Can't Walk Away (The Thomas Family Chronicles #1)

by Ashlee Taylor

  The truck idled out front of Christianna’s house as I watched them getting out of the SUV. Alex was carrying the car seat. Christianna stepped out looking sullen.

  I made sure all of the guards were posted at the house and ready to lay down their lives for both of them. When the light went on in Christianna’s room, I watched as she closed the curtains to her balcony. That’s when I motioned for them to take off.

  It didn’t take us long to get to the warehouse holding the intruder. I walked in, removed my jacket so he could see my gun, also so he’d see that I was serious. I entered the open space and looked at my prey. The fucker smirked; he was about to die.

  Chapter Eight

  Christianna

  I think I cried all the way home from the beach. Nothing seemed real, none of this was right. I kept a hand on Layla the whole way home. I didn’t know what to do or how to react. When I went upstairs after my fight with Nicholas, Alex sat me down and explained to me what was going on and what they were leaving out.

  The Prescottis were a mafia family with deep ties all over the US and overseas. Although they ran a multitude of things, they didn’t deal in the sex trade or drugs. They ran weapons—weapons that went into deserving hands. They also provided money to several sources, had their hands in banks, mortgages, owned several businesses that included bars, restaurants, and car dealerships. They had been for some time now trying to go legit and get out of the gun running, which is why they wanted to join the families. The families and the combined resources would be more powerful than the heads of business and even the president.

  When I asked if Dad knew all this, she let me in on several things I didn’t know. That back in the old country in Italy, our father’s great-grandfather, Enzo Thomasorio, came to the United States, and as a way to “fit in,” changed his name to Thomas, but retained the connections. Our grandfather Costatino decided that he would keep those moves on the down low and that our father would go into an occupation that would be beneficial to the families. Although our papa went back to Italy when we were teenagers, Alex said he’s still beloved and feared, and that when he passed, the family would be transferred to either our dad or to Ethan.

  I felt like I didn’t know our family. That I didn’t even know who I was. What the hell did I get mixed up in? How was I going to be able to protect my daughter during this situation? Alex kept telling me to trust Nicholas. That Nicholas would give his life for me because that’s how he was raised. His loyalty to our daughter and I was strong; in his world, I gave birth to his heir and with that alone, I was considered his woman or wife. His men would lay down their life to protect our lives, just as they do for him.

  I didn’t like any of this at all.

  What happened to finding someone and falling in love? Now it just seemed as if he’s with me because of Layla. None of this was real. I’d never be anything more than an incubator for his firstborn. I hope he didn’t have it in his mind that she’d somehow become the head of all this, because it would never happen. I’d get into my own form of witness protection, far away from all of these crazy people.

  I had people checking out my room just in case someone managed to get in and hide. They even checked under my bed, for Christ’s sake. Good thing I’m a neat freak when it comes to my house and there was nothing out of place. I asked the guy if it was okay if I closed my curtains. I felt like my privacy had been invaded in more ways than one.

  Alex laid Layla on my bed; I told her I’d keep her with me. I built up a pillow wall and braced her while I went to change into something to sleep in. When I came back there was a bottle sitting on the nightstand, so I crawled into bed, snuggling with my little girl before falling fast asleep.

  I didn’t know what time it was when I woke up. I reached out, looking for Layla, but she was gone. I sat up in bed and searched for her. All I saw was Nicholas sitting in the chair that sat in the corner of my room.

  “It’s okay. She woke up and I was up with her. Your mom was over early, so she fed her breakfast.”

  “What time is it?” I asked curiously.

  Nicholas flicked his wrist to look at his watch. “It’s 12:22.”

  Jumping up, I headed into the bathroom, shocked that I had slept past noon. I’d never done that, even when I was sick. I’d never had the ability to sleep past nine at any time in my life. After my bathroom routine, I came out to find Nicholas in the same spot where I had left him.

  “Why are you here?” I asked.

  “I came here to be close to you, both of you.”

  “Well, I’m nothing to you. Your daughter is where she is. You came here to be close to someone, Layla is your family, your blood. You can go.”

  Nicholas jumped up out of the seat so fast the back of the chair hit the wall.

  “I know who Layla is, I know she belongs to me. You also belong to me; you were mine the first time I put my dick in you and after last night, you still are mine.”

  “I’m no one’s, I don’t belong to anyone. I’m not property, I’m a human being. As for last night and you having your dick in me, consider it your consolation prize. It’s one of those things that will never happen again.”

  “Look, Christianna, I know that you’re angry. You’re feeling hurt and betrayed because you think we’ve intentionally kept this from you—which is sort of the case, but I had every intention of telling you what was going on. In time.”

  “In time?” I exclaimed. “In time…what time? When I walked into my living room and three guys were in my house with guns, or that a guy was going to break into my house and kill me? When was I going to know that I not only don’t know you, but that I didn’t know my own family?” I screamed.

  “Yeah, I wanted to wait until you were secure in us before I dropped that on you.”

  “Secure in us? What for?”

