by Amaya Black
"He knows about Alexandra, Auntie. And now that he knows... I fear the worst like I always have."
"You think he would take her?"
Thinking before I spoke, "I don't know. I don't know him. I just know that after months of flirting with a stranger I finally gave in and the result was a child. Oh, Auntie...I have no idea what to do next. He's not the type to let something this major slide."
"And how did all of this come about...how did he find you?"
"Nova," I bit my lip. "I never told Nova who Lexie's father was. You've been the only person to know this entire time. When my parents asked all those years ago, I lied and told them it was just some random guy."
My aunt pulled me into a half hug and then we lay back. I could hear her breathing and it filled the room. I had longed for my mother to do this with me, to comfort me this way but she never had. She'd never been affectionate with my brother either but he was their favorite. I needed to give him a call too, but he was in California and on base. I didn't quite have his schedule nailed down at the moment.
"So what are you planning on doing?" Kit asked.
"I don't know, Auntie. I hid his child for five years...I could run. I could go somewhere where no one knows me. But I don't think I’d be able to run far enough from someone like him. Not when he knows who in the hell I am."
Lexie stirred against my body and I wanted to lose control, right then and there. A peck came on the door and Rhonda stuck her head in. I dabbed at my eyes and my aunt turned her head.
"What is it Rhonda?" My aunts voice came out sounding annoyed as she often did with Rhonda.
"Mom, I need to borrow thirty dollars," she said. "I can pay you back on Friday when I get paid."
Kit shook her head, "Check my purse. What you need thirty dollars for?"
"Momma you don’t' need to know all that," Rhonda said and ducked into her mother's room.
Kit's purse sat on the dresser near the tv. When she had found the money, she waved it at us and ducked back out of the room Kit starred after the door and a few minutes later we heard the front door close.
"She better pay me my damn money back," Kit mumbled.
"How’s is everything going with yall? God, Auntie I came over with my troubles and didn't even ask how you've been."
My aunt chuckled. "I've been fine, don't worry about me. Just know I'm so proud of you Astrid. You remember the first time I ever handed a client over to you. And how scared you were of messing up."
In my mind I could see it clear as day. My aunt had been the one to teach me how to hustle when my parents had abandoned me, preferring to move to the Sunshine state. It had been Kit that explained to me that I wasn't the first girl to get knocked up by a guy and shunned for it. That I was in charge of what happened next in my life. So, I had started my little scamming business with her guidance finding that I had a knack for numbers.
"I remember," I chuckled.
"You came to me defeated and pregnant...your daddy always had a stick up his ass. Acting like he was better than everyone else because he chose to leave the projects. But we made it out too. Just found a different avenue."
"I don't know what I would have done without you, Auntie," I said.
She kissed the top of my head and patted my back. "The same thing you're doing now. You would have survived, baby girl. Now what are you planning on doing about this little one's father."
I took a deep breath, "I won't give Lexie up without a fight. Will you watch her for the night? I'll be back as soon as I can."
My aunt nodded. "Of course. I don't know why you don't take advantage of me more often."
"Love you, Auntie," I dropped a kiss on her cheek.
Crawling out of the bed, my feet landed with a slight thump. I pulled Lexie up onto a pillow and my aunt promised that when she woke from her nap, she would feed her. Getting into my car, I headed straight over to Nova and Liam's house.
It was time to face the music.
All I could here in my head was Dewayne Johnson singing, "You're welcome."
Ugh.
Lexie needed a new favorite movie.
Chapter 5
Valentin
I finally entered into the mansion and decided to report to Liam first. Let him know everything he needed to know about the warehouse. I went into the kitchen and find Yara, Desmond and Nova but no Liam. Nova's brown eyes were cutting me to shreds before I could even blink.
"Can I speak to you?" she asked.
I nodded and came further into the kitchen. Des and Yara walked past and gave me a look like I was in for an earful. Truthfully, I didn't want to hear a damn thing about this mess that had been caused by he so called best friend.
"What can I help you with cousin-in-law?"
Nova cocked her head, her hand flying to her hip. "How did you find out about the recital. Astrid had it in her head that I told you...I never uttered a word to you about it."
"I overheard. Look...don't put yourself in front of Astrid and the mess she's made. She's ruined to many lives already."
I wanted to walk away and leave already. I was completely done and over the conversation with Nova. None of this was her business anyway.
"Astrid was a teen mom who was confused and lost. Got knocked up by somebody who didn't even stick around after he got what he wanted from her."
Nope, I thought. I must definitely wasn't going to do this with Nova who was going to defend her bestfriend with her dying breath.
"Nova, there's nothing you can say that's going to fix this. She stole time from me."
I turned on my heel even as she yelled at my back. I could have cared less, especially with Liam giving me his blessing. to do what I needed to. No one was going to stop the hell that I was going to rain down on Astrid's pretty little blonde head. Yet another reason I had barely recognized her. When she'd been eighteen her hair had been dark but now she'd become a blonde. The color suited her though, I had to admit. And I had to admit that even with as angry as I was with her....something about the fire in her eyes stirred me to arousal.
