xander nods, without hesitation. “We’re trying to make this work, dad. I know you don’t approve.”

“Actually. You’ve made it clear that you don’t give a fuck whether I approve of anything you do anymore. So I’ll be keeping my opinions to myself. This meeting was called, to warn the two of you of what would be expected in your future. Because I’m not sure either of you understand what is at stake.”

I blink at that, looking towards Xander who is equally as confused.

His father continues. “First off, Alexander. I want to believe you have a plan for your future. It’s been weeks, since you walked away from your family’s legacy, I’m sure you’ve thought long and hard on what you plan to do.”

Xander informs him about the tech start-up and if I didn’t know better I’d almost say that Richard Steele is impressed. When he finishes speaking, his father clears his throat.

“All I can say is that the company has lost a formidable asset in you, Alexander. But I have no doubt you’ll pave your own way. You are my son and a Steele, we don’t fail.”

Xander cocks his head to the side, “Alright, what’s going on?” he finally asks. “Are you dying? Is that it? They say people sometimes do out of character things when they’re close to death. Is that what’s going on here?”

Richard’s lips thin. “What’s going on here is that I’m trying to have dinner with my son and his girlfriend. This is my way of making an effort.”

“Sure, but why?” Xander presses.

“Well, if I’m being honest, I received a call from your mother. A particularly distressing one where she wouldn’t stop complaining about Katerina’s presence in your life. I suddenly realized that if your mother was so against it, then it was probably not the worst thing.”

My jaw practically drops. Beside me Xander stares at his father incredulously.

“You’re agreeing to our relationship just to spite my mother?”

He shrugs. “I never said that, Xander. And all that matters is that I’m agreeing to the relationship. But like I said, there are a few things I need to make sure of. The first of which being Nathaniel’s safety. If I’m not wrong, you will all continue to remain in New York?” he questions.

“Yes, we will,” I reply.

New York is my home. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Nate loves the city and he’s finally managed to make friends and grow comfortable. And Xander already told me that he plans on establishing the start up here.

“Good, given your position, Katerina. I’m going to need you to ensure that he has adequate security wherever he goes. Being the son of a Don is a dangerous prospect and who knows, he could be targeted by anyone looking to provoke or threaten you.”

My skin prickles. “No one would dare.”

“Just make sure he’s well protected,” Richard states. “He’s my grandchild. I do not want anything happening to him.”

“I won’t let anything happen to him,” I say fiercely.

The table relapses into silence and the more I sit here in front of him, the more I start to grow impatient.

“Is that all you have to say, Richard? How about an apology for kicking me out of your home, not once but twice?”

He waves a nonchalant hand in the air. “I’m not going to apologize for that, Katerina. I was protecting my family the way I knew best. You should understand considering you’re the head of yours. Sometimes all we can do is what we think is best. If anything the both of you should be grateful to me for fostering your reunion. If I hadn’t sent Xander to New York then all of this would have never happened.”

I’m silent, stewing on his words.

“We’re very grateful,” Xander says dryly. “Now if that’s all, I think Katerina and I are going to head home.”

He doesn’t object. “Think about what I said. Nate’s safety comes first.”

We walk out of the restaurant. When we arrive in front of our car, Xander looks at me, and I can still see the confusion in his expression.

“I still think he’s terminally ill,” he mutters.

That makes me laugh. “Or maybe your father actually is capable of change.”

“Maybe,” he agrees.