3. Katerina

I’ve always had a clear path to my future. First born child of Eduardo Mincetti, heir to his empire. That was always the plan. I’ve never strayed from that plan, not once. I tried my hardest to be the best. I conformed to my father’s ideas. I let him mold me in his own image. I wasn’t just a princess. I worked hard so that I would be known as an ice queen when I eventually take over.

And now every plan I’ve ever had, everything I’ve ever wanted for myself is practically evaporating before my eyes. And all because I made a mistake.

Tears well up in my eyes as I stare at the mistake. And I immediately feel guilty. His big green eyes blink up at me innocently. So much like his fathers.

“You’re not a mistake, my baby,” I say softly, holding him to my chest. “You’re perfect. So, so perfect.”

Someone walks into the room, and I hear his footsteps but he doesn’t speak for the longest moment. Giving me time to recollect myself. Eventually, I lift my head to look at him.

“Yes?” I ask, my voice as cool as I can muster.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Mincetti but the pilot is ready to fly you back to the U.S,” Cole informs me.

I nod, getting to my feet unsteadily. I only just gave birth two days ago. I haven’t left this room since then. Cole helps me in packing up all my stuff. My baby is still wrapped in my hand. When he offers a carrier for me to hold him, I shake my head. We head outside the building where a car is already in wait. Cole gets behind the wheel driving us to the hanger.

“And you’re sure my father isn’t aware of any of it?” I ask him during the ride.

“The Don believes you’ll be arriving home tomorrow and not today, ma’am. He was worried about you but I assured him you were fine and safe.”

“Good,” I say softly.

My baby stirs in my hands, his eyes blinking up at me once before he goes back to sleep. I need him to be calm for this.

“And Sokolov?” I question.

“He’s chasing after a fake lead in Arbat. He has no clue you’re leaving Moscow.”

“Alright,” I say letting out a soft breath. “Thank you, Cole.”

Cole’s a brown haired man in his thirties who has been my bodyguard and driver for as long as I can remember. Even in college he was never too far away. Always a call away if I was in any trouble. He came to Moscow with me when I arrived a couple of months back. And has been at my side, helping me to stay alive. Helping to keep my secrets.

He’s already done so much for me here. I just wish I could trust him to continue to do so when I return. My pulse races as I consider the inevitability of my actions.

We arrive at the hanger and he leads me towards the plane that’ll fly me back. At the boarding stairs, I face Cole, my baby still in my arms. His brown eyes are dull, his expression set.

“You already know what I’m going to do,” I say softly.

“I’ve known you since you were little, Miss Mincetti. Of course I know what you’re going to do.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I understand. You can’t afford for there to be any loose ends. Not if you want them coming after your baby.”

My hands shake as I reach for the gun in my purse. I’ve killed people before. And sometimes I like to tell myself that it gets easier. But this might be the hardest one of all. Because he doesn’t deserve this. I know he doesn’t deserve this.

“Keep him hidden, Katerina. Make sure he’s not exposed to this world,” Cole says grimly.

I nod once, as tears well up in my eyes. One shot and it’s over. My finger rests on the trigger. There’s a silencer attached to the gun so it doesn’t make too much noise.

“You’re a good man, Cole.”

He offers me a small, sad smile. “There are no good men.”

I finally pull the trigger and the bullet hits him in the chest. He falls to the ground. My hands are shaking so badly but I manage to hold on to my baby and the gun. Cole’s eyes are closed and I feel so sick. I think I might throw up. But I also have to be strong.

I take in a deep breath to steel my nerves. Then I send a text asking someone to take care of the body. My eyes fall shut briefly before I walk up the stairs and enter the plane. It doesn’t take long for the pilot to start and then we’re up in the air. I spend the entire plane ride hating myself and the things that led me to this point.

Cole was right. There are no good men in our world. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my baby from everything.

I never would have thoughtI’d have a baby at 19 years old. I also never thought I’d be a mother that would place my baby in front of a doorstep to be found. And yet I find myself doing it. The first thing I did after arriving in the U.S was to find my way to D.C. To the home of a person I’m sure probably hates me by now.