I needed relief.
The wooden stairs that led to my side of the mansion, creaked as I eased up them. Flashes of Astrid danced in my mind. Of how she'd felt that one and only time that we'd been together. My dick swelled in my pants and before I knew it I was at Katia's door.
I knocked lightly before entering. She was where I had left her, another martini decorating her hands. She'd changed pajamas since I'd last seen her and I made up my mind that I really needed to find a better living accommodation with her than what was being offered.
"Are you that happy to see me?" she asked her eyes headed straight for my crotch.
I made no moves to hide how hard I was.
Subconsciously, that relief that I was seeking. Katia would love nothing more than to service me. She would get down on her knees, letting the wooden floors of her bedroom bite into her pale kneecaps until they bruised like fruit as I forced every single inch down her throat. She'd admitted it many times but I'd ignored her. Never thinking to cross the line with my father's wife.
But Viktor wasn't here now.
And I was.
Turning, I pushed the door closed, never saying a word. My breath was coming out in even puffs and my hand immediately began to undue the belt at my trousers as I turned and found Katia already there behind me.
Ready.
Willing.
She wanted to service me, take my cock and work it over.
She wanted to suck me dry.
Her hands went to my chest and slid down slowly. They continued to make their way down the white shirt until she pulled it apart and buttons shattered and went everywhere. When she was satisfied with the mess she'd made, her hands continued lower until my dick was in her hands. She began to tug...hard.
"This is what you've been hiding away?" she smiled.
Her finger tips softly traced the bulging veins of my shaft.
"Yes," I breathed. "Now be a good whore and get do
wn on your knees like you've been begging to do since I met you."
She gripped me hard and another gasp escaped from my lips. "I'm far from being a whore, remember that."
I watched through hooded eyes as she got down onto her knees and then gathered her hair up in to an elastic band. Her strawberry blond hair almost resembled a bow in the expert manner in which she had tied it up. She rolled her neck just slightly and began to rub my cock all over her lips before it finally dipped inside of her mouth.
The warm sensation was almost overpowering. I hadn't been with anyone in months, not that there was a shortage of women throwing themselves at me. I just couldn't commit to anything. But this felt so damn wrong that it felt right.
My hands flew to her hair and yanked hard, pushing hard all the way down. I pumped into Katia's mouth over and over again. I was so close to reaching my apex that I didn't care if she choked. Pulling out of her mouth, globs of spits fell and surrounded her lips. She wiped at her orifice and took a breath, but my dick was already at the back of her throat again, her teeth scrapping against the sensitive underparts of my member.
She pushed away from me but I still had her locked in by her strands, having woven them around my fist.
"Wouldn't it be so much better if you fucked me?" she asked, and I could see her hands had already worked themselves into the waist band of her pants.
"No, it wouldn't" I replied.
She huffed and gave me a look but I didn't care.
My release would be found in the next few moments.
I shoved myself back into her mouth, her teeth once again hitting that spot on my dick that made me lose all sense of time and space. It was like a volcano errupting and I moaned out as my orgasm hit.
Violent.
Hot.
Destructive.
I pulled out of Katia's mouth in time and thick ropes of white sperm covered her face, while her eyes remained close. Slowly, I moved my cock around on her lips and she sucked the last thin streams from my body. She licked away the stray drops and kissed the tip like a good girl."Clean yourself up," I said and shoved myself back into my pants. "We're leaving within the hour."
She took her fingers and dabbed at her cheek before placing them into her mouth. "Next time, we should fuck."
That was my cue to exit. She was in a hurry to have me between her legs. Perhaps to get pregnant, that would buy her at least nine more months. Soon I would have to start getting to the bottom of this mysterious brother she had supposedly given birth to.
I showered again, washing the day from my body and opted for another suit, this time all black everything with no tie. When I retrieved Katia from her room she was dressed in a champagne pink dress, her pale breast looking creamy and inviting. The dress hugged her slender body, while she had her hair pulled up into an I Dream of Genie ponytail. She had cleaned herself up nicely and added a bright red lipstick to her mouth making it look extra inviting.
Liam and Nova were standing near the bottom of the stairs waiting for us. The look on Nova's face was one of pure hatred.
"Nephew," Katia spoke.
Liam simply nodded. "Aunt."
"I'm excited to get out of this house...I don't know about the three of you," Katia smiled.
"And if you try anything, I'll shoot you myself," Nova sneered.
There was no love lost between the two of them but Katia didn't seem to let it phase her. She chuckled and turned to me. Her hand went to my chest. "I wouldn't act up for all the diamonds in the world. I want you all to trust me."
Liam grimaced and I could tell he was straining to hold Nova back. Instead of waiting any longer, I told them that we'd drive ahead in my Lamborghini. There was no need to share a car and risk Nova and Katia getting into a fist fight.
My car was parked out front, I'd had one of the guards bring it around. I helped Katia into her side of the car, and she pulled her Sharon Stone routine again...she wasn't wearing any panties and shot me a smile. I had no idea how much longer I'd be able to hold out on not giving her what she wanted.
