31. Mae

31

MAE

" S o, kiddo, I know you're eager to go back to school and you miss all your friends," I said carefully, watching Zack out of the corner of my eye while we strolled toward the park exit. "But what do you think about here?"

"The park?" Zack looked up at me quizzically.

"No, this town. Do you like it here? Do you think you'd want to live here?" Staying here had been on my mind for a while now. Every day, my boss texted to remind me that I had to be back in the office by next week, and each message pushed me closer and closer to quitting just so I could stay here.

The dangers were unavoidable, and if Rocco was right about people finding out about Zack, then I would have no choice but to face one aspect of a Mafia lifestyle. But, as always, Zack's wants were my priority, and staying in this town because I wanted to would be meaningless if it hurt my son.

"I like it here," Zack said, screwing up his face slightly. "I like Grandma, but… we're not going to stay here forever, right? My fr iends are in school. And all my toys!" His eyes widened, and then he tightened his grip on my hand. "They miss me."

"I know, buddy." I smiled down at him. "I bet they miss you a lot." His answer was as insightful as I could expect from a child. The concept of moving, of changing his entire life, was too unfamiliar to him, but he didn't seem entirely against the idea. After all, his toys could come with him.

But his friends?

Could I really change his entire life, rip him away from his school and his friends just because I'd fallen in love?

The decision felt impossible. I already knew what my mother's response would be, and I didn't need her trying to persuade me. Following my head while keeping my heart in check was going to be difficult.

"Are we moving?" Zack asked, fixing me with a big, wide-eyed look.

"I'm just… thinking about things," I replied gently, moving to ruffle his curls. "I know you've had a great time here with Grandma and the park and things."

"And Rocco!" Zack beamed. "I like your new friends, Mom."

Oh, he had no idea.

Just as I reached the gate, a shadow fell over us. Instinct had me drawing Zack closer to me, and when I glanced up, I was face to face with a burly man who towered over me.

"Miss Murphy?" he growled out in a low voice, with an accent so thick that it jarred my thoughts for a few seconds. Was he Russian?

Did Russians holiday here ?

I pulled Zack closer to my leg and swallowed hard, moving to angle my body between the stranger and my son .

"Sorry, you have the wrong person."

"This is not the time to fucking play games," the man spat, and one thick, meaty hand suddenly gripped my upper arm.

Before I could react, a sudden yell of fury rose up from across the street. Just beyond the stranger's shoulder, I spotted Dino sprinting across the street with a gun glinting in his hand, flanked by three other men. As the stranger's eyes slid to the side in reaction to Dino's yell, I wrenched my arm free from his grip. I spun around, scooped Zack up into my arms, and started to run back into the park, much to Zack's alarm.

He quickly dissolved into sobs, either picking up on my own distress or because of the stranger, I couldn't be sure. Either way, I didn't stop running. My entire back was tight, tingling constantly with the expectation that I would feel that burly hand clamp down on my shirt or in my hair, but it didn't come.

I ran through the park and didn't stop until I reached the restrooms. In my panic, it was the only safe place I could think of.

"Mom!" Zack wailed as I dragged us both inside a stall and slammed the door.

"I know, baby," I gasped breathlessly. "I know. We just—we're playing hide and seek, okay? Just… I need you to stay here with me, okay? Stay here and stay quiet."

Zack wailed louder, tears pouring down his face no matter how much I cuddled him and tried to soothe him. I kissed his face, cradled him close, and stood, frozen, with my eyes on the door.

What the fuck was I supposed to do?

I repeatedly told myself that Dino was dealing with it, but I hadn't heard anything—no gunshots, no other yelling.

Should I have stayed? Would Dino be able to handle someone like that ?

"Mom," Zack sobbed, burying his face into my hip. I didn't have time to explain anything to him. I was running on instinct to get him as far away from harm as possible.

Suddenly, thumping footsteps landed outside the bathroom and the door clattered open. Then each stall door was kicked in with a loud crack of wood against wood. I cradled Zack against me, my heart pounding so fiercely that all I could taste was iron on the back of my tongue.

The stall door next to us slammed open, and Zack wailed loudly.

Then my stall door was kicked in. Without thinking, I launched myself forward with a yell, ready to do everything I could to fight whoever this was—and landed right in Dino's arms.

"Mae!" Dino yelled, catching me and swiftly removing the gun from my face.

I stumbled and looked up at him, then in a surge of anger, I slapped him hard across the face as tears sprang into my eyes.

"What the fuck? " I screamed at him. "Why wouldn't you announce yourself?"

"I didn't know if you were alone!" Dino yelled back, then he quickly shoved his gun away behind his back as Zack came running out of the stall.

"Mom!"

