Chapter 10

Rose

“Giovanni, what’s going on?”

“Just business.”

“Why do you need a gun and why is Selina’s son here?”

Giovanni put on his jacket, sliding his gun inside the pocket. He pulled me by the waistband of my sweats and traced my jaw. “I'll tell you later, but right now I need you to watch Kaden. Do not leave this room.” Giovanni kissed my lips and groaned. “I wished I didn't have to leave you.”

“Take me with you.” I had a feeling something awful happened to that Selina, the girl that worked down at Giovanni’s club.

“No,” he blurted out, but covered up his outburst. “I mean, you need to stay here and watch little Kaden.”

I reached around his neck, placing a kiss to the corner of his lips. “Be careful.”

Giovanni pecked my lips, returning the gesture. Much to my disliking, someone knocked on the door, bringing our moment to an end. Giovanni stepped away and opened the door, revealing Luca holding a sleeping Kaden. “He fell asleep on the way back from—”

Giovanni cleared his throat and growled, keeping him finishing his sentence. “Just hand him over to Rose, so we can be on our way. Did you tell Lucien to bring his things and a playpen?”

“I did,” Luca replied.

I could still feel his fingers burning my skin, reminding me how dominating he was. I knew I should've never agreed to his arrangement because I was falling for him. I was already in too deep to pull myself out of this hole to break free. Giovanni was just as dangerous as Evan, but I didn't care. For some reason, he made me feel safe. Sure, Giovanni is a possessive and can be an asshole, but I was beginning to see another side of him. He could be soft and gentle when he wanted, but also be the dominating alpha male I craved. He cared enough to let me stay in his home and risk his family getting hurt. He also gave me a job, which I’m grateful for. Giovanni brought me comfort knowing he would be there, if Evan ever resurfaced.

I didn't fully trust him yet, but I was slowly getting closer.

Lucien had set up everything, so I could get little Kaden settled in. His dark curls clung to his forehead as he slept. I wished he always stayed innocent, but I knew that was never going to happen.

Not when Kade was his father.

I wondered if Selina had told him who his father was. Just one look at the little one, and he would know. Kaden was the spitting image of his father. Kade and Selina grew up together in their hometown. They dated for a short while, until he left her high and dry…but not before taking her virginity and impregnating her. Shortly after, her parents disowned her and kicked her out on the streets. She managed to come to New York and ran across Giovanni’s club. Giovanni adored Selina like a daughter. Now that Kade is back in her life, she’s been back to being that heartbroken girl Giovanni first met.

“What happened to you, Selina?” I whispered. I fell back onto Giovanni's bed and fell asleep with Kaden in my arms.

Giovanni

“How bad is she?” I asked Luca as we stepped into the hospital.

“She's got a few cracked ribs and bruises, but that's not what we should be worried about.” He held the door open for me, following behind me.

“I know. You know he's going to want to retaliate against him for touching her.” I already knew that Kade would want to take revenge on the man who hurt the woman he was still in love with. He hated himself for leaving her behind, but there's nothing he can do to change what he did. The past is the past. The only thing he could do now is make up for lost time.

We stepped in Selina's room, and she looked up smiling. They must have her on some good drugs because she rarely smiles anymore.

“Selina, I need to know how he got in.” Evan pulled a fast one on us. Nobody would have even thought he would go after someone that had nothing to do with this.

“A blonde man was posing as a security guard at the apartment complex. I didn't even know who he was.” I stroked her cheek and placed a fatherly kiss to her forehead.

“You're going to have to stay at the estate until I get the bastard who hurt you. Kade needs to know the truth. You're going to have to tell him he's the father.” I knew she didn't want to tell him yet, but Kade needed to know.

“He's going to hate me so much, more than he already does.” I sighed, knowing how Kade's temper was. He was a ticking time bomb just ready to go off.

“You let us handle Kade when you decide to tell him. Under no circumstances are you to tell him alone.” She nodded and let out a breath, closing her eyes.

“I want Lucien and Alec to stand guard over her tonight. Nobody gets in except for the doctors and nurses.” I couldn't allow that monster to hurt anyone else.

Next on the list, go find Kade and calm his stubborn ass down.