  “Do you really want to have this conversation right now? You’re angry, you’re not going to be very open.”

  “Yes, I want to have this conversation right now.”

  Nicholas paced back and forth across the room, his eyes scanning my body. I wasn’t sure if he was anticipating that I was going to attack or if I was going to listen.

  When he stopped, his eyes locked on my face. He stepped closer, a little smirk played on his lips. “I’ve claimed you.”

  “Claimed me? I wasn’t lost.”

  “I’ve claimed you. I told you last night that you belong to me. I asked your father for your hand in marriage. This is happening, you and me.”

  “Marry you? Fat chance in hell, I’d never marry you. I don’t want to be in the same vicinity as you. If it wasn’t for Layla, we wouldn’t be. Once you figure out what’s going on, you go your way and I’ll go mine and we become parents who co-parent our daughter.”

  “Not happening.”

  “The hell it won’t. I don’t work under these archaic circumstances. When I marry it will be for love. Not because I got knocked up and you decided to do the right thing. It’s 2014. I can make decisions on my own and I choose no.”

  “You’re so infuriating, and you fucking love me.” I gasped, how the hell could he think such a thing? “You can go ahead and deny it all you want, but I was in bed with you last night. You said it several times.”

  “Bullshit, you can’t hold incoherent orgasm induced words said in the throes of passion.”

  “Okay, “throes of passion” explains why you said “Goodnight, Mason, I love you” before you fell asleep in my arms.”

  I gasped. No, my stupid overly-emotional feelings got the better of me. All these years I had these feelings, but who knew that they’d come out in this way at this time. All I could think was to hurt him, and the only way to do that would be to hit him where it counted.

  His feelings.

  Slinking up to him, I ran my fingers down the buttons of his shirt and smiled.

  “So, as I was falling asleep I said I love you, Mason.”

  Reaching his hand out, he caressed my face. Leaning into his tou
ch, I went in for the kill. “Well, I did love Mason. You see, I loved the fantasy I had with the man all those months ago. I’m sorry, but you didn’t live up to the hype.” Shrugging my shoulders, I walked off to find my daughter.

  Halfway down the stairs, I heard voices, some I recognized as members of my family, and others I didn’t. As I rounded the corner the people came into view, my mom and dad sat there on the couch with another couple that looked about their age. They were smiling and laughing and the man was holding Layla.

  The man looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t place him. I started racking my brain, trying to figure out when my mom noticed me standing there.

  “Did you get enough sleep, sweetheart?”

  I didn’t answer her, my eyes were locked on Layla being held by the man. I wanted to reach in and snatch her away from him and run like the wind.”

  “Angel? Are you okay?” This time it was my dad.

  “Why are you all here?” I asked, looking around at everyone.

  Nicholas moved behind me, his arm caressing my lower back as he passed me. The instant Layla saw him she threw her arms up and out and started to baby talk. She was handed over to him with no issue. Not my baby girl too.

  “We’re here because Nico said you needed some things explained.”

  “Well, Nico spoke out of turn. I think between him and Alex I know enough to understand. So let me know the real reason why you’re here. I mean Nico told me what’s next for us. Since I’m the mother of his heir, we’re supposed to marry.”

  Mom smiled and I stopped that instantly. “Not happening.”

  “Sweetheart, we know you care about him. You have since Layla was born. You just need some time to get to know each other.”

  “Mom, I love you. You just don’t know how wrong you are. There is someone out to kill me and it didn’t happen until we saw each other again. I’d be incredibly stupid to think that this is okay and say golly gee, let’s get married.”

  “And I told you, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  I knew I was rolling my eyes. I wanted to give him the finger, but he was holding Layla and I didn’t want that gesture to be a bad one. I heard the front door opening and I looked up to see my brother Ethan step through the archway.

  He walked past me and shook Nicholas’ hand before standing beside him.

  “Seriously? Am I the only one that thinks this situation is messed up? My own brother goes to stand by you. I’ll never forgive any of you.”

  I went upstairs and tried not to lose it. I called the only person I knew that was level headed and would be able to help me out in a pinch—my sister Alex, I told her that if anything were to happen to me that she had full responsibility over Layla according to my will. I was scared, panicked, and not ready to give in.

  I found myself peeking out of my windows, seeing cars drive past the house. Anyone could have the possibility of carrying someone that wanted to kill me. Sliding down the wall, I pulled my legs up to my chest. My life could be taken from me in the blink of an eye. I couldn’t blame anyone but myself, seeing as how it was my overactive libido that drove me to meet a man in a bar and have my wicked away with him.

  I couldn’t face the possibility of not seeing her growing up or her being without the one person who loved her unconditionally. Deep in my own thoughts, I never heard the door or anyone approach.

  “Christianna, we need to talk,” Nicholas said before sitting next to me.

  ***

  Nicholas

  I opened up the door to find Christianna huddled in a ball in the corner of her room. I walked over, letting her know that we needed to talk. I decided that after keeping too much from her, I wanted to tell her about what was going on.