"Zack, baby, it's okay!" I grabbed him, pulling him up into my arms as tears spilled down my cheeks. "Holy shit, I thought we were—" I couldn't finish that sentence. In a few split seconds, I had been ready to fight, to die to protect my son from that monster, but luckily, it had just been Dino.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Dino asked, moving around me as two other men sprinted into the bathroom .

"No, I'm not fucking okay," I hissed angrily through my tears. "What the fuck is going on?"

"Rocco will explain everything," Dino said, wrapping his arms around me. "But trust me when I say you are safe now. I promise you."

"You have some fucking explaining to do," I snapped the moment I stormed back into my lounge. I had just spent over half an hour calming Zack down enough to sleep, and the sight of Rocco standing near the sofa looking calm somehow enraged me further.

"Mae—"

"Don't Mae me. What the fuck was that? Some Russian tank accosted me in the park with our son, and Dino kept pawning me off, telling me you would explain, so explain ."

To my surprise, Rocco smiled.

"Why the fuck are you smiling?"

"You said our son."

I hesitated briefly. "That's… not the fucking issue right now!" I was so angry I was certain I was going to explode. My heart raced, my skin was flushed so hot that all my clothing felt suffocating, and I almost couldn't breathe. "What the fuck!"

"I warned you," Rocco said gently. "I told you this would happen, and if you just accepted my help when I offered it, then I would have been able to protect you and Zack much more efficiently instead of having my men tail you like it's still some kind of secret."

"You call that any kind of protection? Some Russian bear tries to kidnap me and my baby from the park and your only answer is that I should have accepted your help?" My chest tightened further. "You asshole! "

"No, that's not what I'm saying. But Mae, this is my life! I swear I have people on the Russian. I have men scouring the town, and whoever it is after you or Zack will be caught. But I warned you. Zack is an extension of me, and this never stays secret. You can't run from this. I love you, but fuck, you're stubborn! You have to listen to me. All I want to do is protect you. We all do! I am so, so sorry this happened, and I swear it will never happen again, but there's no escaping this."

"This is such bullshit!" I yelled. "Do you have any idea how terrified I was, having to run for my life with Zack because you've brought all this shit to my door?"

"He's my son , Mae. My enemies won't give a shit that you want a normal life." His hands landed on my shoulders and he pulled me close. "They won't care that you want a nice life or a peaceful life. They won't even care that he's a child!"

This close, I could make out some darker flecks in his golden eyes, not that it helped calm my anger. If anything, I was growing more and more heated.

And then, suddenly, as we stood there panting into each other's space with anger simmering under our skin like lava, something clicked.

Rocco's mouth collided with mine in a biting, passionate kiss flared hotter by the fury burning in our hearts. I had been scared for my life and for Rocco's. I needed to feel a connection. I needed to feel safe .

Rocco threw me down onto the couch, ripped off his shirt, and crawled over me. Again, our mouths clashed together. He tore at my clothes and thrust his tongue deep into my mouth. I dragged my nails down his back and pulled at his hair as hard as I could until he gasped openly. Then it was my turn to take control of the kiss.

His hips rolled down onto mine in jerky, needy waves, so I shoved both my hands down between us and worked at his jeans. With the belt gone and his zipper down, he hoisted up my skirt and shoved my panties aside .

"You're suck a fucking asshole," I snapped, biting hard at his lower lip. Rocco groaned, groping my breasts through my top, and then he slid one hand around my throat.

"And you're a stubborn bitch," he growled out. "Quite the fucking pair, huh?"

I couldn't answer. He shoved his thick cock inside me so quickly, I couldn't breathe. Hooking one leg around his hip, I tightened my thigh and drew him closer.

Rocco poured all of his anger and fear into each powerful thrust he slammed into me. I used mine to bite his neck, pull his hair, and scratch his back until he hissed in pain. His cock pounded deep inside me with powerful, slow thrusts that shunted air from my lungs and nearly pushed me up the sofa if not for his hand around my throat, keeping me in place.

The fire of my anger pooled like molten iron in my core. Hands gripped tightly over my body, groped at my breasts, and squeezed my throat enough to make me breathlessly delirious. He fucked me harder, like each thrust was some kind of delicious punishment. I yanked his hair, breaking our kiss so that I could look him in the eye.

At that moment, I realized he had been as scared for Zack as I had been.

Our son.

I came with a deep, low cry as my orgasm flowed through me in deep, slow waves. It was intense, and I tossed my head back and forth, thrusting down on Rocco's cock to keep each pulsing wave of pleasure coiling through me for longer. Then his cock twitched inside me, and the moment Rocco came, he broke our eye contact.

He sagged down against me, his hips slowing as my rippling muscles milked his orgasm right out of him .

Pinching hands became slow caresses. Bites became gentle kisses, and as Rocco laid his head on my chest, I realized what he had said during the last vocal moment of our argument.

"You… love me?"