And if he doesn’t, he’s about to. My baby smiles up at me as I drop his carrier at the foot of the steps leading into the house. My heart swells and drops in the same moment.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper, trying my best not to cry.

After making sure he’s comfortable, I step back and then I continue taking another few steps, until I can’t see the carrier anymore. Until I’m completely hidden from view. After, I pull my phone out and send him a text.

Hi, Xander.

The house is dark and the shutters are closed but I know he’s home. Probably asleep. I’m proven right when one of the rooms light up. But it takes a couple of minutes for him to reply my text.

What the actual fuck, Katerina? Where the hell are you? How could you disappear for months?

I’m sorry I disappeared. But everything I did, I did because I had no choice. And I need you to understand that what I’m about to do now is also because I don’t have a choice.

What are you talking about? Is this because my family found out who you are? I don’t care that your last name is Mincetti or that your father is some kind of crime boss. I just want to talk to you.

A sob wells up in my throat, but I don’t let it escape.

You can’t talk to me, Xander. I have to stay away from you. It’s what is best.

Like hell it is.

Xander, I need you to go outside.

What?

Go outside.

It takes a minute but suddenly all the lights in the house are coming on. My heart practically climbs in my throat when the door opens. Xander stares at the baby in front of him in shock for a couple of seconds. Then his expression morphs into disbelief. He looks around like someone is playing a practical joke on him or something.

Then he seems to remember the phone in his hand.

What the hell is this, Katerina?

He’s your baby. I know you’re probably confused and none of this makes any sense. But I got pregnant before I left. I had your baby two days ago on the 25th. I haven’t named him yet. I thought you might like to do that. And I know you’ll take care of him, Alexander. Because I can’t do it. I have to go. I have to disappear from both your lives. Please, don’t come looking for me.

He looks so distraught. I watch as understanding starts to dawn in his expression.

If you do this, I will never forgive you.

I know you won’t. Take care of him, Xander. I love you.

I watch as he starts to text again but he won’t be able to reach me. I switch off the phone and as I walk away, I toss it into the bushes. I keep on walking, trying hard not to run away. Not to turn back. Every part of my heart wants nothing more than to go back to both of them.

They’re my whole entire heart. And they’ll never know. Not if I want to protect my family’s legacy. Not if I want them to be safe.

PRESENT DAY

I hear my little sister before I see her.

“Kat,” Sophia sings from the other side of the door before bursting inside.

I arch an eyebrow as I lift my head from the giant screen in front of me, surveilling Sophia and the toddler strapped to her chest. My little niece, Nova Annalise Legan is the most adorably, sweet thing on the planet. She’s almost two years old, with bright blue eyes like her mommy, and her curly dark hair like her dad. She beams when she sees me, lifting her hand to wave. Her mom puts her down and she’s waddling towards the table as fast as her little legs can carry her.

“Zia Kat, Zia Kat,” she exclaims reaching her arms out for a hug.

I smile, hurriedly switching off the computer so she doesn’t see the footage of the man being tortured on the screen. She climbs into my lap and I pull her closer, relishing in her warmth. She’s so small and fragile. So bubbly.

“I missed you so much, Nova. How are you angioletta?”

She babbles excitedly, trying her best to form words. “Doggie, Zia. Doggie,” she says looking around for Rocky. A dog I recently got a few months ago. It was an impulsive decision and one Papa absolutely hates.

But like Nova, Rocky’s adorable and I love having him around.

“I’ll have one of the men bring Rocky to you,” I tell my niece, reaching for my phone to send a text asking for the dog to be brought in. “For now, why don’t you go to the couch and play with one of your toys so I can talk to your mama?”

She nods, understanding my words fairly easily. She slides off my lap and walks past her mother to sit on the couch obediently. My sister steps forward, sitting on the chair in front of my table. Her blonde hair is in a messy bun on top of her head. She’s practically glowing. Having a daughter and her family really agrees with her.