  “When I left you here last night, I went to one of my warehouses that held the guy they found outside of your house. When I got to him, he’d been interrogated for eight hours, I went in and interrogated him for eight more.” I reached out and stroked her hair. I was ecstatic that when I touched her, she didn’t flinch or back away. “Sweetheart, he told me he’d rather die than tell. That if they found out that he told they would kill his family. You’re safe because he’s dead now. Although we still aren’t closer to finding out who put him up to it, I will find out. I’ve put my best guys on this. It’s just going to take a while before I get the evidence. In the meantime, I’ll still have bodyguards with you. No one will get close.”

  And then she did something that even shocked me. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, holding on tightly. She cried in my arms and all I wanted to do was hold her. Whoever is behind this is going to pay. They’re going to pay with every tear that she’s shed because some asshole thinks hurting her will rectify a situation.

  “I don’t want Layla to grow up without me,” she whispered in my ear.

  “That won’t happen, I won’t let it.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “I know, baby, and I’m sorry. I am going to keep you safe, you have my word.”

  “I don’t want to stay here. I can’t stop thinking that every car that passes, every person is coming to get me.”

  “Then we’ll move you and Layla somewhere safe. I’m not trying to make a move on you, Christianna, but my house is gated and has a round the clock security team. There are also cameras everywhere. I have plenty of room for you both. You don’t have to decide now—”

  “I want to go with you.”

  “You’re sure? I know you’re upset. I don’t want you to be pressured.”

  She pulled back, I focused on her face. I wiped away the remnants of the tears she had on her cheeks. I wanted to kiss all the sadness away.

  “I’m sure. Your house sounds like a fortress. I just want a place to be safe with Layla. You said we can be safe with you.”

  “You will be. When do you want to go?”

  “As soon as possible, if that’s okay with you?”

  I hugged her to me, placing a kiss on her forehead before standing up and bringing her up with me.

  “Go ahead and start packing whatever you want, or let me know and I can have my guys move it. I’ll take you over to my place and get you settled.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, turning toward her closet. She emerged with several suitcases.

  “I’m going downstairs and tell our parents. I’ll bring Layla up when they leave.”

  I didn’t want to leave Christianna alone, but she needed time to process everything that was going on. She needed to take her time to get her things in case she had a change of heart. The magnitude of feelings I feel for her went above and beyond our daughter, but the current situation has us focusing on that and that alone.

  When I told her she would be safe, I meant it. I would lay my life down for her and our daughter without a second thought. This whole attempt on her has rocked me to the core, it’s the first time ever in my adult life that I’ve been scared.

  In the living room with the families, I couldn’t help but take Layla in my arms and hold her close. She was the only thing keeping me sane right now. I wanted to find the people responsible for this, I wanted to be on the streets striking the fear of God in all who dared come up against me. I didn’t care if the streets ran bloody, leaving miles of carnage in its wake. It was going to end with people dead and my girls safe.

  “Christianna’s agreed to come to my home. It’s the safest alternative. Luke, can you call over there and have them fix up the two rooms on my floor closest to mine for them? I would also appreciate it if you shifted yours upstairs as well.”

  “Not a problem.” Luke walked off to start calling.

  “I’m going to need the whole suite outfitted with a baby crib and all the accessories. I don’t think she’s going to want to take all of her furniture with her today.”

  “I’ll take care of it. I’ll have them ship it within the hour,” my mother said.

  I kissed the top of Layla’s head as she lay against my chest. She was falling asleep in the middle of chao
s. It’s amazing how resilient children are.

  “Alex sent me a text, the text has me scared to death for our sister.”

  “What did she say?” Evelyn asked.

  “She said Christianna told her to remember that her will states that in the event of her death that she’s listed as her next of kin and Alex gets Layla.”

  “Well, nothing is going to happen to her. She’s going to be safe and protected. We’ll all make sure of that,” my dad said.

  “Son?”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “I called the baby store downtown and they have a princess bed suite that has all the pieces and comes with the mattress and the bedding. They’re personally going to put it on the truck now and deliver it to the house. They’ll even put it together.”

  “Thank you, Mom. Thank you all for this.”

  The sound of wheelie suitcases hit the stairs. I turned to see Christianna bundled up in a sweatshirt and sweat pants with three pieces of luggage coming down behind her.

  “Do you have any other stuff?”

  “Yeah, there are two more bags in Layla’s room and a diaper bag filled with toys. I need to get her bottles and other things, like my computer.” She seemed frazzled as she looked around, confused. “Could you have someone clear the bottom shelf of photo albums in my office?”

  “I’ll have that done.”

  “Sweetheart?” Evelyn called out. “Why don’t you let your father and I get all those things together and bring them over? Layla wants to take her nap and I’m sure you want to get going.”

  She just nodded and took Layla out of my arms before grabbing the small diaper bag and her purse. She didn’t seem like herself, and it worried me.

  Luke walked out the front door to the car. I wrapped both of my arms around them. A car came down the hill and her body started shaking. I just stood in front of them, shielding them from the vehicle. I got her into the SUV, she put Layla into her car seat and we were ready to go.