My car roared to life as I hit the push button start and we sped out of the circular drive way. Smoke and Mirrors was going to be packed tonight. We'd hired some big-time rapper to come in and perform. I really was trying to give us legit business avenues to diversify the organization.
"I wanted to thank you for taking me out," Katia spoke, leaning forward.
"It's nothing," I murmured.
"This is a strange situation fate has put us in, Valentin..." I felt her hand reach out and rub my ears, but I brushed her hand away.
"Let’s just enjoy the night,” I murmured. "There will be plenty of champagne flowing. I do have some business to tend to, though."
"And what business would that be?"
"I have a few associates coming by. They're thinking of investing in a few other ventures."
I swerved to avoid something that was laying in the road. My car skidded around it like butter gliding across a piece of toast. I fucking loved this car.
You should consider getting something more child friendly, the thought came out of nowhere. Was my brain misfiring? And then Lexie, in her pink tutu, unaware of my presence in the audience popped into my mind.
Lexie will need a million things to be safe and secure. To be loved...
If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought that my brain was trying to get me killed. I had zoned out and before I knew it, I was arriving in front of the club and the valet was taking my car to be parked safely somewhere. They knew better than to leave even so much as a scratch on my car.
With my hand in the small of Katia's back I guided her to V.I.P. where Nova and Liam were already sitting, along with the clients I was planning to entertain tonight. They were already drinking champagne when we stepped in.
"Hope I'm not too late," a voice said from behind me and I saw Nova look past me and start smiling.
Both Katia and I turned at the same time and came face to face with Astrid. She wore a golden dress with a neckline that was nonexistent; it was cut out to a 'V' shape that dipped all the way down to her belly button.
"Oh my God, I didn't think you were serious about coming!"
Nova brushed past me and pulled Astrid into a hug and then handed her a glass of champagne. Katia feigning interest turned and stuck her hand out.
"Astrid, correct?"
Nova looked at her like she'd lost her mind, but Astrid nodded. "Yes, and you're Valentin's stepmother, correct?"
Katia chuckled, before going to sit and leaving me standing there, "Something like that"
The music was beginning to overwhelm me. Or was it Astrid? I had no idea why she was here, but this felt like a setup of some sort. I looked to Liam and he got up to come over and stand with us.
"You look beautiful, Astrid," he kissed her cheek.
I felt a growl come up out of nowhere but only Liam seemed to hear it. He eyed me and then smiled.
Fuck, I thought.
What in the entire hell was going on with me? I had started to sweat just a little and that wasn't something that I usually did. From the age of eleven and up, I'd learned to control my emotions, my breathing...
Chaos...
Astrid was bringing chaos to my world.
A shudder ran down my spine as Astrid, Nova and Liam almost seemed to ignore my presence.
I didn't like it.
I didn't appreciate it.
This wouldn't fly with me.
"Cousin, watch the witch," I muttered catching Liam's attention.
Before I could explain what, I was doing, I was grabbing Astrid by her bare upper arm and dragging her through the crowd. She began to hit me and try to wrestle away but she couldn't get away. I stopped mid stride and threw her a look and she calmed down.
When we finally made it to the office that was soundproof and up above the crowd below, I shoved her inside and slammed the door. She caught her balance and we came eye to eye except she had a smile on her face.
; I smirked, when I was done with her, she wouldn't be smiling.
"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing here?" I bellowed.
I began to pace and she started rubbing her arm but said nothing. I cut my eyes to see that she was starring at me.
"Hi, Valentin. It's good to see you too," she sneered.
"Don't fucking press your luck with me woman," my hands had gone to my hips, my pacing still going.
Astrid had made my mouth go dry and I was still sweating.
"Explain why you're here or so help me..."
"So, help you what? You'll kill me and take my daughter..."
Chapter 6
Astrid
Before leaving my Auntie Kit's neighborhood, I'd texted Nova. I poked her for information until she'd told me that they were all going out; Val and Liam had some very important clients they wanted to wine and dine for the evening. I had wanted to do it the normal way, talk to him like an adult but the pettier side of me prevailed.
I wanted to surprise him the exact same way that he'd done me earlier. Valentin had made it a point to insert him in my life. It was perfectly clear that he planned on making my life hell and there was nothing I could do to stop him.
Except maybe if I owned up to everything with him.
I had the thought in my head, what if I made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
So, I'd went home and showered, and put on one of my sexiest dresses. It was a golden Chanel dress that had cost me so much money that I'd had to think twice. The silk made me feel extremely sexy and the black suede heels that I'd put on made me look a little taller than I was. It wasn't exactly like I was known for being tall in the first place.
Smoke and Mirrors, had come Nova's reply when I'd asked the location of them hanging out.
That club had been the scene of me and Nova's New Year's Eve celebration. I had wound up making out with a complete and total stranger while my best friend had been getting her world rocked by her current husband. I chuckled at the thought.
Liam was inherently good for Nova. She was a little more carefree when she was with him and he offered her a sense of normalcy that I knew she'd craved since being a surrogate mom to her siblings. I liked Liam, despite the fact that he was related to Valentin and head of the Bratva.