“You know for a kid being raised by Anthony, she’s surprisingly well behaved,” I say, pointing at Nova who’s currently playing with a toy car.

Sophia laughs, “Don’t be mean to my husband.”

“I’m never mean,” I say smiling. “Anyway, what’s up? I love seeing you and Nova but I was in the middle of something.”

“You’re always in the middle of something, sorella. I just dropped by to check up on you. Tony’s on some business trip with Roman. And I had a day off from work so Nova and I thought we’d surprise you. How’s Papa?”

“He’s fine,” I reply. “He’s currently not home though. I have no idea where he is. Now that he’s not the boss anymore, he seems to have found other things to keep himself busy.”

“I’m not the only one worried about what those other things could entail, am I?”

“Nope. Knowing Papa, it’s undoubtedly dangerous. But I’m sure he’ll be fine. Plus, I’m sure Zio Frederico will keep him out of trouble.”

At the moment, Rico, our cousin walks in, holding the puppy. Rocky’s a golden retriever with fluffy, golden fur and floppy ears. His tail waggles and he lets out a loud bark. Nova lets out a giggle as Rico walks over to the couches in the office and places the dog on the floor.

“Doggie,” she yells in excitement, getting on her knees in front of the dog.

Sophia clears her throat, “Aren’t you going to greet Zio Rico, Nova?”

The toddler looks up at her uncle bashfully. “Hi, Zio Rico.”

Rico smiles, placing his hand on her head. “How are you, mi amore?”

She starts babbling something and Rico listens to her attentively, while my sister turns back to me.

“Anyway, how are you?” Sophia questions.

I shrug. “As well as I can be.”

Her eyes narrow. “I could ask you the same question on a day you have a bullet wound and you’d still give me the same answer.”

“My problems do not concern you, sorella. Not anymore.”

Sophia frowns. I don’t meant to guilt trip her or anything, but she left the mafia willingly when she found out she was pregnant. I know without a doubt that she made the right choice. But sometimes I really miss my sister.

“Sure, they don’t,” Sophia says, recovering quickly. “But I happened to be married to a man I can get to help you if you need it.”

I offer her a smile. “I’m fine. It’s honestly nothing I can’t handle. Just a drug deal gone wrong.”

“Okay.”

She starts telling me about work and I hear some fun stories of the adventures of Tony and Nova. She’s living a happy life and I’m so glad. By the time we’re done speaking, Rico has left with the dog and Nova’s asleep on the couch.

My sister and I get to our feet, heading over to look at her.

“She is so adorable,” I say. “Despite the fact that she looks so much like Tony.”

Sophia laughs, shaking her head. “The both of you are weird. I know you like each other but you keep insisting otherwise.”

“As if,” I scoff before looking sideways at my sister. “So, have you ever thought about having one more?”

“Well… Tony and I had a conversation a couple of days ago. And we both decided to wait for a little while longer. We’re still content and Nova’s an energetic little monster right now. Adding a baby into the mix might be a bad idea.”

“Whatever you choose will be great.”

“How about you?” Sophia says, shifting closer and nudging at my shoulder. “Have you ever thought about having kids of your own?”

“You mean will I be having kids with the imaginary boyfriend I currently have?”

She laughs. “Do you want me to set you up? I hear dating apps are all the rage these days. Maybe you could meet someone?”

“Who on earth would actually be comfortable dating a woman that’s the head of a mafia crime syndicate, Sophia?”

My sister sighs. “Maybe they don’t have to know?”

“You especially should know that’s a terrible idea, Soph,” I mutter.

We both know that.

“Fine. But you can’t be alone forever. I want you to be happy. With a man and kids of your own.”

“What if I don’t want kids?” I ask, feeling my heart clench.

The weight of those words are heavy on my chest. A reminder, a searing hurt.

“Then that’s okay,” Sophia says easily. “As long you’re happy.”

“I am happy. I have you and Nova and Rico and Papa.”

“That’s not enough. You deserve so much more, Kat. You deserve love.”

She wouldn’t be saying that if she knew the truth. I’m the least person that deserves love.